• Must-see
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• Information

• Access
• Fees
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• CategoryTourism・History/Culture・Themepark
• Phone number0988-35-8888
• AreaSouth
• Parking5 cars for free
• TagRailroadExhibition hallSouvenirYonabaru
• Hours10:00-18:00

There was once a railroad in Okinawa which was smaller than the one in mainland Japan. People called it "Keibin railroad" and necessary as tansportion. The first line was opened wchich connects Naha to Yonabaru called Yonabaru line in 1914. The station was destroyed from the WWⅡ, but in 2014 the it was rebuilt in Yonabaru town as the 100th anniversary of the station and now now is used for the museum. At the museum, you can observe the old rail and pictures from that time.

Must-see sights

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  A very rare old rail

  After the war, collecting scrap became fad because of the the demand for iron rose. The wrack rails were all taken away, hence the exhisting rail is very rare. At the museum, the rare old rail is exhibited. The quality of the rail is very good that even it's 100 years old there is no iron rust is on the rail.

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  Reproduced miniature of Yonabaru railroad station

  The miniature model exhibiting at the entrance of the exhibition hall is the reproduced of Yonabaru railroad station which you can observe the scenery back then. This miniature is reproduced by the advice from people who actually used the train because there is rare pictures from back then. After the war, Yonabaru prosper for farming, fishing, stock raising and tile making and is the center of logistics hub.

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  The 9 pillars from back then

  At the back of the museum, there are 9 pillars remains from back then. The station was made from concrete. The pillars survived during the war and are resistered as the resistered monument from Japanese goverment in 2017. Nevertheless, Rails were laid along along the street infront of the pillars back thenm and recently, some were excavated.

A little tidbits of Yonabaru railroad station

Yui-rail is running in Okinawa and is known as the only railroad industry on the island. However, back in 100 years ago, the railroad connects to Naha to Yonabaru was opened in 1914. It was running till 1945, over 31 years as the transportation for Okinawan people. Keibin railway is smaller than the one in mainland Japan, and is called Keiben in Japanese but it became Keibin as Okinawan accesent. The reason why they built station in Yonabaru is because Yonabaru was a big port town back then and it was the enter of logistics.
The rail were laid to make it more easy to conduct logistics to Naha than by carriage. Moreover, the water quality was good in Yonabaru so they made a good sugarcane and rice. Keibin railroad was used for carring the food to Naha as well. After 7 years of its opening, the Showa Emperor rode on the train when visiting Yonabaru.

The keibin was runninf during the Sino-Japanese War and the WWⅡ, the Japanese army installed the military establishments in Yonabaru, hense the station became a target during the War, The station got deadly blow and no longer to use. After the war, some people try to rebuilt the railroad again, but the collecting iron scrap became fad, all the railroad which were remaind were collected and the railroad in Okinawa was completely disappeared.

Yonabaru Keibin station became as a fire station, town hall. and agricultural cooperative(JA). After an agricultural cooperative(JA) moved, they rebuilt the building to Yonabaru Keibin station museum. Many people visit here to know the history of Okinawan railroad.

The admission fee is 100yen, The ticket is modeled after the ticket back then is very classic. You can also see the dating check machine and ticket punch. There are rare pictures and movie back then at the museum and also the very rare old rail is exhibitied too. Commemorative goods are selling at the museum store.

Pictures

Yonabaru railroad station museum Information

Name	Yonabaru railroad station museum
Tel/Fax:	TEL：0988-35-8888
Address:	Postcode: 901-1303 3148-1 Aza-Yonabaru Yonabaru-town Okinawa Souvenir Tourism Tourism Hotel
Access	It takes about 30 minutes from Naha-airport / 15 minutes from Yonabaru Minami IC by a car It takes about 4 minutes from Yonabaru bus stop by walking (Bus No. 37/38/39/41/91/191) It takes about 1 minute from Yonabaru town hall entrance bus stop by walking
Hours	10:00-18:00
Closed	Tuesday/New year's day　(Dec.29-Jan.3)

Entrance fee

Entrance fee	Above Junior high school students 100 yen (There is no admission fees for townpeople)

How to pay

Budget	100 yen
Optional fee	0
Credit card	Not available
Currency	JPY
Reservation	Not available

Museum facilities

Parking	There are 5 free parkingspace is available

Information

Time	30-60minutes
Smorking	You are not allowed to smoke at the museum
e.t.c	You are not allowed to take pictures inside the museum, The museum welcomes the visitors with disability

A little advise from Churashima travel

A brief comment	You can learn the Okinawan railroad history. Here is the best spot for train fans!/p>
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