Ride The SL Paleo Express in Chichibu: Everything You Need To Know

The SL Paleo Express is the closest steam locomotive you can find near Tokyo. Located in Chichibu in the Saitama prefecture (up north of Tokyo), riding the SL Paleo Express is a unique experience,

Step aboard the SL Paleo Express, a steam locomotive that transcends time and transports you to a bygone era of charm and elegance. Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Chichibu, this enchanting train ride offers not just a mode of transportation but a nostalgic journey through history.

As the rhythmic chug of the locomotive sets the tone, embark on a captivating adventure that seamlessly blends the allure of vintage travel with the breathtaking beauty of Chichibu’s countryside. Come explore the magic of the SL Paleo Express, where the echoes of steam, the clickety-clack of wheels, and the scenic vistas come together to create an unforgettable experience.

Ride The SL Paleo Express in Chichibu: A Unique Travel Experience

The name SL Paleo comes from Steam Locomotive, and the word “Paleo” comes from “Paleoparadoxia”, a marine mammal which lived in the area millions of years ago.

How To Get SL Paleo Express Tickets

There are two ways to buy your ticket to ride the SL Paleo Express. You can either buy your seat ticket online in advance (which I recommend) or directly at the booth.

Here is the link to book a ticket for the SL Paleo Express (in Japanese). Sadly, the website does not have an English version. You need to create an account before you can purchase a seat.

While the reservation website is in full Japanese, you can use Google Translate to help you go through the booking process. It might seem intimidating when you arrive on a page full of kanji, but it’s doable; of course, the translation isn’t the best, but it’s enough to understand the booking process, and it works with a foreign card as well (it’s not always the case).

You can also go to the station and get a ticket there if you feel more comfortable doing so. However, I’d recommend booking online in advance, especially during peak season (i.e., spring), when Chichibu is bustling with people.

Website to book your tickets & Chichibu railway website with additional info and photos.

Once you have your reserved seat to enjoy the ride, you’re almost ready to go; you also need to get a ticket for the portion of the journey you are doing.

If you’re using the Chichibu Free Pass (highly recommended), you don’t need to buy an extra ticket as your Chichibu Free Pass covers the journey; you must pay for your seat. All you have to do is to present it when boarding the train.

Price of a ticket to ride the SL Paleo Express: 1000yen

Tips To Ride The SL Paleo Express.

• If you plan to visit Chichibu to ride the SL Paleo Express, please check the train’s operating days, as it does not operate daily. The operating timetable can be found here.

• Check out the timetable to reach the station before the train departs. There aren’t many trains that run throughout the day on the Chichibu Line, so plan ahead to avoid missing your train’s departure.
  
• If your journey starts from Mistumineguchi, arrive early to watch the locomotive maintenance in the train park (SL Tenshadai): it’s an additional fun way to watch the locomotive and see all the work it requires before they attach it to the wagon before the ride.

• While you can board at each SL Paleo stop (listed below), it’s best to board at Mistumineguchi or Kamagaya, as this is where the outbound or return journey starts.

• If you want to see the locomotive during the ride, reserve a seat in the train’s last carriage. I did it, and I loved peeking out the window to watch the locomotive from the back of the train.
  
• Make sure to get the stamp. Collecting eki (station) stamps and stamps in Japan when you visit places is a super fun and cheap souvenir. Remember to collect the SL Paleo stamp on board and the stamp you can find at the station.

• While you have a designated seat, you can explore the train before the departure of this one. It’s only four carriages, but it’s nice to walk through to get the feel of the train.

• Here are all the stations the SL Paleo Express goes through:
  – Kumagaya Station
  – Yorii Station
  – Fukaya Station
  – Higashi-Yorii Station
  – Nagatoro Station
  – Mitsumineguchi Station
  – Chichibu Station

My Experience Riding the SL Paleo Express In Chichibu

I absolutely loved riding the SL Paleo Express; it’s one of the highlights of my getaway in Chichibu.

For my journey onboard the SL Paleo Express, I chose to ride from Mistumineguchi Station all the way to Nagatoro Station. Nagatoro isn’t the last stop of the steam locomotive, but this is as far as my Chichibu Free Pass covered the ride (there are three more stops after this one).

The journey lasted 1h05, allowing me more than enough time to enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the misty mountains as the weather had only started to clear up an hour before the ride started. Lucky!

As I mentioned above, the Chichibu line has a limited number of trains, so make sure to check the schedule to get to Mitsumineguchi before your departure.

So, like everybody else who was here for the ride or simply to enjoy watching the train, I arrived an hour before the departure of the SL Paleo Express. This way, I could admire the train while it was being serviced in the Royal Park.

It’s fun to observe the train’s whole setup and see how they reattach it!

We boarded 15 minutes before departure; you can take a selfie with the locomotive from up close then. Once on board, the seats are simple yet comfortable.

Pamphlets tell you what’s being sold on board. You can also find goodies, snacks, and food, all SL Paleo Express-related, of course.

I found some goodies available in shops around the station, so buying something without riding the train is not exclusive to the onboard passengers. However the price is the same so it’s probably best to buy them on board for the experience!

The design of the inside of the train, while very simple and retro, is still very comfortable; you can also pop the windows open, allowing you to pop your head outside and take photos without being bothered by the window.

The views are pretty amazing everywhere, but the view of the Arakawa River when crossing the Arakawa bridge before arriving at Nagatoro station is truly breathtaking. The train driver notified us right before the bridge’s passage, as it’s a fleeting moment, and it’d be a shame to miss any seconds of this stunning view.

Conclusion on riding the SL Paleo Express

I believe this is a great and unique activity to do in Japan whether you are a train amateur or not; it’s truly fascinating to see a steam train up close and ride it!

It’s also a perfect activity for all types of travellers; I did this as a solo traveller, but you can also enjoy it in a group or with kids. I hope this post made you want to embark on an adventure on board this amazing train ride. I know that personally, I’d be happy to ride the train again if given the opportunity!

If you’d like to know more about Saitama and Chichibu, check out the Saitama Tourism Official Website and Chichibu Tourism Official Website.

Here is more travel content about Japan you should check out:

• First Time In Tokyo Travel Guide
• How To Spend One Day In Nara
• 11 Things To Know Before Visiting Japan
• 3 day In Kagoshima Itinerary
• One Day In Kagoshima Travel Guide
• Spend One Day At Universal Studio Japan in Osaka

Also, follow me on Instagram to check out my travel adventures around Europe and more lifestyle content @cpt_lyne!

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Ride The SL Paleo Express in Chichibu: A Unique Travel Experience

✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip

✈ How To Find Flights?

– Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
– Google Flight is also a good help when it comes to comparing flights.

✈ Where To Book Accommodations?

– Booking.com: plenty of options and ways to get discount the more you book.

✈ Best Sites To Book Activities

My go-to website when I need to book an activity is GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.

– Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).

✈ Other helpful travel resources

– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them. It was a great help when we needed a place to keep our luggage safely while we left the city for a few days.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe. It is very reliant and easy to use.

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