The , nicknamed Smile Rail (スマイルレール), is a Japanese railway line located in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. It operates between in the city of Kitaakita and in the city of Semboku. The Akita Nariku Line is the only railway line operated by the third-sector company .
Service outlines
Trains on the line are operated as "Local" (all-stations), "Rapid", or "Special Rapid", along with the Express Moriyoshi service.
Station list
All stations are in Akita Prefecture.
Transfers are available only at Takanosu (JR Ou Main Line) and Kakunodate (JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen). Local trains stop all stations. Rapid = Can only be used by paying a rapid fare. Express Moriyoshi - Express fare costs 160 yen up to 50 km, 320 yen for longer journeys ●：All trains stop ◆・▲・▼：Partly trains stop（▲：Only inbound、▼：Only outbound） ：Pass StationskmRapidExpress MoriyoshiConnectsLocaleDistanceAmount distanceFormer Aniai Line sectionTakanosu鷹巣-0.0●●JR East： Ou Main Line（Takanosu Station）Kita-AkitaNishi-Takanosu西鷹巣1.31.3●Jōmon-Ogata縄文小ヶ田2.43.7●●Ōnodai大野台2.46.1●Aikawa合川3.69.7●●Kamisugi上杉2.412.1●Yonaizawa米内沢2.915.0●●Katsurase桂瀬5.520.5●Ani-Maeda Onsen阿仁前田温泉4.725.2●●Maeda-Minami前田南1.927.1●Kobuchi小渕2.029.1●Aniai阿仁合3.933.0●●Arase荒瀬2.435.4◆Kayakusa萱草2.738.1◆Okashinai笑内2.840.9◆Iwanome岩野目2.443.3◆Hitachinai比立内2.746.0●●New sectionOkuani奥阿仁3.749.7▲Ani-Matagi阿仁マタギ2.652.3●●Tozawa戸沢8.961.2▼SembokuKami-Hinokinai上桧木内4.765.9●●Sadori左通1.867.7▼Ugo-Nakazato羽後中里4.071.7▼Former Kakunodate Line sectionMatsuba松葉3.375.0●●Ugo-Nagatoro羽後長戸呂2.977.9▼Yatsu八津5.082.9▼Saimyoji西明寺4.086.9●●Ugo-Ota羽後太田3.089.9▼Kakunodate角館4.394.2●●JR East： Akita Shinkansen・ Tazawako Line
History Aniai Line On December 10, 1934, the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the connecting Takanosu with over a length of 15.1 kilometers. Following World War II, the JGR became the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and the line was further extended to by October 15, 1963.
Kakunodate Line On November 1, 1971, the JNR Kakunodate Line began operations from Kakunodate to , with construction continuing north towards Hitachinai to provide a connection to the Aniai Line. However construction was suspended in 1980 due to JNR funding constraints.
Closure The Kakunodate Line was closed by JNR on 11 September 1981, and the Aniai Line on 22 June 1984.
Reopening
The third-sector Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company reopened both the Aniai Line – as the Akita Nairiku Kita ("North") Line – and the Kakunodate Line – as the Akita Nairiku Minami ("South") Line – on November 1, 1986. It also recommenced construction of the suspended link which opened on April 1, 1989, creating the current through-route.
Nicknames Between 2012 and 2017, the line was nicknamed the , referencing the prefecture's beautiful women, known as . On November 1, 2017, the nickname was changed to .
See also List of railway companies in Japan List of railway lines in Japan
References
External links