Watarase Keikoku Railway Kobe Station Main Building and

Watarase Keikoku Railway Godo Station: A Journey Back to the Taisho Era

Tucked away in the mountain valley of Midori City, Gunma Prefecture, Godo Station (神戸駅, pronounced "Gōdo") on the Watarase Keikoku Railway is a rare surviving wooden station building that dates back to the dawn of the Taisho era. Opened on September 5, 1912, as part of the Ashio Railway—a line originally built to transport copper from the once-mighty Ashio Copper Mine—the station has quietly witnessed over a century of Japanese railway history. In 2009, its main building and downbound platform were designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and in 2016, they were further recognized as part of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers' Heritage of Civil Engineering.

Today, Godo Station serves not only as an active stop on one of Japan's most scenic local railways but also as a beloved destination for travelers seeking authentic encounters with rural Japan. From its weathered timber façade to its springtime canopy of peach blossoms, the station offers a uniquely atmospheric experience that bridges the country's industrial past and its natural beauty.

The History of Godo Station and the Ashio Railway

The story of Godo Station is inseparable from that of Japan's copper mining industry. In the late 19th century, the Ashio Copper Mine in neighboring Tochigi Prefecture was producing roughly half of Japan's copper output. As production soared beyond what horses and oxen could transport, the Ashio Railway was constructed to connect the mining region with Kiryu, a textile city to the south.

The line was built in stages during 1911 and 1912. Godo Station opened on September 5, 1912, when the line was extended from Omama Station. By December of that year, the railway had reached Ashio Station, completing its vital link to the copper mines. Recognizing the line's strategic importance, the Japanese government nationalized the Ashio Railway in 1918, incorporating it into the national rail network as the Ashio Line.

Originally, the station was named Gōdo (神土) using different kanji characters to avoid confusion with Kobe Station (神戸) in Hyogo Prefecture. When the line was transferred to the third-sector Watarase Keikoku Railway in 1989 following JR's decision to discontinue the route, the station was renamed using the original place name kanji 神戸, while retaining the local pronunciation "Gōdo."

During the steam era, Godo Station served as a key operational point where C12-class steam locomotives were coupled in pairs for the steep climb northward toward Ashio. The station's spacious yard, now home to the Train Restaurant Seiryu, is a reminder of those busy days of copper transport.

Why Godo Station Is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The main station building (honya) of Godo Station is a single-story wooden structure measuring approximately 13 meters in length and 3.7 meters in width, with an east-west oriented gable roof covered in cement tiles. Attached to its western end is a lever house (teko-goya) that once sheltered the mechanical point-switching equipment, a characteristic feature of early 20th-century Japanese railway operations.

To the south of the building lies the downbound platform, constructed of precisely laid ashlar masonry (kenchiseki nerizumi) and extending 134 meters along the tracks. Together, the station building and platform represent the original standardized station design of the Ashio Railway, remarkably well preserved through more than a century of continuous use.

The Cultural Heritage Online database of Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the station retains its original character as a standard-gauge station from the early Taisho period, faithfully conveying the atmosphere of the era. This authenticity was the key factor in its registration as a tangible cultural property on November 2, 2009. Since then, the station has also been registered as part of the broader Watarase Keikoku Railway Related Facilities Group, which includes stations, tunnels, and bridges along the entire line.

Highlights and Things to See

The Wooden Station Building

The dark-timbered exterior of the station, with its horizontal clapboard siding and traditional proportions, instantly transports visitors to a bygone era. Inside, the simple layout divides the building into a waiting area on one side and what was once the station office on the other. An enamel station name sign from the former national railway era still hangs on the wall—look carefully and you can see traces of the old name "Gōdo" (神土) beneath the current characters.

The Peach Blossom Spectacle

Since 2000, approximately 300 ornamental peach trees (hanamomo) have been planted throughout the station grounds. From late March to early April, these trees burst into bloom in shades of red, pink, and white, transforming the station into what locals describe as a veritable paradise. When the cherry blossoms bloom simultaneously, the effect is breathtaking—trains arriving at the platform pass through a tunnel of flowers. The trolley trains make extended stops at Godo Station during this season, allowing passengers to step out and take photographs.

Train Restaurant Seiryu

On the upbound platform sits a unique dining experience: the Train Restaurant Seiryu (列車のレストラン清流). Housed inside retired Tobu Railway limited express carriages that once ran as the "Kegon" on the Tobu Nikko Line, the restaurant serves local specialties including maitake mushroom tempura sets and Yamato pork dishes. Station box lunches (ekiben), including the popular Torokko Bento and Yamato Pork Bento, are also prepared and sold here.

The Trolley Trains

Godo Station is a designated stop for the Watarase Keikoku Railway's popular trolley trains—the Torokko Watarase Keikoku and the Torokko Wasshi. These open-sided carriages run primarily on weekends and holidays from April through November, offering passengers unobstructed views of the Watarase Valley. Between Godo and Sori stations, the train passes through the 5-kilometer Kusaki Tunnel, where a dazzling LED illumination display lights up the ceiling during the ride.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

Godo Station serves as an excellent base for exploring the eastern portion of Midori City and the upper Watarase Valley. The area surrounding the station is rich in both natural beauty and cultural interest.

The Tomihiro Art Museum, located on the shores of Lake Kusaki about 10 minutes by car from the station, displays the watercolor poetry paintings of Hoshino Tomihiro (1946–2024), a Midori City native who created exquisite works by holding a paintbrush in his mouth after a spinal cord injury left him paralyzed. The museum's circular architecture and lakeside setting make it a serene destination.

Kusaki Dam, one of the region's most prominent landmarks, impounds the waters of the Watarase River to form Lake Kusaki. The dam offers scenic viewpoints and walking paths. Nearby, the national lodge Sunlake Kusaki provides accommodation with lake views.

The Doyo Furusato-kan (Nursery Rhyme Hometown Hall) celebrates the legacy of Ishihara Wasaburo, a local-born lyricist who wrote some of Japan's most beloved children's songs. The Former Hanawa Elementary School, a handsome wooden two-story schoolhouse from 1931, is itself a registered tangible cultural property and is open to visitors on weekends.

For rail enthusiasts, the Watarase Keikoku Railway line features numerous other registered cultural properties, including the stations at Kami-Kamibai, Omama, Tsudo, and Ashio, as well as historic tunnels and bridges that date from the original Ashio Railway construction.