Retired train car remodeled as guest room at glamping site

ICHIHARA, Chiba Prefecture–A retired train car still accommodates people, but as a guest room at the Takatakiko Glamping Resort here.

The KiHa 203 model was originally introduced for service by Kominato Railway Co. in 1963 and ran on the city’s countryside routes for 57 years.

The train car was donated to GR Holdings Co., which put it on display at the glamping site in May 2023 and then decided to turn it into an accommodation facility.

While straps and the driver’s cab remain intact, the guest room is fitted with beds, a kitchen sink and other features, including high-speed Wi-Fi service.

The train car-turned-guest room now sits on a section of old Kominato Railway track that runs alongside new tracks, offering visitors a chance to see trains passing by up-close from the balcony.    

“We want not only train enthusiasts but also families and couples to spend quality time here,” said Sayaka Kumazaki, 37, president of Hamiru Co. which operates the popular glamping site.

The railway company is struggling to attract passengers as local communities along the line are becoming depopulated.

“This facility has changed the flow of tourists,” Mayor Joji Koide said during an opening ceremony held July 26, referring to the glamping site that opened in 2021. “We will work together with Kominato Railway to attract even more visitors.”

For reservations and inquires, visit the official website at (https://www.takatakiko-glamping.com/).