The Japan Private Railway Association (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Takehiro Sugiyama) will begin free nationwide distribution on Monday, July 27, 2026, of the commemorative guidebook 'Regional Private Railway Travel Guide: A Journey on Hometown Railways' (2026 Edition), aiming to promote and revitalize the 56 regional private railway companies that are members of the association.
This guidebook compactly and clearly introduces the charms, tourist attractions, and gourmet spots along the lines of each regional private railway operator. Since its first edition in 2008, it has been revised annually to provide up-to-date information.
The 2026 edition's opening features include 'A Journey to Explore Retro-Style Private Railways,' showcasing the nostalgic charm of streetscapes, station buildings, and rolling stock along various lines, and 'Top 3 Interesting Private Railways,' which compiles various data from member companies, further highlighting the unique appeal of regional private railways. Additionally, to accommodate international visitors, the guidebook will be available online in nine languages, including English, Korean, and Chinese.
Take this opportunity to enjoy the unique charm and individuality of 'traveling on regional private railways.'
2026 Edition Cover Design
【Contents】
Table of Contents / Area INDEX 2–3
＜Opening Features＞
【A Journey to Explore Retro-Style Private Railways】 4–9
【Top 3 Interesting Private Railways】 10–13
Travel Guides for Each Regional Private Railway Company 14–69
Introduction to Award-Winning Works from the 2025 Regional Private Railway Photo Contest 70–75
Overview of 'Regional Private Railway Travel Guide: A Journey on Hometown Railways'
1. Title: 'Regional Private Railway Travel Guide: A Journey on Hometown Railways' (2026 Edition)
2. Release Date: Distribution begins sequentially from July 27, 2026 (Monday)
3. Print Run: 30,000 copies
4. Specifications: B5 size, 76 pages, saddle-stitched, full color
5. Main Distribution and Viewing Locations
【Distribution Locations】
Stations and facilities of the 56 regional private railway companies affiliated with the Japan Private Railway Association (※), Subway Museum (Tokyo)
Tobu Museum (Tokyo), Keio Rail Land (Tokyo)
Keikyu Museum (Kanagawa), Museum of Trains & Buses (Kanagawa)
Romancecar Museum (Kanagawa), Oigawa Railway Plaza Roco (Shizuoka)
Local specialty shops in Tokyo (antenna shops)
(Aomori Prefecture Tokyo Office, Miyagi Furusato Plaza, Wakayama Kishu-kan, Kumamoto Prefecture Tokyo Office, Nihonbashi Nagasaki-kan)
Popy Deta (model train shop), Seisen Grande
【Viewing Facilities】
National Diet Library, major prefectural libraries, major city libraries, major ward libraries
※ For distribution locations of individual companies, please contact each company directly.
6. Additional Information
The digital version of this guidebook can be downloaded from the Japan Private Railway Association's official website. To make it enjoyable for international visitors, it will also be published on 'Catalog Pocket,' a platform equipped with automatic translation, allowing access in nine languages: English, Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Thai, Portuguese, Spanish, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. For details, please visit the URL below.
https://www.mintetsu.or.jp/activity/travel_guide/index.html
※ Available from July 27 (Monday) onward.
Mail-in requests are also accepted. For postal delivery, please enclose a pre-addressed return envelope (size: No. 4 corner envelope, 197 mm × 267 mm or larger) with 320 yen worth of postage (shipping cost for one copy) and send it to:
Regional Transportation Department, Japan Private Railway Association
※ Due to limited quantities, please contact the inquiry point below to confirm availability before requesting.
【Inquiries】 TEL. 03-6371-1405, Regional Transportation Department, Japan Private Railway Association
List of Companies Featured in the 'Regional Private Railway Travel Guide: A Journey on Hometown Railways' 2026 Edition (56 companies)
【Tohoku Region】
Kounan Railway Co., Ltd., Tsugaru Railway Co., Ltd., Aoimori Railway Co., Ltd., Iwate Development Railway Co., Ltd.
Sendai Airport Transit Co., Ltd., Fukushima Kotsu Co., Ltd.
【Kanto Region】
Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Co., Ltd., Jōshin Dentetsu Co., Ltd., Jōmō Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Chichibu Railway Co., Ltd.
Chōshi Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Kominato Railway Co., Ltd., Isumi Railway Co., Ltd., Yamaman Co., Ltd.
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company, Takaosan Ropeway Co., Ltd., Enoshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Shonan Monorail Co., Ltd.
Odakyu Hakone Co., Ltd., Fujisanroku Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
【Hokuriku-Shin'etsu Region】
Alpico Kotsu Co., Ltd., Ueda Dentetsu Co., Ltd., Nagano Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Toyama Chihō Railway Co., Ltd.
Manyosen Co., Ltd., Hokuriku Railway Co., Ltd.
【Chubu Region】
Izu急行 Co., Ltd., Izu Hakone Railway Co., Ltd., Gakunan Dentetsu Co., Ltd., Shizuoka Railway Co., Ltd.
Oigawa Railway Co., Ltd., Enshu Railway Co., Ltd., Toyohashi Railroad Co., Ltd., Mie Railway Co., Ltd.
Echizen Railway Co., Ltd., Fukui Railway Co., Ltd.
【Kansai Region】
Keifuku Electric Railroad Co., Ltd., Eizan Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Sagano Scenic Railway Co., Ltd., Kita-Osaka Kyuko Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Mizuma Railway Co., Ltd., Wakayama Dentetsu Co., Ltd., Kishu Railway Co., Ltd., Nosenden Co., Ltd., Kobe Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Sanyo Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
【Chugoku Region】
Okayama Electric Tramway Co., Ltd., Mizushima Rinkai Railway Co., Ltd., Hiroshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Ichihasu Dentetsu Co., Ltd.
【Shikoku Region】
Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Co., Ltd., Iyotetsu Co., Ltd., Tosa Denki Kotsu Co., Ltd.
【Kyushu Region】
Shimabara Railway Co., Ltd., Nagasaki Electric Tramway Co., Ltd., Kumamoto Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: キャンペーン