The Locomotive Roundhouse
The Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse (天竜浜名湖鉄道機関車扇形車庫) is a wooden locomotive roundhouse of 1940 on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway in the yard of Tenryu-Futamata Station in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 11, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building of 686 square metres roofed in sheet iron; registration number 22-0034.
A Timber Roundhouse Still in Use
The roundhouse is paired with the turntable. It originally held six tracks, but the two on the right as seen from the turntable have been cut back (Agency for Cultural Affairs); the remaining bays are used mainly to stable trains.
It is built entirely of timber, with a strong frame designed to keep posts inside the shed to a minimum (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The roof is corrugated sheeting (Tenryu Hamanako Railway).
Why It Was Registered
It was registered under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape of the country (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Agency calls it a fine example of the few roundhouses still in working use.
What to Look For
Look for the fan of bays opening from the turntable and the sturdy timber frame built to keep the interior clear of posts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It stands in the yard of Tenryu-Futamata Station and is normally closed to the public. The railway runs daytime turntable tours; a 2021 Hamamatsu City article describes a daily guided tour of about 40 minutes that takes visitors past the turntable, the roundhouse and the depot buildings. Tickets, fares and the turntable tour are covered on the Tenryu Hamanako Railway page. Do not enter the tracks or railway land.
Q&A
- When was the Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse built?
- In 1940 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is the Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse?
- In the Tenryu-Futamata Station yard, behind the turntable.
- What should I look for?
- The fan of bays and the sturdy timber frame.
- Can I visit the Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse?
- Not normally, but it is shown on the turntable tours at Tenryu-Futamata Station (Tenryu Hamanako Railway, Hamamatsu City).
- When was the Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse registered?
- On December 11, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse (天竜浜名湖鉄道機関車扇形車庫) |
|---|---|
| Location | 230-2 Akura, Futamata-cho, Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1998/12/11 (Heisei 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, sheet-iron roof, 686 m² |
| Owner | Tenryu Hamanako Railway Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | In the Tenryu-Futamata Station yard (shown on guided tours) |
References
- Tenryu Hamanako Railway Locomotive Roundhouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000965
- Cultural Properties along the Line (Tenryu Hamanako Railway, Japanese)
- https://www.tenhama.co.jp/spot/bunkazai/
- Tenryu-Futamata Station (Tenryu Hamanako Railway, Japanese)
- https://www.tenhama.co.jp/about/station/tenryufutamata/
- Turntable tour at Tenryu-Futamata Station (Hamamatsu City Tenryu Ward, Japanese)
- https://www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp/tn-shinko/dekigoto/r0730_dekigoto.html
Last verified: 2026.10.14
