Poppo no Oka is a railway vehicle preservation facility in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture. Operated by Poppo no Oka Co., Ltd., the facility was opened in 2010 as a place to preserve and display historic railway vehicles.
The site was originally planned as a location for raising beef cattle, but the plan was changed and the property was eventually transformed into a railway preservation facility. Today, Poppo no Oka is a popular destination for railway enthusiasts and tourists, with a growing collection of historic train cars and activities developed in cooperation with the local community.
The company behind Poppo no Oka began its business in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1948. In 1968, the business moved to its present location in the Boso region of Chiba, an area known for its relatively mild climate.
The railway preservation project began after the president of the Isumi Railway proposed purchasing a railway vehicle. The idea was approached almost as casually as buying a car, and this unexpected opportunity eventually developed into the preservation facility that exists today.
Over the years, the facility has expanded its collection and strengthened its connections with the local community, creating a unique place where visitors can experience Japanese railway history in a rural setting.
In 2019, Typhoon Faxai, also known as Typhoon No. 15 in Japan, caused significant damage in the region. Following the disaster, the operator ended its own poultry farming business.
The business subsequently shifted to selling eggs produced by cooperating local poultry farms. This change allowed the facility to focus more heavily on tourism, railway vehicle preservation, and activities connected with the local community.
In 2020, additional railway vehicles, including the Nagano Electric Railway MoHa 1003, were brought to the site. The arrangement of the vehicles was also changed so that several cars could be displayed side by side.
Other historic vehicles, including the Japanese National Railways (JNR) Kumoni 83 and JNR 103 series, were also added, making the collection increasingly diverse.
From November 2023, an admission fee of 500 yen for visitors aged junior-high-school age and older was introduced to help support the operation of the facility.
The parking fee includes admission for one person, providing a convenient option for visitors arriving by car.
One of the most appealing features of Poppo no Oka is that visitors can enter some of the preserved railway cars and explore their interiors. This provides a more hands-on experience than simply viewing trains from outside.
Visitors can also experience riding in a guard’s van (caboose) pulled by a small railway shunting vehicle. After a period when this activity was suspended, it was brought back and now uses a Yo 8000-series guard’s van.
The site also preserves a JNR Class 24 passenger car that was once used on the famous overnight “Nihonkai” Blue Train service.
The vehicle has been preserved with features such as its interior lighting and onboard announcement system still operational. Visitors can therefore experience the atmosphere of an overnight train and listen to the familiar style of announcements that once accompanied long-distance railway journeys in Japan.
Poppo no Oka houses numerous historic vehicles from the former Japanese National Railways era as well as important vehicles operated by private railway companies.
One particularly notable example is the dining car Sashi 581-31 from the JNR 583 series. The vehicle was saved from being dismantled with support from a crowdfunding campaign. Plans call for further restoration work to be carried out on the car.
For railway enthusiasts, these preserved vehicles provide an opportunity to see rolling stock that played an important role in the development of Japan’s railway network.
Visitors can take a break at Cafe TKG, where dishes such as rice topped with a raw egg (tamago kake gohan), curry, and soft-serve ice cream are available.
The egg-based menu reflects the site’s connection with poultry farming and provides a simple way to enjoy locally associated food while exploring the railway collection.
The on-site shop sells local agricultural products as well as railway-themed goods. Visitors can also find the famous Nure Senbei rice crackers from Choshi Electric Railway, a specialty known for its distinctive moist texture.
Food and drinks may only be consumed in designated railway cars and open areas. Eating and drinking inside other preserved vehicles is not permitted in order to help protect the historic exhibits.
The nearest station is Kazusa-Nakagawa Station on the Isumi Railway, approximately a 30-minute walk from Poppo no Oka.
Another option is Otaki Station, also on the Isumi Railway. From the station, the facility is approximately 10 minutes by taxi.
Rental bicycles are also available in the area, and traveling from Otaki Station by bicycle takes approximately 20 minutes.
From the Ichihara-Tsurumai Interchange on the Ken-O Expressway, the facility can be reached in approximately 25 minutes via National Routes 297 and 465.
A parking fee is charged for visitors arriving by car, but the fee includes admission for one person.
Poppo no Oka is a distinctive attraction where visitors can discover Japan’s railway history in a peaceful rural setting. Its collection includes rare vehicles from the JNR era and private railway companies, while hands-on experiences allow visitors to go beyond simply looking at historic trains.
The facility is not only aimed at railway enthusiasts. Families and general travelers can enjoy entering historic train cars, experiencing a caboose ride, browsing railway souvenirs, and sampling simple local food.
For visitors exploring Chiba’s Boso Peninsula, Poppo no Oka offers a memorable opportunity to step inside Japan’s railway history while enjoying the countryside of Isumi.