Towada Kanko Electric Railway
Encyclopedia
The , or , is a railway company that provides transportation services over a wide range of southeastern and central Aomori Prefecture
, Japan
. The company operates the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line
, which connects Misawa Station
in the city of Misawa
and Towadashi Station
in the city of Towada
. The company also operates an extensive bus network, and through subsidiary operations, a taxi service, resort hotels and excursion boats on Lake Towada
. It is headquartered in the city of Towada.
operations commenced from August 1926. The company expanded through purchase of smaller regional bus companies through September 1941. However, during World War II
, the Land-Transportation Law reorganizes regional transportation businesses, and the government restricted the assets and operations of the Towada Railway to within the borders of Kamikita District
, with the remainder given to the now-defunct Nanbu Railway Company.
After World War II, restrictions were lifted, and in 1951 the railway was electrified, and its gauge
widened from 762 to 1067 mm. The company assumed its present name on December 30, 1951. From 1954, the company expanded into the organized tour market, and began operating sightseeing excursion boat services on Lake Towada
from September 1954. The 1968 Tokachi-oki Earthquake caused severe damage to the company’s assets, and it came under the aegis of the Kokusai Kōgyō Company from October 1969. On October 28, 1985, the new Towadashi Station
station building was opened; the new building containing a Daiei
department store
as well as the company headquarters. Rail operations past the Misawa terminus to Hachinohe Station
began from December 1, 2002.
is a (Class 1 Railroad Operator), operating eleven stations over a 14.7 kilometres (9.1 mi) route connecting Misawa with Towada/
and Sannohe Districts
of eastern Aomori. In addition to local services within Aomori Prefecture, the company operates Sirius overnight highway bus service from Towada and Hachinohe to Ikebukuro
in Tokyo
, and Bluestar overnight service from Towada via Aomori
to Ikebukuro and Shibuya
in Tokyo. Daytime Umineko service connect Hachinohe and Sendai
in Miyagi Prefecture
, and Blue City service, Aomori and Sendai. Towada Kankō also operates tour bus services from Misawa and Hachinohe to the Towada-Hachimantai National Park
.
The company also formerly had a supermarket subsidiary, a store located at Misawa Station, but withdrew from this venture in 2009.
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The company operates the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line
Towada Kanko Electric Railway Line
The is a railway route operated by Towada Kankō Electric Railway . It runs between Misawa Station and Towadashi Station in eastern Aomori Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
, which connects Misawa Station
Misawa Station
is a railway station located in the city of Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is 75.0 rail kilometers from the terminus of the Aoimori Railway Line at Aomori Station. It is also a terminus of the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line.-History:...
in the city of Misawa
Misawa, Aomori
is a city located in eastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 42,399 and a density of 353 persons per km²...
and Towadashi Station
Towadashi Station
is a terminal railway station on the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line located in the city of Towada, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is 13.7 rail kilometers from the opposite terminus of the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line at Misawa Station.-History:...
in the city of Towada
Towada, Aomori
is a city located in central Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 65,818 and a density of 90.7 persons per km². Its total area was 725.67 km², making it the largest municipality in Aomori Prefecture in terms of area.-Geography:Towada is located in...
. The company also operates an extensive bus network, and through subsidiary operations, a taxi service, resort hotels and excursion boats on Lake Towada
Lake Towada
is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, it lies 400 meters above sea level and is 327.0m depth, and is drained by the Oirase river. With a surface area of 61.1 km², Towada is Japan's 12th largest lake, its bright blue...
. It is headquartered in the city of Towada.
History
The company began as the on June 26, 1914. It received its permit to start commercial transportation operations in 1917, and began operations using automobiles to connect Furumaki (present day Misawa) with Sanbongi (present day Towada). In 1920, it received its regional rail permit and changed its name to on October 30, 1920. The rail line connecting Furumaki with Sanbongi was opened on September 4, 1922. Transit busTransit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
operations commenced from August 1926. The company expanded through purchase of smaller regional bus companies through September 1941. However, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Land-Transportation Law reorganizes regional transportation businesses, and the government restricted the assets and operations of the Towada Railway to within the borders of Kamikita District
Kamikita District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the east-central portion of the prefecture, south of Shimokita Peninsula.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 100,526 and a density of 78.5 persons per km². The total area was 1281.05 km².- Towns and villages...
