Okinawan railway - continuation

Naha railway station, after the war turned into a bus station

The dawn of railways in Okinawa dates back to the Taisho era (1912-1926).In May 1914 (Taisho 3), a tram line between Naha and Shuri was opened, which was actually the first railway project in Okinawa. In November of the same year, the Okinawa Basha Railway opened the Yonabaru-Onaha line (later extended to Awase), and in December, the Yonabaru (Naha-Yonabaru) line of the Okinawa Prefectural Railway, known as the Kebin. In 1920, the Itoman horse-drawn railway was opened, connecting Naha and Itoman, in 1922 the Kadena line of the Okinawa Prefectural Railway (Naha - Kadena) was opened, and the following year the Itoman line of the Okinawa Prefectural Railway (Naha - Itoman) was opened, marking the heyday of railway communication in Okinawa.

It turns out that the railway was closed to a large extent because of the advent of buses. The first buses could accommodate no more than ten passengers, but after a series of military sabotage on the railway lines, Okinawans preferred buses.

During the Battle of Okinawa, almost all the tracks were destroyed, so the Okinawans began to build asphalt roads.

Here is what Japanese experts write about this:

‘In 1935, the Itoman horse-drawn tram was closed (and later ceased to exist). The Okinawa Prefectural Railway introduced petrol cars to increase speed and compete with buses. However, the station buildings and tracks were destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War, and operations had to be suspended in 1945.After the war, road construction became a priority and the railway was never revived, but in August 2003, the Okinawa Urban Monorail (Yui Rail) began running between Naha Airport Station and Shuri Station. In fact, it was the first time in 58 years that Okinawa had a railway line.’

Today, there are many museums of the disappeared railway in Okinawa, such as the Yui Rail Exhibition Hall, which has about 400 exhibits, the Yonabaru Light Railway Exhibition and Museum at Yonabaru Station, which was restored for the 100th anniversary of its opening, the Ginowan City Museum, the Okinawa Prefectural Museum (the same one where I learned about the railway), and many others.

The Yui Rail exhibition hall is located on the grounds of the Okinawa Urban Railway Company, with railway-related exhibits on the first floor (see photo) and railway-related exhibits on the second floor.The highlight of the first floor is the video corner. The second floor displays the history and materials of the prefectural railway, as well as rare railway items that railway enthusiasts should not miss, such as old tickets and destination signs from the Japan National Railways era.

‘The exhibition also features tram tracks and prefectural railway rails,’ says Yukio Gaya, a researcher in the sales planning department.

‘The most important thing is that admission to this museum is free.

‘I will publish more information about the Okinawan Railway and the Prefectural Museum very soon. So far, this is all I have managed to translate from Japanese websites. To see the next installment, don't forget to register (no personal data is required, except for your email address); if you have already done so, be sure to share the link to the site with your friends and acquaintances, and spread our content on social media. This way you will help me increase my audience, and it will only be more fun together - be sure.

See you soon!