Yahiko Station 110th Anniversary 2026: Trains & Events
Yahiko Station's 110th-anniversary celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026. The programme includes a special Yahiko Shu*Kura train, free gagaku concerts, a chrysanthemum transport train and a Railway Day fair. Train reservations, the packaged tour and purchases at the fair have separate conditions.
Information checked on October 11, 2026: This guide uses JR East's September 10 announcement and the linked official train and tour pages. Announced schedules and prices do not establish remaining tickets or tour places. The cover is an illustrative railway image, rather than a photograph identifying the anniversary train or event venue.
Event date and station anniversary
Yahiko Station on the Yahiko Line in Niigata opened on October 16, 1916. The station's anniversary date and the celebration date are different: the event is announced for October 24, 2026. JR East, Yahiko Village and JR East Niigata City Create are involved in the programme.
Yahiko Shu*Kura: route, timetable and seats
The special rapid service uses Koshino Shu*Kura rolling stock between Echigo-Yuzawa and Yahiko. Both directions are entirely reserved seating; it is not a walk-up non-reserved train.
| Direction on October 24 | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| To Yahiko | Echigo-Yuzawa 10:10 | Yahiko 12:12 |
| To Echigo-Yuzawa | Yahiko 14:30 | Echigo-Yuzawa 16:57 |
- Car 3: ordinary reserved seats. The announcement says reserved-seat tickets go on sale one month before the operating date at 10:00 through Eki-net, reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices. Check the sales channel for the tickets and fare required for your journey.
- Car 1: sold as a meal-inclusive travel product through JR East View Tourism & Sales. A regular Car 3 reservation is a different product.
- Car 2: the event space hosts jazz performances between Nagaoka and Yahiko in both directions.
The announcement lists a Car 1 tour reference price of ¥12,000 per adult, with online sales scheduled from September 11 at 14:00 to October 14 at 23:59, 2026. It restricts this alcohol-related tour to people aged 20 or over. These are announced terms, not a live quote or availability confirmation.
Use the official Yahiko Shu*Kura tour page for current conditions. That page specifies card payment for the tour, which differs from the fair's payment rules. Travel to the tour's meeting point and onward travel after it are separate. For general rolling-stock information, see JR East's Koshino Shu*Kura portal; the October 24 event timetable comes from the anniversary notice.
Free concerts: times and venues
Gagaku group Reigakusha is scheduled to perform at two venues on October 24. Both concerts are free and require no reservation. Seating is limited; visitors may be directed to standing areas. Follow staff instructions, and allow for changes to opening times.
| Performance | Venue | Published hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-performance | Yahiko Village multipurpose facility, Ya Hall | 10:00-10:30; doors 9:30 |
| Main performance | Yahiko Shrine archery range | 13:00-14:00; doors 12:20 |
The inbound special train arrives at 12:12, after the pre-performance has ended. Choose an earlier journey if you want to attend that performance; check the main concert's venue and admission arrangements separately.
Chrysanthemum train and Railway Day fair
The announcement schedules the chrysanthemum transport train from Yoshida at 10:28 to Yahiko at 10:37 on October 24. It carries chrysanthemums offered to Yahiko Shrine and includes the village character Mikopyon. This is a separate announced train movement from the Shu*Kura service.
The Railway Day fair at Ya Hall runs from 11:00 to 16:00. Listed features include a children's stationmaster-uniform experience, Shu*Kura promotion, regional information, merchandise and food trucks. For the sales described in the notice, payment is by cash or transport IC card only; credit cards are not listed as accepted. Goods are limited and may sell out. Free concerts do not make merchandise, food, rail travel or the tour free.
The special train's arrival is also scheduled to include a welcome by Mikopyon and local hosts, a Yahiko Junior High School brass-band performance and a commemorative sticker distribution. These are planned activities and remain subject to organizer changes.
Before traveling
- Choose the October 24 activities you want to attend and check their separate venues and times.
- Reserve the appropriate train seat or tour if using Yahiko Shu*Kura. Do not assume an event invitation, a rail pass or a concert's free admission replaces the required train arrangements.
- Bring cash or an eligible transport IC card for the fair sales described in the notice. The tour website has separate card-payment terms.
- Recheck the organizer's updates and your booking conditions. The programme can change or be canceled, and limited seats or goods are not guaranteed.
Official sources
This is Japan Train's English summary of the September 10, 2026 JR East anniversary announcement, checked together with the official train and tour pages. JR East is the source of the event information, rather than the author of this article. See our rail news listing for other dated railway announcements.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy a ticket for the special "Yahiko Shu*Kura" train?
Car 3 is sold as ordinary reserved seating through Eki-net, reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-Madoguchi. The announcement says sales start one month before the October 24, 2026 operating date at 10:00. Car 1 is a separate meal-inclusive tour sold online by JR East View Tourism & Sales. Check the relevant seller for fare requirements, conditions and availability.
Do I need a reservation to attend the gagaku concert?
No reservation is required for either announced October 24 concert, and both are free. The pre-performance is at Ya Hall from 10:00 to 10:30, with doors at 9:30. The main performance is at Yahiko Shrine archery range from 13:00 to 14:00, with doors at 12:20. Seats are limited, standing admission may apply, and staff instructions must be followed.
What is the age requirement for the special packaged tour?
The JR East announcement restricts the alcohol-related Car 1 tour to people aged 20 or over. That restriction concerns the packaged tour; it is not stated as an age limit for the free concerts or the whole anniversary event. Check the official tour page for its full conditions.
What are the main events happening at Yahiko Station on October 24?
The 2026 programme includes the Yahiko Shu*Kura round trip, two gagaku concerts, a chrysanthemum transport train from Yoshida at 10:28 to Yahiko at 10:37, and a Railway Day fair at Ya Hall from 11:00 to 16:00. Activities take place at the station and separate village venues, including Yahiko Shrine archery range for the main concert.
Can I pay with credit cards at the event fair?
The anniversary notice specifies cash or transport IC card only for the fair sales it describes, so do not rely on credit cards there. Merchandise is limited and can sell out. The separate Car 1 tour website specifies card payment; its rules differ from the fair.
When is Yahiko Station’s 110th-anniversary celebration?
The celebration is announced for Saturday, October 24, 2026. Yahiko Station opened on October 16, 1916, so the actual anniversary date and the celebration date are different.
Are the anniversary trains and all activities free?
The two concerts are announced as free with no reservation. Yahiko Shu*Kura requires reserved train arrangements or the separate Car 1 packaged tour, while merchandise and food purchases have their own costs. The notice lists the Car 1 tour at ¥12,000 per adult as an announcement reference, not a guarantee of current availability.