Have you ever been on a train to a snowy land like in a fairy tale? If not, you can buy yourself a ticket for only 1,000 JPY at Kakunodate Station in Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan to have the opportunity to admire the cold beauty through the train window. And this may be the most "valuable" window you have ever seen.

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Since 1964, the bullet-shaped locomotives (Shinkansen) have been traveling across Japan at a maximum speed of 320 km/h on a nationwide railway network of more than 2,700 km. The number of passengers traveling by train each year is estimated at hundreds of millions and has so far exceeded 5.6 billion since its inception. With an average delay of only 36 seconds, this is the most punctual railway system you can experience.

But that’s the story of speed, Japan also has countless smaller branch lines that connect the regions – places the Shinkansen doesn’t reach. These lines are often operated by private companies on their own tracks. They are smaller, have fewer cars and go slower.

The Akita Nairiku Line (in Akita Prefecture, Tohoku Region of Japan) is one of them. Operating since the Youkaku Line was established more than 100 years ago, the Akita Nairiku was originally intended to serve the purpose of transporting minerals and raw materials from the mountains to the towns in the process of building Japan and bringing people hopes and dreams. That mission is no longer there, goods have long since given way to passengers.

Nowadays, instead of transporting people to and from work, they carry the additional responsibility of tourism. With the name "Smile Railway - Journey of Happiness" of Akita Prefecture, the starting point of Akita Nairiku is from Kakunodate town, stretching nearly 100 km through 20 tunnels, 322 bridges, 29 stations and ending at Takanosu town.

Boasting beautiful nature in all four seasons, the nearly 100km long railway through the Satoyama mountains and forests is more than just a simple sightseeing trip. Tourists from all over the world still come to find a seat for this reason.

The journey started from Kakunodate town, the brightly colored AN-8800 small diesel locomotive was waiting at the platform. The entire interior was filled with Akita dog images, from the pictures on the ceiling to the embroidery on the seats. In my opinion, this decoration was a “color bomb” that pushed the passengers’ emotions from excitement to enthusiasm.

Slowly leaving the station, the train left the urban area behind as the snow became thicker and thicker. First, the white fields with the few pretty houses drifted past the window. Since the line was for local people, it would occasionally stop for more than a minute at a tiny station, sometimes without a single person. Even though the train driver knew for sure that no one was getting on, he still leaned out of the door, scanning the station from end to end to ensure that no passengers were left behind. A humane act without exception.

The train slowly entered the mountains ahead, opening up the most beautiful part of the journey. The pine forest canopy was covered with a large amount of soft and powdery snow (the Japanese call it Aspirin Snow, the ideal snow for sports activities). The train tracks took passengers through the canyons. Occasionally, we came across small streams crossing underfoot or tiny trails frozen in winter, even abandoned buildings left alone with nature were also beautiful and quiet.

The single-car train slows down as it passes over scenic points, especially the iron bridges that span the ravines. The weight of the locomotive is enough to make the bridge shudder, sending snow drifts that have been trapped above it pitter-patter onto the roof of the train. These are also the places where you can easily take the most photos while remaining seated in the train.

After about an hour and a half of departure, the train arrives at Aniai Station - a small town station in the middle of the journey, an ideal place for tourists who love quietness to hide away from tourist centers and crowded megacities. The town scene is similar to the small stations that the train passes through, very deserted, rarely seeing a single person. The small town hidden under the snowy mountains will surely help your soul calm down to start a short and quiet exploration. If the tiny museum that you encounter as soon as you step out of the station door simulating the ancient lifestyle in this area is not enough, you can visit the Indigenous Culture Museum to learn about the golden age of the largest copper mine in the country. And just about 2 hours of slow walking is enough for you to complete your visit to Aniai. Most tourists, like me, often end the journey here instead of going to the final station, Takanosu.

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For me, all those experiences for just a 1,000 JPY train ticket (equivalent to 210,000 VND) is a "bargain" for those addicted to hunting for hidden gems on the travel route. High-speed trains traveling at hundreds of kilometers per hour often make it difficult for tourists to feel the scenery along the way. But with a leisurely pace, the Akita Nairiku line is enough to make your heart flutter when you see the changing landscape of the mountains and countryside of northern Japan. Surely, the journey into this snowy land will be an unforgettable experience.