| AOMORI, Jan. 24 – The Konan Railway Company offers a night-only dream experience to its passengers of the Owani Line, which connects Hirosaki City and Owani Town in Aomori Prefecture.
The service is called Ringo Neputa Train, a two-car train decorated with approximately 300 apple-shaped Neputa festival lanterns, which are 15 centimeters in diameter. All the lanterns are handmade by local Neputa artisans to look exactly like real apples. During the day, the train runs regular services with hanging Neputa lanterns, but when the train leaves Chuo-Hirosaki Station at 5:30 p.m., its driver turns off the room lights to let the train run only with the lights of Neputa. The lanterns sway irregularly as the train moves, creating a dreamy atmosphere in the vehicles. The specialty train service began in 2022 to promote the use of the Owani Line and the local apple industry. “The Owani Line is known as ‘the Apple Orchard Railway’’ as it runs through apple orchards, which is rare in Japan, according to a company representative. “We hope this train will help people to find and feel the charm of this apple production area.” This year’s light-up service is limited to Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and goes on until March 31. |