旧北軽井沢駅 駅舎 保存施設、吾妻郡 長野原町 (Former Kita-Karuizawa Station Building, Preservation Facility, Naganohara)

旧北軽井沢駅 駅舎 保存施設、吾妻郡 長野原町 (Former Kita-Karuizawa Station Building, Preservation Facility, Naganohara)

旧北軽井沢駅駅舎

高原リゾートの歴史を見守ってきた、小さな木造駅舎
北軽井沢の中心にたたずむ旧北軽井沢駅は、かつて軽井沢と草津温泉を結んで走っていた「草軽電気鉄道」の主要駅として活躍していました。
大正から昭和にかけて、多くの旅人や別荘客がこの駅を利用し、北軽井沢のにぎわいを支えてきました。

高原の風が似合う、やさしい木造建築
現在の駅舎は1927年に建てられたもので、どこかお寺を思わせる独特の屋根が特徴です。
正面の欄間には、当時この地の別荘開発に関わった「法政大学村」を象徴する“H”の文字が刻まれています。
木の温もりが残る駅舎は、今も当時の雰囲気をやさしく伝えてくれます。

映画の舞台にも
日本初の総天然色映画『カルメン故郷に帰る』（1951年）では、主人公カルメンが降り立つ駅として登場しました。
映画のワンシーンを思い浮かべながら歩くと、どこか懐かしい気持ちになります。

今は北軽井沢の“思い出スポット”
駅の裏手にはホーム跡が整備され、草軽電鉄で活躍した電気機関車「デキ12」を模した木製モニュメントも展示されています。
季節によっては駅舎内部も公開され、写真撮影や散策にぴったりのスポットです。

小さな駅舎に詰まった、北軽井沢の物語
旧北軽井沢駅は、草軽電鉄の歴史、別荘地としての発展、そして高原リゾートの歩みを静かに語り続ける存在です。
旅の途中にふらりと立ち寄れば、北軽井沢の“昔と今”がやさしくつながる時間を楽しめます。

Former Kita-Karuizawa Station
A Rare Surviving Station of the Kusakaru Electric Railway
The former Kita-Karuizawa Station stands quietly in the center of the highland resort town of Kita-Karuizawa. Once a key station on the Kusakaru Electric Railway—a 55.5 km narrow‑gauge line linking Karuizawa with Kusatsu Onsen—it served travelers, hikers, and villa residents from the 1910s to the 1960s.
Today, it remains one of the very few surviving structures connected to this legendary light railway, cherished by enthusiasts for its unique history and atmosphere.

A Distinctive Wooden Station Building
The current station building was completed in 1927, funded by residents of the nearby “Hosei University Village,” a villa community developed in the early 20th century.
Its design features a temple‑style gabled roof, an unusual architectural choice for a railway station, and the front gable carries an “H” crest representing the villa association.
The warm wooden construction and compact layout give a vivid sense of what rural Japanese light‑rail stations once looked like.

A Railway with Character

The Kusakaru Electric Railway was famous for:
– 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) narrow gauge
– Steep gradients and sharp curves across the highlands
– Small electric locomotives and lightweight rolling stock
– A scenic route connecting two major resort areas
Kita-Karuizawa served as one of the line’s most important intermediate stations, handling both passengers and freight for the growing resort community.

A Station on the Silver Screen
The station appeared in Japan’s first full‑color feature film,
“Carmen Comes Home” (1951),
where the protagonist arrives at this very platform. For many visitors, this adds a nostalgic cinematic charm to the site.

What You Can See Today
Behind the station, the former platform area has been restored, and a full‑scale wooden replica of the iconic DEKI 12 electric locomotive—a favorite among railfans—is displayed as a monument.
During certain seasons, the station building is open to the public, offering a quiet, atmospheric glimpse into Japan’s light‑rail heritage.

A Gateway to the Past
For railway enthusiasts, the former Kita-Karuizawa Station is more than a preserved building—it is a rare surviving witness to the Kusakaru Electric Railway, a line beloved for its character, scenery, and engineering challenges.
A visit here offers a chance to step back into the golden age of Japan’s narrow‑gauge electric railways.