By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team
The Alishan Forest Railway and its Japanese sister railways – the Oigawa Railway and the Kurobe Gorge Railway – have jointly launched a reciprocal ticket exchange program. From now until December 31, passengers can exchange their used tickets for free rides on the partner railways, aiming to promote railway tourism through this mutual exchange and attract more travelers to experience mountain railways.
Scenic view of the Kurobe Gorge Railway. (Photo provided by the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan)
Japan’s Oigawa Railway and Kurobe Gorge Railway became sister railways with the Alishan Forest Railway in 1986 and 2013 respectively. Any Taiwanese traveler who takes the Alishan Forest Railway “Chiayi–Fenchihu” round-trip journey between now and December 31 can, before the end of this year, exchange one such round-trip ticket for one one-way ticket on the Oigawa Railway’s “Shin-Kanaya–Chūbu-Sangaku National Park” section, or one round-trip ticket on the Kurobe Gorge Railway’s “Unazuki–Kuromata” section. Both full-price and half-price Alishan Forest Railway tickets are eligible for exchange for the corresponding ticket types on the sister railways.
The Forestry Bureau stated that the Alishan Forest Railway resumed service to Fenchihu on January 27 this year. Passengers can take the scenic mountain train, slowly ascending from Chiayi Station at an elevation of 30 meters to Fenchihu Station at 1,403 meters, experiencing the changing forest landscapes across different altitudes. The “Chiayi–Fenchihu” round-trip ticket costs only NT$408. Moreover, aside from the commemorative value of the hard-copy tickets themselves, used Alishan Forest Railway tickets also grant discounts on sister railways in Japan. Travelers can exchange them for a one-way ticket on the Oigawa Railway’s main line “Shin-Kanaya–Chūbu-Sangaku National Park” (1,720 yen / approx. NT$500), or a round-trip ticket on the Kurobe Gorge Railway’s “Unazuki–Kuromata” section (3,420–4,480 yen / approx. NT$1,000–1,350), with options for any carriage class.
Oigawa Railway’s SL steam locomotive and vintage carriages. (Photo provided by the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan)
Discount Details
(1) Oigawa Railway:
1. Location: Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
2. Promotion Period: From now until December 31, 2024.
3. Transfer Info: Take the JR Tokaido Main Line to “Kanaya Station,” then transfer to the Oigawa Main Line to “Shin-Kanaya Station.”
4. Train Section: One-way ticket for the “Shin-Kanaya–Chūbu-Sangaku National Park” section, exchanged one-for-one.
5. Carriage Class: Regular passenger cars (upgrades to SL steam trains require additional payment).
6. Exchange Method: Accepted at “Shin-Kanaya Station” (at the adjacent Plaza Loco), one-for-one exchange – full-price tickets for full-price, half-price for half-price.
(2) Kurobe Gorge Railway:
1. Location: Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan.
2. Promotion Period: From May 3, 2024 (expected full-line operation) to November 30, 2024.
3. Transfer Info: Travelers can take the Toyama Chiho Railway (1,067mm gauge) from Toyama City to “Unazuki Onsen Station” in Kurobe City, then walk about 100 meters to the starting station of the Kurobe Gorge Railway (762mm gauge) – “Unazuki Station.”
4. Train Section: Round-trip ticket for the “Unazuki–Kuromata” section, exchanged one-for-one.
5. Carriage Class: Regular passenger cars, special passenger cars, and relaxation cars (リラックス客车).
6. Exchange Method: Accepted at “Unazuki Station” (advance reservation required), one-for-one exchange – full-price tickets for full-price, half-price for half-price.
For more details on ticket exchanges, please contact the Beimen Station of the Alishan Forest Railway or visit the official website of the Chiayi Forest District Office, Forestry Bureau.
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