Watarase Keikoku Railway Omama Station Upbound Platform

Omama Station Up-line Platform: A Meiji-Era Railway Heritage on the Watarase Keikoku Line

Nestled in the heart of Midori City, Gunma Prefecture, the up-line platform of Omama Station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway stands as a remarkable testament to the dawn of Japan's modern railway era. Built in 1911 during the Meiji period as part of the original Ashio Railway, this 107-meter stone platform has witnessed over a century of history — from the bustling days of copper transport to the scenic tourist trains of today. Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 2009, the platform invites visitors to step back in time and experience the atmosphere of early 20th-century Japanese rail travel.

The History of Ashio Railway and Omama Station

The story of Omama Station begins with Japan's copper mining industry. In the late 19th century, the Ashio Copper Mine in present-day Tochigi Prefecture was producing nearly half of Japan's copper output under the ownership of Furukawa Ichibei, founder of the Furukawa zaibatsu. As production soared, the existing horse-drawn transport could no longer keep pace, and a proper railway became essential.

The Ashio Railway Company was established with significant backing from the Furukawa family, and the first section of the line — from Shimo-Shinden to Omama-machi Station — opened on April 15, 1911. Omama-machi Station, as it was originally known, served as a critical junction on this copper-transport route. The station was renamed simply "Omama" on December 1, 1912. The railway was nationalized in 1918 due to its strategic importance for the nation's copper supply, becoming part of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) as the Ashio Line.

Following the decline of copper mining and subsequent privatization of JNR, the line was transferred to the Watarase Keikoku Railway in 1989 as a third-sector railway, continuing operations as a beloved local and tourist line to this day.

Why It Was Designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property

The Omama Station up-line platform was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property on November 2, 2009, together with the station building and the down-line platform. The designation recognizes the platform's historical and architectural significance as one of the original structures from the Ashio Railway's opening in 1911.

The platform is a 107-meter-long stone structure featuring retaining walls constructed using kenchi-ishi (a method of laying roughly split stones in a stacked pattern). While portions of the platform were raised in 1980 to accommodate modern passenger cars, the fundamental retaining wall structure preserves its original Meiji-era construction. Together with the down-line platform, it retains the atmosphere of the station as it appeared when the railway first opened over a century ago.

Omama Station is one of 38 railway facilities along the Watarase Keikoku Line that have been registered as Tangible Cultural Properties — a distinction that marks the first time in Japan that railway structures spanning two prefectures received such comprehensive recognition. In 2016, these facilities were further honored as a JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers) Selected Civil Engineering Heritage for their role in preserving the legacy of Japan's industrial copper-transport era.

Highlights and What to See

The up-line platform is located on the east side of the station grounds, facing the down-line platform across the tracks. Visitors can observe the distinctive split-stone retaining walls (wari-ishi kenchi-ishi neri-zumi) that form the platform's foundation — a construction technique characteristic of early Meiji-era railway infrastructure. The weathered texture of the stonework speaks to the passage of more than a hundred years of continuous use.

The station itself is a delight for railway enthusiasts and cultural heritage lovers alike. The wooden station building, also a registered cultural property, features a gabled roof with cement tiles and white mortar exterior walls, embodying the simple yet elegant design of early 20th-century Japanese railway architecture. In front of the station, retired railcars from the line's early third-sector era are preserved for public viewing.

As the operational hub of the Watarase Keikoku Railway, Omama Station also serves as the departure point for the popular Torokko Watarase Keikoku trolley train — an open-air sightseeing train that carries passengers through the breathtaking Watarase Gorge. Watching these trains depart from a platform steeped in over a century of history creates a uniquely evocative experience.

Exploring the Area Around Omama Station

Omama Station is surrounded by a wealth of attractions that make for a rewarding day trip. Just an 8-minute walk from the station, Takatsudo Gorge — known as the "Yabakei of the Kanto Region" — offers a stunning riverside promenade stretching approximately 500 meters from Hanetaki Bridge to Takatsudo Bridge. The gorge is famous for its dramatic rock formations, including the distinctive "Gorilla Rock," and is especially beautiful during autumn foliage season in early to mid-November.

The historic Omama townscape, a 5-minute walk from the station, preserves the atmosphere of the Taisho and early Showa periods. Visitors can explore century-old soy sauce breweries and sake distilleries that have been in operation since the Edo period, when Omama prospered as a post town on the Akagane Kaido (Copper Highway) connecting to the Ashio Copper Mine.

Other nearby attractions include the Midori City Omama Museum (nicknamed "Conodont Hall") featuring paleontological exhibits, and the Nagame Amusement Park with its beautifully preserved pre-war kabuki theater overlooking Takatsudo Gorge. For those traveling further along the Watarase Keikoku Line, the Ashio Copper Mine ruins, Mizunuma Station's hot spring facility, and the Tomihiro Museum of Art by the shores of Lake Kusaki await.

How to Get There

From Tokyo, take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki Station (approximately 50 minutes), then transfer to the JR Ryomo Line to Kiryu Station (approximately 45 minutes). From Kiryu Station, board the Watarase Keikoku Railway; Omama Station is the fifth stop, approximately 20 minutes away. Alternatively, you can take the Tobu Railway Limited Express "Ryomo" from Asakusa Station directly to Aioi Station, where you can transfer to the Watarase Keikoku Line. Omama Station has a staffed ticket office, a tourist information center in front of the station, and a paid parking lot for visitors arriving by car.