All Reviews of Gono Line

The Gono Line, which runs along the Sea of Japan, is on the bucket list for many train enthusiasts. I rode it from Akita all the way to Hirosaki. The trip isn’t short, but for much of the ride you can see the Sea of Japan. At times, the train moves slowly right along the coast, with striking rock formations offshore that feel almost within reach. Other times, it passes through small fishing villages and forested mountains.

The scenery keeps changing the whole way, so even after several hours on the train, it never feels long.

Watching the ocean views along the coast was so uplifting.

We happened to catch the Resort Shirakami train, and it made a short stop at Senjojiki Station.

That gave us a chance to step off onto the platform, look out at the Sea of Japan,

and enjoy the sea breeze, walk on the huge wave-cut rock terrace, and take some photos.

The private compartment seats are awesome! They’re usually sofas, but you can flatten them out like tatami mats. There was a live shamisen performance in the car, plus unbeatable ocean views along the way.