Photo/Illutration The interior of the “Apple Neputa Train” with its apple-shaped “neputa” lanterns, creating a fantastical atmosphere (Provided by Konan Railway Co.)

HIROSAKI, Aomori Prefecture--The Owani Line operated by Konan Railway Co. is famed for its route through a landscape dotted with apple orchards where the fruit at this time of year is ripe for picking.

Now, going beyond the expectations of passengers, the company has brought apples on board.

Konan Railway is operating a special two-car train whose interior is  decked out with around 300 apple-shaped “neputa” lanterns until November.

The Owani Line connecting Owani and Chuo-Hirosaki stations is affectionately known as the “Apple Orchard Train” for obvious reasons.

According to the company based in Hirakawa, Aomori Prefecture, one of the three trains running on the line is operated as the Apple Neputa Train, making eight round trips a day.

Made with Japanese traditional “washi” paper, the lanterns are 15 centimeters in diameter.

They were handmade by neputa artisans in the region, which is famous for festivals featuring gigantic neputa floats.

The interior is lit up only with the lanterns from the evening on weekends and holidays, creating a fantastical atmosphere.

Troubled by a decline in user numbers, Konan Railway started the special service in 2022 with an eye to making the Owani Line a tourism resource.

The company also offers a Spring Apple Neputa Train to coincide with the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, as well as the Kingyo Neputa Train decorated with “kingyo” goldfish-shaped lanterns from July through August.

“We want to attract tourists from home and abroad with the Neputa Train,” said Masashi Nakata, 53, chief of the operation department at the company.

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