Dawn blue moments, morning mist drifting through valleys, moments when sunset dyes river surfaces golden——. Trains cross frames in mere seconds. The heartbeat of looking through the viewfinder to not miss that instant is the essence of railway photography. Traveling by camping car offers the luxury of freely chasing light, clicking shutters until satisfied, and taking a breath beside scenic views after shooting. This time, we’ll guide you through shooting spots that capture “the charm of railways themselves” across 6 lines in Gifu, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga in column format.
- 1. Camping Car Photography Travel【8 Major Benefits】
- ■Nagaragawa Railway ―― “Water Mirror” Stage Created by Clear Streams
- ■Tarumi Railway ―― “Usuzumi Cherry” and Pastel Pink Dyeing Valleys
- ■Meitetsu (Inuyama Line, Hiromi Line) ―― Red Limited Express Racing Kiso River
- ■Rail Mountain Bike Gattan-Gō ―
― Pleasure of “Bicycle Panning” Given by Abandoned Railways - ■Shigaraki Kōgen Railway ―― “Shrine Tunnel Trains” Connecting Pottery Towns
- ■Sangi Railway (Sangi Line, Hokusei Line) ―― Duet of Freight Trains and Narrow Gauge
- 2. Photography Gear & Setup Complete Enhancement
- Etiquette & Safety【10 Fundamental Rules】
- Light, Sound, Scent… Photographing “Local Line Symphony” with Five Senses
1. Camping Car Photography Travel【8 Major Benefits】
| No. | Benefit | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Complete Time Freedom | Arrive 3 AM before dawn → nap → 5 AM blue hour shooting → breakfast → second sleep possible. |
| 2 | Darkroom & PC Environment | Load portable power + monitor beside bed for complete in-vehicle RAW processing → SNS posting. |
| 3 | Drying Room | Dry condensation-covered cameras and rain gear with FF heater for comfort next morning. |
| 4 | Holy Trinity Lenses Ready | Zero unpacking for heavyweight lenses, drones, tripods, step ladders. Minimal theft risk. |
| 5 | All-Weather Shelter | Comfortable standby with engine off during heavy rain or heat. 10 seconds to shooting point when clear. |
| 6 | Reflection Control | Use white vehicle body as reflector substitute for portraits and car + train collaborations ◎. |
| 7 | Regional Economic Contribution Balance | Easy stops at roadside stations, hot springs, local restaurants, becoming micro-tourism advocates. |
| 8 | Overnight with Starscapes & Fireflies | Immediately shoot night sky, fireflies, morning mist right after finishing |
■Nagaragawa Railway ―― “Water Mirror” Stage Created by Clear Streams
The Nagaragawa Railway line where clear Nagara River and emerald green car bodies resonate is famous for “reflections” where trains mirror on water surfaces. Downstream from Minami Kariyasu~Akaike iron bridge, windless early mornings create higher mirror rates, producing fantastical shots capturing two formations in one frame. Gujō Hachiman castle town’s stone pavement and Yoshida River’s water sounds also gently encourage shutters behind you.
Stop-over MEMO
- RV Stay: Roadside Station Shirotori (24h, quiet)
- Gujō Odori Museum for summer dance contemplation, castle illumination long exposure.
■Tarumi Railway ―― “Usuzumi Cherry” and Pastel Pink Dyeing Valleys
Local line Tarumi Railway featuring one of Japan’s three great giant cherry trees, the “Usuzumi Cherry.” Kichihara cherry tree rows, Hinata Station tunnels & iron bridges, and 15-minute walk from terminal Tarumi Station to Usuzumi Park——single-car diesels running cherry schedules are photogenic from any position. When flowers change to pale ink color after full bloom, train red stands out even more in this unique drama.
Stop-over MEMO
- Neo River Onsen Bōsen-yu to warm bodies chilled by flower cold, night cherry illumination + star trail composites.
■Meitetsu (Inuyama Line, Hiromi Line) ―― Red Limited Express Racing Kiso River
The charm of Meitetsu Inuyama Line lies in the contrast between Meitetsu limited express racing through suburban areas at high speed and “local stages” like Inuyama’s Kiso River Bridge and Mikasaguchi’s rural embankments. Good for panning red lines or collaborating with castles in sunset silhouettes. 120km/h roars shake heartbeats through viewfinders.
Stop-over MEMO
- Inuyama castle town miso dengaku lunch → overview shooting locations from castle keep.
- RV Park Inuyama Central has minimal night lighting, excellent for starscapes ◎.
■Rail Mountain Bike Gattan-Gō ―
― Pleasure of “Bicycle Panning” Given by Abandoned Railways
New sensation Rail Mountain Bike Gattan-Gō pedaling along former Kamioka Railway rails. At valley course’s 70m overhead bridge, even self-panning tricks are possible. The experience of “gattan, gotton” sounds from rails turning railway rhythms into physical sensations is unique to here.
