Seiryū Train Restaurant is a unique dining spot located inside Gōdo Station in Azuma, Midori City, Gunma Prefecture. Gōdo Station is a historic unmanned station on the Watarase Keikoku Line operated by the Watarase Keikoku Railway and is popular with visitors exploring the scenic Watarase Valley.
Located within the station grounds, Seiryū is a rare restaurant where visitors can actually dine inside a real former railway carriage. Together with the station’s nostalgic wooden building, it offers a memorable experience filled with the atmosphere of a classic Japanese railway journey.
Seiryū Train Restaurant uses a carriage from the Tōbu Railway 1720 Series Deluxe Romance Car, which once operated as the limited express Kegon on the Tōbu Nikkō Line.
The famous train operated for approximately 30 years from 1960 and has been carefully preserved and repurposed as a restaurant while retaining much of its original appearance.
The original seats remain inside the carriage, with tables added to make it suitable for dining. Apart from these changes, the interior has undergone very little modification.
Large windows provide views of the natural scenery of the Watarase Valley and trains passing through Gōdo Station. Dining here feels almost like continuing a railway journey while enjoying a meal in a classic Japanese train.
The signature Yamato Pork Bento features flavorful locally produced Yamato pork seasoned with a special sauce based on Nihon-ichi Shōyu, a traditional soy sauce produced by the long-established Oka Naosaburō Shōten company.
The bento is priced at ¥1,200 for takeout and ¥1,300 when eaten at the restaurant, with miso soup included for the dine-in option.
The reverse side of the wrapping paper features a guide to attractions along the railway line, and the bento also comes with a specially designed Japanese hand towel. These thoughtful details make it a fun souvenir as well as a meal.
The Trolley Train Bento is another popular choice, easily recognizable by its trolley-train-themed packaging.
This traditional makunouchi-style boxed meal makes generous use of locally produced maitake mushrooms. It includes maitake mushroom mixed rice and tempura, allowing visitors to enjoy some of Gunma’s local flavors.
The Trolley Train Bento is also priced at ¥1,200 for takeout and ¥1,300 when eaten at the restaurant, with miso soup included for dine-in customers.
In addition to railway bento boxes, Seiryū offers a variety of Japanese-style meals and noodles.
Popular choices include Maitake Mushroom Rice Set Meal for ¥1,400, Sauce Katsuju for ¥1,000, and Watetsu Curry or Mushroom Curry for ¥1,000.
For a lighter meal, visitors can choose from dishes such as Maitake Mushroom Tempura Udon or Soba for ¥1,200, as well as Mori Udon and Mori Soba for ¥700.
The restaurant is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. From December through March, it is closed on Mondays, with the closing day moved to the following day when Monday is a public holiday.
Because Gōdo Station is an unmanned station, visitors can freely enter the station grounds and enjoy the restaurant and its historic railway atmosphere.
Gōdo Station is also famous for its beautiful flowering peach trees. Approximately 300 trees burst into bloom around the station from late March to early April each year.
When the flowering season overlaps with the cherry blossom season, the combination of flowering peaches, cherry blossoms, and passing trains creates an especially spectacular scene.
The annual Hanamomo Festival attracts many visitors, and the area around the station becomes filled with a colorful and festive atmosphere.
The wooden station building was constructed when Gōdo Station opened in 1912. Although it has been expanded and renovated over the years, the historic building remains in use today.
The station building and the platforms for both directions are designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties. The facilities are also recognized as part of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers’ Selected Heritage of Civil Engineering.
In the past, C12-class steam locomotives operated in pairs from Gōdo Station to tackle the steep gradients ahead. The section toward Sōri Station is particularly steep, with the railway passing through the Kusaki Tunnel before climbing rapidly in elevation.
Several attractions can be visited together with Gōdo Station, including Kusaki Dam, Kusaki Lake, and the Tomihiro Museum operated by Midori City.
Surrounded by mountains, forests, and water, the area offers opportunities to enjoy both art and nature. Visitors can explore the lakeside scenery and cultural attractions while using Gōdo Station as a convenient base for sightseeing.
The historic wooden station building, colorful flowering peach trees in spring, and the experience of dining inside a genuine former limited express carriage all come together at Gōdo Station and Seiryū Train Restaurant.
The restaurant is an appealing destination not only for railway enthusiasts but also for families and travelers looking for a memorable local experience.
Enjoying lunch inside a nostalgic train carriage while surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Watarase Valley is an experience that is difficult to find elsewhere.
When visiting Midori City, be sure to stop at Gōdo Station and enjoy a leisurely moment surrounded by railway history, local flavors, and the changing scenery of the seasons.