A Shed for the Maintenance Fleet
Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed (若桜鉄道若桜駅諸車庫, shoshako) is a 1930 single-storey timber shed in the yard of Wakasa Station, Wakasa Town, Tottori Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 8 July 2008.
It stands in the southeast part of the yard and covers 20 square metres. It houses the small vehicles used to maintain the track, and a spur runs right into the building.
The ridge runs at right angles to the tracks, and the gable end facing the rails has no wall at all. Vehicles roll in and out through that open end.
Why It Was Registered
The registration cites its contribution to the historic landscape. A railway needs more than passenger and freight trains; it also needs little machines to inspect the line and haul materials. Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed has kept that maintenance fleet at the terminus since opening day, and was registered as part of the station's full set of facilities.
According to the railway, it still holds two track bicycles for inspecting the line and two small carts for carrying maintenance materials, the same job it was built for.
What to Look For
The gabled roof is sheet metal. The side and back walls are vertical boarding, pierced here and there to let in light. From the track side you can see the spur rails running back through the open gable into the shed.
Inside, the roof is carried on a traditional Japanese roof frame, posts standing on beams to hold up the rafters. It is a railway building put up with the same carpentry as a village barn.
Visiting
Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed is still in use for track maintenance, and the interior is closed. View it from within the station grounds, and keep clear when maintenance work is under way.
Wakasa Station's building and waiting room are open to anyone, but the paid part of the yard, where the turntable and water tower stand, needs a yard admission ticket from the window: 300 yen, free for elementary-school children and younger. Follow staff instructions inside and keep off the tracks and any roped-off areas.
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Q&A
- What does Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed house?
- Small maintenance vehicles. According to the railway, it holds two track bicycles for inspecting the line and two carts for carrying materials.
- When was Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed built?
- In 1930. It was registered as a cultural property in 2008.
- How is Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed built?
- Its ridge runs at right angles to the track and the track-side gable is left open. The walls are vertical boarding, the roof is a gabled sheet-metal roof, and inside is a traditional Japanese roof frame.
- How big is Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed?
- It is a single-storey timber shed of 20 square metres with a spur track running inside.
- Can I go inside Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed?
- No, it is a working shed and closed to visitors. You can see the exterior from within the station grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed |
|---|---|
| Location | 345-2 Renkyōji-shimo, Wakasa, Wakasa Town, Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, and adjoining lots |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2008/7/8 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, sheet-metal roof, building area 20 square metres, with spur track |
| Owner | Wakasa Town |
| Public Access | Interior closed; exterior seen from within Wakasa Station |
References
- Wakasa Railway Wakasa Station Vehicle Shed (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007291
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Wakasa Railway Co., Japanese)
- https://wakatetsu.co.jp/bunkazai
- Wakasa Railway as modern industrial heritage (Yazu Town Tourism Association, Japanese)
- https://yazukanko.jp/feature/wakasarailroad/
- C12 display runs and yard admission (Wakasa Railway Co., Japanese)
- https://wakatetsu.co.jp/c12
Last verified: 2026.09.26