Stop-over MEMO
- Sukō Kōgen Campground entry for long exposure combining abandoned railway tracks with starry skies.
- Serve Okuhida local beer in vehicle kitchen for photography discussion sessions.
■Shigaraki Kōgen Railway ―― “Shrine Tunnel Trains” Connecting Pottery Towns
Railways piercing Nichinu Shrine, crossings without barriers, trains passing under suspension bridge bottoms——. The highland route watched over by Shigaraki-yaki tanuki is a photo field where culture and railways intersect. When fresh greenery or drizzle sets in, train headlights softly illuminate forests, creating beautiful gradations from exposure differences.
Stop-over MEMO
- Kiln workshop walking paths for café & pottery experience. Brew coffee in Shigaraki-yaki mugs, turn vehicle into “mobile gallery.”
- Hora-no-miya Bridge recommended two-stage approach: suspension bridge stills & drone overviews after train passage.
■Sangi Railway (Sangi Line, Hokusei Line) ―― Duet of Freight Trains and Narrow Gauge
Yellow electric-hauled freight trains, 762mm narrow “gatan-goton”——rare route Sangi Railway enjoying two personalities on the same line. Ugagawa Bridge freight trains are best in morning front-light, Nyū River curves targeting water mirrors are best in afternoon light. At Megane Bridge, arrange narrow gauge cars + embankments with wide-angle against Suzuka Mountains backdrop.
Stop-over MEMO
- Ageki Onsen for waiting evening freight. Early June challenge fireflies + trains multiple exposure at Inabe River.
- Roadside Station Inabe has lawn sites attached, exquisite Ise tea gelato.
2. Photography Gear & Setup Complete Enhancement
2-1 Essential Hardware
- Two-Body System: Instant switching between wide-angle + telephoto. Sub-camera: high ISO APS-C for panning support.
- Lens Expansion: Load wide-angle zoom (14-30mm) / standard (24-70mm F2.8) / telephoto (100-400mm) / prime (35mm F1.4).
- Tripod Dual-Wielding:
- Carbon medium (video, long exposure)
- Mini tripod or monopod (narrow platforms, on suspension bridges)
- Drone (249g class) + ND set: Aviation law compliance, pre-check beyond visual line of sight prohibited areas.
- Lighting: USB rechargeable LED bar ×2. Vehicle interior instantly becomes darkroom/simple lightbox.
- Rope & Step Ladder: Gain elevation differences, eliminate grass blocking. Rope also for equipment securing and rescue.
2-2 Software & Apps
| Purpose | App | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Angle | Sun Surveyor | Hold AR at shooting location to simulate backlight/front-light during train passage. |
| Cloud Cover & Rain | Windy / SCW | 1-hour granularity cloud tracking. Read morning mist, drizzle, snow appearance. |
| Starscapes | Stellarium | Check bridge silhouettes × Milky Way, fluorescent trains and summer triangle positions. |
| Timetables | JR/Private Rail Official + Railway Now | Push notifications for deadhead, special, freight train passage times. |
2-3 Enhanced Techniques
- Focus Preset + Back-button AF-ON: “Focus preset” + burst for improved yield on S-curves and tunnel exits.
- Exposure Differential: RAW processing premise with highlight -1EV, shadow +0.7EV conscious bracket shooting.
- Bulb Long Exposure: Night trains + star trails at F4, ISO400, 15 minutes. Mobile battery power avoids sensor overheating.
- HDR Smartphone Combination: Use smartphone HDR off-shots as guide images, Lightroom layer comparison.
- Simultaneous Video + Stills: 4K60p to external recorder, one-handed shutter for decisive moment still saves.
Etiquette & Safety【10 Fundamental Rules】
- No track, bridge, tunnel entry ― No exceptions exist.
- Private property requires asking ― Landowner’s “go ahead and shoot” is the best permission.
- Lights & strobes OFF ― Night consideration not to disturb engineer’s dark adaptation.
- Pack out 3× trash ― Collecting fallen cans too makes next photographers smile.
- Parking at roadside stations, public lots ― Street parking immediately reported, utilize RV parks.
- No idling ― Engine sounds are enemies in silent valleys.
- Drone 1 flight 15 minutes ― Minimize load on wildlife and residents.
- Courteous sharing with bows ― Tripod lines: shorter people priority, tall step ladders at rear.
- No unauthorized photography ― Always ask when people are included, immediate deletion if declined.
- Thank local economy with consumption ― Show gratitude to photographed land through meals, hot springs, souvenirs.
Light, Sound, Scent… Photographing “Local Line Symphony” with Five Senses
Local lines are stages where train running sounds, river murmurs, wood scents, and local people’s lives blend together. Gaining a camping car as “mobile base” allows deep immersion into that stage, unbound by time or place. Pre-dawn preparation, zero-shot frustration, and elation from getting the perfect shot——all of this is the essence of railway photography.
