Tsuwano and the SL Yamaguchi: A Guide for Groups

Explera DMC Japan pairs Tsuwano, a small castle town in Shimane, with the SL Yamaguchi steam train from Shin-Yamaguchi. In autumn 2026 the C57 steam locomotive returns for the Yamaguchi Destination Campaign, running on weekends and holidays from 3 October to 20 December. Seats sell quickly, so we book on the day sales open.

The SL Yamaguchi runs on the JR Yamaguchi Line between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano, about 62.9 kilometres, taking roughly two hours each way, with one round trip a day. Yamaguchi Prefecture and the JR group are running the Yamaguchi Destination Campaign from 1 October to 31 December 2026, and the prefecture's tourism site says the C57 is back on the train for it.

How do groups book the SL Yamaguchi?

• Seats. Tickets go on sale one month before the travel date, at 10:00 Japan time. Group space is limited, so we request it on the first day.
• Cars. The train has five cars. Car 1 is the Green Car, with an observation room and deck open only to Green Car ticket holders. Cars 2 to 4 have box seats that suit groups sitting together.
• Timetable. Running days are set by JR West and change by season, so we confirm dates for each programme.

What do groups see in Tsuwano?

Tsuwano is a small town in a narrow valley, with an old samurai street lined with white walls and channels of koi, and Taikodani Inari Shrine above the town, reached through a tunnel of red torii. It works as a half-day stop between the train and a night in Hagi or the San'in coast. See our Yamaguchi and Hagi guide, our Matsue and Izumo guide and our guide to Japan's scenic railways.

Sources: Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism: SL Yamaguchi (Japanese) and Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism: Yamaguchi Destination Campaign (Japanese).