The Senzan Line is a 58.0 km long line connecting Sendai Station in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture and Uzen-Chitose Station in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. The line was named “Senzan Line” after the initials of both Sendai and Yamagata. At Uzen-Chitose Station, the line connects to the Ōu Main Line, and trains on the Senzan Line also run directly to Yamagata Station. It is also known as the first AC electrified railroad line in Japan.
In addition to trains connecting Sendai Station and Yamagata Station, there are also many section trains that run from Sendai Station to Ayashi Station and Sakunami Station. There is also a rapid train that stops only at major stations between Ayashi Station and Yamagata Station.
After leaving Sendai Station, the train runs through a residential area for a while, passing through Kita-Sendai Station with its many condominiums and Tohoku Fukushi University Station with its many student users, before heading to Ayashi Station, one of the operational bases. After leaving Ayashi Station, the train enters the mountainous area near Sakunami Station, famous for Sakunami Hot Springs and the “Cradle of Exchange Electrification” monument, and heads to Uzen-Chitose Station via Yamadera Station, which attracts many tourists. In the mountainous area, there are many tunnels, railway bridges, and curves, and you can feel the ruggedness of the Ōu Mountains.
From Uzen-Chitose Station, the train connects directly to the Ōu Main Line. The line runs parallel to the Yamagata Shinkansen line, which has different track widths, and arrives at its final destination, Yamagata Station.
Please enjoy the scenery as it transitions from residential areas to the suburbs and mountains.
Highlight
Intersection with Tohoku Shinkansen/Sendai ～ Tōshōgū
After departing from Sendai Station and proceeding through a group of turnouts, the train intersects with the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Farewell to the Tohoku Main Line/Sendai ～ Tōshōgū
After intersecting with the Tohoku Shinkansen again, it parted from the Tohoku Main Line and turned its course to the west.
Cluster of apartments/Tōshōgū ～ Kita-Sendai
Near Kita-Sendai Station, many condominiums stand in a row.
Continuous curve/Kitayama ～ Kunimi
From Kitayama Station to the vicinity of Kunimi Station, the railroad tracks curve sharply to the left and right along the hillside.
Yamayashiki Tunnel/Kunimi ～ Kuzuoka
You will pass through a tunnel for the first time since leaving Sendai Station.
Intersection with Tohoku Expressway/Kuzuoka ～ Rikuzen-Ochiai
The main road that crosses under the railroad tracks is the Tohoku Expressway.
Hirose River/Kuzuoka ～ Rikuzen-Ochiai
Cross the Hirose River before Rikuzen-Ochiai Station. The train runs parallel to the Hirose River until near Sakunami Station.
Ayashi Station
It is one of the main stations on the Senzan Line with a platform up to platform 3, and many sectional trains are set up from Sendai Station to this station.
No.2 Hirose River Bridge/Rikuzen-Shirasawa ～ Kumagane
Commonly known as the Kumagane Railway Bridge, it is famous for the beautiful scenery created by the train running over the red railway bridge and the valley.
Kokeshi（limbless wooden doll）/Sakunami
A kokeshi doll stands at the entrance to the station building on the Sakunami Station platform.
Nikkawa River/Sakunami ～ Oku-nikkawa
The Nikkawa River flows under the first red railway bridge outside Sakunami Station.
Across the railroad bridge was once the Yatsumori Station (discontinued in 2014).
Senzan Tunnel/Okunikkawa ～ Omoshiroyama-Kōgen
While passing through the tunnel, the train enters Yamagata Prefecture from Miyagi Prefecture.
Omoshiroyama Signal Station /Okunikkawa ～ Omoshiroyama-Kōgen
There is a signal station in the Senzan Tunnel where trains can cross each other.
Momiji River/Omoshiroyama-Kōgen ～ Yamadera
Immediately after exiting the Omoshiroyama-Kōgen Station, cross the Momiji River. The Momiji River runs parallel to the river until near Yamadera Station.
Tachiya River/Omoshiroyama-Kōgen ～ Yamadera
Before Yamadera Station, cross the Tachiya River.
Murayamatakase River/Takase ～ Tateyama
The blue railway bridge just outside Takase Station crosses the Murayamatakase River.
Intersection with main road/Tateyama ～ Uzen-Chitose
It passes under two major roads, the Yamagata Bypass and the Trans-Tohoku Expressway.
Confluence of Ōu Main Line/Tateyama ～ Uzen-Chitose
Before Uzen Chitose Station, the train will meet the Ou Main Line coming from the Shinjo direction.
・Running parallel to the Ōu Main Line tracks/Uzen-Chitose ～ Yamagata
It runs parallel to the Ōu Main Line tracks from Uzen Chitose Station to Yamagata Station. The tracks are not connected to the Ōu Main Line due to the different track widths.
・Aterazawa Line/Yamagata Station
Series Kiha 101 train for the Aterazawa Line is parked at Yamagata Station.
Route Information
Section: Senzan Line OUtbound Sendai⇒Yamagata
Total length: 62.8km
Number of Stations: 20
Security equipment: ATS-Ps
Train schedules that can be operated
Train Number：825M
Type/Destination: Local train to Yamagata
Section where you can drive: Sendai（08:18）→Yamagata（09:45）
Type of train: Series E721-1000 6 cars
Responsible for real voice train announcements: Yamagata unification center
Train Number：3831M
Type/Destination: Rapid train to Yamagata
Section where you can drive: Sendai（11:07）→Yamagata（12:26）
Type of train: Series E721-1000 4 cars
Responsible for real voice train announcements: Yamagata unification center
Train Number：1857M
Type/Destination: Local train to Ayashi
Section where you can drive: Sendai（13:27）→Ayashi（13:57）
Type of train: Series E721-1000 6 cars
Responsible for real voice train announcements: Yamagata unification center
Train Number：837M
Type/Destination: Local train to Yamagata
Section where you can drive: Sendai（13:45）→Yamagata（15:16）
Type of train: Series E721-1000 4 cars
Responsible for real voice train announcements: Yamagata unification center
