Hop aboard this incredibly accurate replica of the friendly blue train for a scenic ride through Shizuoka prefecture
Young ‘uns and the young-at-heart: we’ve got good news! Shizuoka prefecture’s Day Out With Thomas train tour is returning this year with rides running over the winter holidays.
This time around, tours will run from Friday December 16 to Monday January 9 2023, giving Thomas the Tank Engine fans a chance to hop aboard this iconic locomotive designed to look like the main character from long-running children’s show ‘Thomas and Friends’. The excursion takes visitors on a train ride through the Oigawa main line from Shin-Kanaya Station to Senzu Station, with numerous activities to enjoy at both stations.
Guests aboard Thomas can take full advantage of the experience by purchasing exclusive souvenirs from the snack cart as well as munching on Thomas-themed bento boxes, which are available at Shin-Kanaya Station (just make sure you purchase one before boarding).
The Day Out With Thomas event also includes appearances by Thomas’s other locomotive friends including Hiro, Percy, James and Rusty at the Thomas Fair, which takes place at Senzu Station. Bertie the bus will also make an appearance and you can arrange to have a ride on him as well.
At Shin-Kanaya Station, you can tour Thomas’s Maintenance Factory, where you'll get a closer look at how these trains are cared for. Flynn, the bright red fire engine, will also be parked at Shin-Kanaya Station for you to visit during the tour.
The event is run by Oigawa Railway Co Ltd, known for its steam locomotives and tourist trains in Shizuoka prefecture, including this Thomas-themed train launched in 2014.
Tickets are available online (in Japanese only) through a lottery system. While the current lottery has closed, last-minute sales are carried out just before boarding dates if vacant seats are open. You can check availability through the Lawson ticketing website.
Tickets are ¥9,000 per adult and ¥7,000 for children. For children under one year of age, the price is ¥500. For more information on the tour, visit the event website.
This article was originally published on August 12 2020 and updated on October 13 2022.
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- Kaila Imada Associate Editor, Time Out Tokyo
Take a Train Ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
Join Thomas the Tank Engine™, a full-sized operating steam locomotive, as he greets friends of all ages. Thomas and his friends return to the Strasburg Rail Road in 2023!
Thomas the Tank Engine — the famous steam locomotive from the Island of Sodor — will pull your 45-minute excursion ride (4.5 miles east and 4.5 miles returning west on the same track) through the beautiful Lancaster County countryside.
This is the full 45-minute train ride to Paradise, Pennsylvania pulled by the fully operational steam Thomas the Tank Engine.
2023 Dates:
- June 17 – 18
- June 22 – 26
- September 14 – 18
Tickets:
- 2023 tickets will be released for sale at the end of November.
Separate photo opportunities with THOMAS, RUSTY, and MAVIS. Other activities include a visit with Sir Topham Hatt, play pods, a dance party, and more!
The activities for the Day Out With Thomas event are open from 9:30 a.m. each day until one (1) hour after the last Thomas train returns to the Station platform.
All tickets must be pre-purchased online. The Thomas ticket does not include admission to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania nor does it include a ride aboard the regular steam train.
Our standard coaches are beautifully restored in authentic Victorian style. Enjoy the comfort of potbelly stove heat during cold days. During warmer weather, open the windows for some fresh air.