Did you know that Iwate prefecture has 7 stations that are serviced by bullet trains? This makes us proud to say that we’re one of the prefectures with the most such stations, allowing easy access to all the major cities – Oshu included, of course. Our bullet train station is called Mizusawa-Esashi Station, and as of March 2025, it’s been operational for 40 years. So, in light of this, I’d like to tell you all about the station that serves as the gateway to the city of Oshu.

About Bullet Trains in General

It’s been over 10 years since I boarded a bullet train for the first time, but it’s still something that I look forward to as an exciting part of the overall travel experience. By simply stepping onto a train, I can zip away to someplace hundreds of kilometers away in a matter of hours: it’s a blessing I try not to take for granted. And I’m not alone in my enthusiasm – many people I talk to express their gratitude for the bullet train system. Furthermore, people taking photos of bullet trains as they glide to a halt on the platform is a common sight, and if you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, “train conductor” is a common answer. Bullet train-themed goods – from socks to sake – are quite popular at souvenir shops as well.

The History of This Station

In honor of the 40^th anniversary, a booth has been set up, detailing the development of Mizusawa-Esashi Station.

During the planning phase, the station was to be called Shin-Mizusawa Station, but since Esashi is right next door, the name “Mizusawa-Esashi” was decided. When operations started in 1985, it was commemorated with a deer dance performance from Esashi: a traditional way of celebration that continues up to the present day. Soon after the station’s establishment, Oshu’s main cultural auditorium Z Hall, and our historical theme park Esashi-Fujiwara Heritage Park, were built. These three iconic locations give Oshu its modern form, I think.

Much of this information was found at the station itself, but it’s in Japanese, so I recommend using a translation app or bringing a Japanese-reading friend.

If You Visit in 2025…

When you arrive at Mizusawa-Esashi Station, one thing that you’ll see is the huge statue of a nambu-tekki ironware kettle. Nambu-tekki is a traditional industrial craft that originated in this region, so this statue symbolizes Oshu’s art, history, and industry all in one, I think.

Additionally, Mizusawa-Esashi Station also serves as the key entryway to the candidate area for the ILC. We want people who come to Oshu for ILC-related reasons to know that we’re ready to welcome them, and for the general public to be aware of this major potential project. So of course, we have banners in support of the possible ILC.

And this is leaving aside the informative Southern Iwate Exchange Plaza, tributes to famous figures from Oshu like Shohei Ohtani and Shimpei Goto, amenities such as the nursing area, plenty of multilingual signage, and much more.

I’ve always thought that one can learn a great deal about a city, town, or village in Japan from its train stations, and Mizusawa-Esashi Station is an excellent example of this idea. Both the station itself, and the surrounding area, showcase things that represent what makes Oshu what it is. It may be a smaller station, but it has character – which is similar to Oshu as a whole, I think. We’re all looking forward to the semi-centennial in 10 years!