150th Anniversary of the first railway in Japan

Today, October the 14th 2022, marks 150 years since the official inauguration of railway operations in Japan between Shimbashi Station and Yokohama Station on October the 14th 1872. Passenger services are said to have commenced the next day.

The original Shimbashi Station continued to be in operation until 1914 when Tokyo Station opened. At that point, Shimbashi Station ceased passenger services and became Shiodome Freight Terminal. Nearby Karasumori Station was renamed and became the Shimbashi Station that is known today.

The original Shimbashi Station building was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. But Shiodome Freight Terminal continued operations until 1986. Major redevelopment of the area then eventually took place and a reconstruction of the original Shimbashi Station building opened on the original site and now houses a small museum with regular railway-related exhibitions.

There is also a 0km post to mark the start point of Japan’s railways.

The original Yokohama Station is where you’ll find Sakuragicho Station today and was renamed in 1915. A new Yokohama Station subsequently opened near where you’ll find Takashimacho Station today. But that was also destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. Yokohama Station was then relocated again to where you’ll find it today.

Little remains of the original railway. However, recent excavations between Shinagawa and Takanawa Gateway Stations found part of the original embankment. What will happen to this is unclear.

But spare a thought for Shinagawa Station. It is often forgotten about when talking about the start of Japan’s railways. Provisional railway operations between Shinagawa Station and Yokohama Station actually started on June the 12th 1872, a good four months before the official inauguration. The first railway operations are marked by this stone, now protected while construction work is carried out.

Because October the 14th is the anniversary of the official inauguration of railway operations, this day each year is known in Japan as Tetsudo-no-hi, which translates as Railway Day. So I hope you’ll mark Railway Day by going on a train trip somewhere!