The Pingxi Line and Japan’s Enoshima Electric Railway: Free one-day ticket exchange extended to 2015

▲ Japan’s Enoshima Electric Railway and Taiwan Railways’ Pingxi Line will extend the free one-day pass exchange campaign. (Photo / Courtesy of Taiwan Railways Administration)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan Railways’ “Pingxi Line” and Japan’s “Enoshima Electric Railway (abbreviated as Enoden)” began a joint marketing campaign in May 2013, combining their respective mountain and coastal railway tourism characteristics. By allowing free exchanges of one-day passes, they sought to encourage more mutual visits between tourists from Taiwan and Japan.

Over the past year, the collaborative promotion of the Pingxi Line area and Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture has resulted in significant success. Statistics show that by the end of February 2014, over 3,700 one-day rail tickets had been exchanged free of charge between travelers from Taiwan and Japan. The number of Pingxi Line one-day tickets sold and the actual revenue generated also increased by nearly 7%. Therefore, both sides have agreed to extend the exchange activity period.

The Enoshima Electric Railway is located between Kamakura City and Fujisawa City in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, spanning approximately 10 kilometers. The section from Fujisawa Station to Enoshima Station (about 3.3 kilometers) runs through the urban area of Fujisawa, closely connected to the daily lives of local residents. This is very similar to the Pingxi Line’s route through Shiding Old Street and the urban area of Pingxi. Additionally, the famous Japanese anime“Slam Dunk”is set in this region, with Kamakura High School as its backdrop.

This extension of the campaign allows passengers holding the “Pingxi Line One-Day Pass” issued by our bureaufrom now until March 31, 2015to visit the ticket windows at Japan’s Enoshima Electric Railway “Kamakura Station,” “Enoshima Station,” or “Fujisawa Station” to exchange for a free “Enoshima Electric Railway One-Day Ride Ticket” for same-day sightseeing. The exchange method follows a “one-for-one” rule: full-price tickets are exchanged for adult tickets, and discounted tickets for child tickets. Participants will also receive a souvenir after returning a completed questionnaire.

Additionally, international travelers within the above period are welcome to present their used “Enoshima Electric Railway One-Day Ticket” along with their passport at “Taipei Station” or “Ruifang Station” to exchange for a free “Pingxi Line One-Day Pass” for a Pingxi Line journey. The exchange method is the same as above, providing visitors to Taiwan with a more convenient way to explore the scenic beauty of the Pingxi Line. Travelers can also experience releasing sky lanterns at Shiding Station and enjoy the old street scenery around the station, immersing themselves in the local natural landscape and cultural charm.