Gakunan Electric Train: A New Outlook in the Foothills of Mt. Fuji

Overview

Gakunan Electric Train is a 9km private local railway which operates in Fuji City, in Shizuoka Prefecture. The train runs in the foothills of World Heritage Site Mt. Fuji, and it is promoted as having views of the mountain from every station on the line. Running through an industrial area, the train passes many factories. To make the most of this, the company runs a special "night view train". On this train, the lights are turned off after dark so that passengers can enjoy night views of the various illuminated structures and platforms. See the strategies the company has implemented to increase ridership. Also, in "Avid Rail Communities", see Japan's largest outdoor model rail facility, Japan Garden Railway, where members can run their very own model engines.