SL Taiju steam train (Tobu, Nikko/Kinugawa area)
SL大樹
Shimo-Imaichi to Kinugawa-Onsen · near Shimo-Imaichi Station (Tobu), reached from Asakusa via Tobu limited express
A genuine restored steam locomotive hauling vintage-style coaches on the Tobu Kinugawa Line between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen, calling at Tobu World Square. Runs mainly on weekends and holidays; a diesel 'DL Taiju' operates on some other days.
Why children love it: A real puffing, whistling steam train with a turntable display at the stations - combine it with a Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen day out or Tobu World Square miniature-world park.
Honest drawbacks: Far from Tokyo (about 2 hours to the Nikko area); runs a limited timetable mostly on weekends/holidays; each rider needs both a fare ticket and a seat-reservation ticket, bookable up to a month ahead.
- Best for
- Toddlers (2–4), Primary (5–11), Teens (12–17)
- Time to allow
- 3h
- Price
- SL seat-reservation ticket (Shimo-Imaichi to Kinugawa-Onsen) 1,000 yen adult / 300 yen child, IN ADDITION to the base fare. Diesel DL Taiju is cheaper (750/200).
- Booking
- Reserve ahead
- English
- ★★★☆☆
- Indoor / weather
- indoor · rainy-day ok
- Confidence
- Verified
Getting there: Day trip from central Tokyo (~35 min each way). Area: Shimo-Imaichi to Kinugawa-Onsen, Tochigi (Nikko area).
Editor’s note: Out-of-Tokyo day trip — kept in the catalogue but not auto-scheduled into a Tokyo day.