Where is Tenryu Futamata Station located and how do I get there?

Tenryu Futamata Station is located in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. You can reach the station via the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad line, which connects to major stations like Shinjohara and Kakegawa. The station serves as an important junction point for local train services in the Tenryu region.

What train lines and services operate at Tenryu Futamata Station?

Tenryu Futamata Station is served by the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad, specifically the Tenryu Hamanako Line. The station offers local train services connecting passengers to destinations including Shinjohara, Miyakoda, and other stations along the scenic railway route through rural Shizuoka Prefecture.

What are the station facilities and amenities at Tenryu Futamata Station?

Tenryu Futamata Station is a small local station with basic facilities including a station building, ticket office, and waiting area. The station features traditional Japanese railway architecture and serves as a gateway to the surrounding Tenryu area attractions. Parking facilities are available for travelers arriving by car.

What tourist attractions are near Tenryu Futamata Station?

Near Tenryu Futamata Station, visitors can explore the scenic Tenryu River area, traditional Japanese countryside landscapes, and local hiking trails. The station provides access to the historic Tenryu region, known for its natural beauty, forest areas, and traditional rural Japanese culture. The area is popular for nature tourism and outdoor activities.

Tenryu Futamata Station

4.2 (392)Train StationTransit StationTransportation ServicePoint Of InterestEstablishment

Tenryu Futamata Station is a historic railway station located in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Operating on the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad Line, this station serves as a living museum of Japan's railway heritage and has been designated as one of the Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. The station complex dates back to 1940 and represents a rare example of preserved prewar railway architecture that continues to function as an active transportation hub.

The station's most distinctive feature is its fan-shaped locomotive turntable, one of only a handful still operational in Japan. This manually operated turntable, measuring 17 meters in diameter, was used to rotate steam locomotives and remains in working condition today. The station building itself showcases traditional wooden architecture from the Showa period, with its original ticket gates, waiting rooms, and staff quarters intact. The adjacent roundhouse engine shed, though partially preserved, adds to the authentic atmosphere of a bygone railway era.

Visitors can explore the station grounds freely and observe the turntable, which is occasionally demonstrated for special events and railway enthusiast gatherings. The station museum area displays vintage railway equipment, old photographs, and artifacts that chronicle the history of the Tenryu Hamanako line. Photography enthusiasts particularly appreciate the nostalgic scenery, especially when heritage trains or restored railcars pass through the station. The surrounding area maintains a quiet, rural character that enhances the sense of stepping back in time.

Tenryu Futamata Station is accessible via the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad Line, approximately 40 minutes from Kakegawa Station or 90 minutes from Shin-Tokaido Station. The journey itself offers scenic views of tea plantations and Lake Hamana. Visitors traveling from major cities should take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Kakegawa Station, then transfer to the local line. Entry to the station grounds is free, though donations for preservation are welcomed.

Tenryu Futamata Station

4.2 (392)Train StationTransit StationTransportation ServicePoint Of InterestEstablishment

What other travelers are saying about Tenryu Futamata Station

Both for the Evangelion experience, and as a general railfan experience, this place is highly worth a visit. In fact, I recommend riding this entire train line, simply for the experience. This part of Japan is beautiful. It's countryside, with fresh air, kind folks, and small trains reminiscent of a former time. Five stars.

Oscar Lupton

Dec 10, 2022

Beautiful station. Made a special trip to visit this site.

Tenryufutamata station is train station. It became a movie model.

This is a manned station and there is a lively atmosphere in front of it. I used this station to go to the Akino Fuku Art Museum, but when I found out that there was a tour of the train depot, turntable, and other facilities starting at 1:50pm, I decided to take part. The station name sign had been temporarily changed due to the event being held.

On December 30th, 2025, I got off the train to take part in the Turntable and Railway History Museum Tour. The ticket gates were already bustling with participants for the "Turntable and Railway History Museum Tour" and the "Ride Experience Tour." Reservations are not required for the "Turntable and Railway History Museum Tour," so tickets can be purchased at the ticket counter. There were over 20 participants in the "Turntable and Railway History Museum Tour," but I think about half of them were using the Tenryu Hamanako Railway. Tenryu-Futamata Station was the model for Shin Evangelion, so the station sign reads "Third Village." There is a ramen restaurant called "Home Run Ken" at the station, and a tourist association is located next door. The station building, platforms, and many of the associated railway facilities are registered tangible cultural properties.