About
Located in the center of Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, Moka Station is known for its unique station building modeled after a steam locomotive. This station building was completed in 1997 and was selected as one of the 100 Best Stations in Kanto. On the east side of the station, the “SL Kyuroku Museum” is attached, where locomotives such as the 9600-type steam locomotive and the D51-type steam locomotive are on display. In particular, the 9600-type steam locomotive is the only one in Japan that can move under its own power using compressed air, allowing visitors to experience its impressive presence.
Around the station, there are various spots where history and culture are alive. For example, at the Moka Cotton Hall, you can learn about the tradition of Moka cotton, which has continued since the Edo period, and experience weaving and dyeing. In addition, the Okabe Memorial Hall “Kinreiso” is a valuable building that preserves the architecture of a merchant house from the Meiji era, featuring highlights such as a strolling-style Japanese garden and a stone wall made with Isoyama stones.
In spring, between Kita-Moka Station on the Moka Railway and the Gogyogawa River, cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers bloom all at once, and the sight of a steam locomotive running through this scenery is breathtaking. Many photography enthusiasts and tourists visit in search of this beautiful landscape.
Moka Station is not just a transportation hub, but is loved by many people as a place where you can feel the region’s history, culture, and natural beauty.