, with the remainder given to the now-defunct Nanbu Railway Company.
After World War II, restrictions were lifted, and in 1951 the railway was electrified, and its gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
widened from 762 to 1067 mm. The company assumed its present name on December 30, 1951. From 1954, the company expanded into the organized tour market, and began operating sightseeing excursion boat services on Lake Towada
Lake Towada
is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, it lies 400 meters above sea level and is 327.0m depth, and is drained by the Oirase river. With a surface area of 61.1 km², Towada is Japan's 12th largest lake, its bright blue...
from September 1954. The 1968 Tokachi-oki Earthquake caused severe damage to the company’s assets, and it came under the aegis of the Kokusai Kōgyō Company from October 1969. On October 28, 1985, the new Towadashi Station
Towadashi Station
is a terminal railway station on the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line located in the city of Towada, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is 13.7 rail kilometers from the opposite terminus of the Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line at Misawa Station.-History:...
station building was opened; the new building containing a Daiei
Daiei
, based in Kobe, is one of the largest supermarket chains in Japan. In 1957, Isao Nakauchi founded the chain in Osaka near Sembayashi Station on the Keihan train line. Daiei is now under a restructuring process supported by Marubeni Corporation and ÆON Co., Ltd., another Japanese supermarket chain....
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
as well as the company headquarters. Rail operations past the Misawa terminus to Hachinohe Station
Hachinohe Station
is a railway station operated by the East Japan Railway Company in Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan.-Lines:Hachinohe Station is served by the high-speed Tōhoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and , and forms the starting point of the Hachinohe Line to...
began from December 1, 2002.
Rail operations
The Towada Kankō Electric Railway LineTowada Kanko Electric Railway Line
The is a railway route operated by Towada Kankō Electric Railway . It runs between Misawa Station and Towadashi Station in eastern Aomori Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
is a (Class 1 Railroad Operator), operating eleven stations over a 14.7 kilometres (9.1 mi) route connecting Misawa with Towada/
Bus operations
The company operates city buses in Hachinohe, Misawa and Towada, as well as an extensive regional bus network, serving the rural communities of KamikitaKamikita District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the east-central portion of the prefecture, south of Shimokita Peninsula.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 100,526 and a density of 78.5 persons per km². The total area was 1281.05 km².- Towns and villages...
and Sannohe Districts
Sannohe District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It occupies the southeast corner of the prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 73,955 and a density of 76.3 persons per km². The total area was 969.38 km².- Towns and villages :The...
of eastern Aomori. In addition to local services within Aomori Prefecture, the company operates Sirius overnight highway bus service from Towada and Hachinohe to Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits....
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and Bluestar overnight service from Towada via Aomori
Aomori, Aomori
is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
to Ikebukuro and Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
in Tokyo. Daytime Umineko service connect Hachinohe and Sendai
Sendai, Miyagi
is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku Region. In 2005, the city had a population of one million, and was one of Japan's 19 designated cities...
in Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, and Blue City service, Aomori and Sendai. Towada Kankō also operates tour bus services from Misawa and Hachinohe to the Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National Park is a national park in the Tohoku region, Honshū, Japan. The park covers Lake Towada, most of the Oirase River valley and the nearby Hachimantai plateau.-External links:...
.
Boat operations
The operates on two routes during non-winter months on Lake Towada, within the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.Other subsidiaries
A subsidiary company, operates a fleet of taxis within the city of Towada. Another subsidiary operates a hotel and a ski resort operation at MAkado Onsen.The company also formerly had a supermarket subsidiary, a store located at Misawa Station, but withdrew from this venture in 2009.