The is a Japanese railway line in Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture

-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...

, Japan. It runs from Akayu Station

Akayu Station

is a JR East railway station located in Nanyo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan....

 in Nanyō

Nanyo, Yamagata

is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 34,405 and the population density of 214 persons per km². The total area is 160.70 km². Nan'yō is the second biggest producer of cherries in Japan....

 to Arato Station

Arato Station

is a Flower Nagai Line railway station located in Shirataka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...

 in Shirataka

Shirataka, Yamagata

is a town located in Nishiokitama District, Yamagata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 16,539 and a density of 104.85 persons per km². The total area is 157.74 km².-Train stations:* Yamagata Railway Company...

.

The Flower Nagai Line is the only line operated by the third sector , which took over the former JR East

East Japan Railway Company

is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....

 line in 1988.

In 2005, Yamagata Railway was in danger of having to shut down due to low volume, leaving many residents, especially the young and old, without a mode of transportation from their farms. The only option available to the company was to try to attract more tourists to the scenic views. Lone train operator, Tatsuo Asakura, working without the knowledge of his superiors increased out-of-town passengers from 350 in 2005 to 7,000 in 2006, and in September 2008 had entertained more than 20,000 tourists with his uplifting guided tours, spoken in local dialect.

Operation

Seven single-car diesel multiple units serve the line, running from to once every one to two hours.

History

• October 26, 1913: - section opens
• November 15, 1914: - section opens
• December 11, 1922: - section opens
• April 22, 1923: - segment opens
• November 15, 1954: Diesel multiple units replace steam engines on the line
• June 1, 1959: Miyauchi Station
  Miyauchi Station
  Miyauchi Station is the name of multiple train stations in Japan.* Miyauchi Station in Hiroshima Prefecture* Miyauchi Station in Niigata Prefecture* Miyauchi Station in Yamagata Prefecture...
  
   opens
• May 20, 1960: Minami-Nagai Station
  Minami-Nagai Station
  is a Yamagata Railway Company railway station located in Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
   opens
• October 28, 1986: Government designates line for closure
• April 1, 1987: Line inherited by JR East following privatization of JNR
• October 10, 1988: Line transferred from JR East to Yamagata Railway Company
• December 15, 1989: Shirousagi Station
  Shirousagi Station
  is a Yamagata Railway Company railway station located in Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
   opens
• October 23, 1997: Centralized traffic control (CTC) introduced
• June 9, 2002: Ayame-Kōen Station opens
• October 13, 2007: Shikinosato Station
  Shikinosato Station
  is a Yamagata Railway Company railway station located in Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
   opens

Station list

All stations are located in Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture

-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...

.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
	赤湯	0.0	Yamagata Shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen The is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line.... , Ōu Main Line Ou Main Line The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...	Nan'yō
	南陽市役所	0.9
	宮内	3.0
	おりはた	4.4
	梨郷	6.8
	西大塚	10.3		Kawanishi Kawanishi, Yamagata is a town located in Higashiokitama District, Yamagata, Japan. The literal meaning of Kawanishi is "west of the river", and the river refers to the Mogami River.... , Higashiokitama District Higashiokitama District, Yamagata is a district located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 45,338 and a density of 130.85 persons per km². The total area is 346.50 km².-Towns and villages:*Kawanishi*Takahata...
	今泉	12.2	Yonesaka Line Yonesaka Line The is a rail line in Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company system, it runs from Yonezawa Station in Yamagata Prefecture to Sakamachi Station in Niigata Prefecture...	Nagai Nagai, Yamagata is a city located in Yamagata prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 29,959 and the density of 140 persons per km². The total area is 214.69 km².The city was founded on November 15, 1954...
	時庭	14.9
	南長井	17.3
	長井	18.3
	あやめ公園	19.1
	羽前成田	21.0
	白兎	23.2
	蚕桑	24.6		Shirataka Shirataka, Yamagata is a town located in Nishiokitama District, Yamagata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 16,539 and a density of 104.85 persons per km². The total area is 157.74 km².-Train stations:* Yamagata Railway Company... , Nishiokitama District Nishiokitama District, Yamagata is a district located in Yamagata, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 35,166 and a density of 28.71 persons per km². The total area is 1,224.89 km².-Towns and villages:*Iide*Oguni*Shirataka...
	鮎貝	27.9
	四季の郷	28.6
	荒砥	30.5