This week, we travel on different railway lines to discover interesting sights across Japan. If something unusual catches your eye from your train window, get off at the station and go in search of unique places and things. You’ll be surprised by what you find!
Let's start with a trip on the Keihin Kyuko line in Kanagawa. There are 30 stations along the 43.5km line, which runs from Yokohama Station to Misakiguchi terminal. From Yokohama Station, travel to Hinodecho Station, which is two stations away. Here, you can visit the Nogeyama Zoo, which is minutes away from the station by foot. Admission to the zoo, which is run by the Yokohama Greenery Foundation, is free. The municipal zoo opened in 1951 and features 100 kinds of animals, totalling 1,400. After this, continue your train trip. If you wish to enjoy the view from the train window, it’s better to stand. Get off at Kamiooka Station. Visit the "Noh mask classroom" near the station, where you can watch people learning to make Noh masks. Besides hannya (female demon), okina and oni, there are over 400 kinds of Noh masks. Each mask takes half a year to make! As you continue your train journey, you will soon see a thatched roof house from the train window. Get off at Kanazawa-hakkei Station to find out more. The 400-year old house is near the railway, and in fact, the station has been built in the house’s garden! Furthermore, what used to be a guest hall of Kyu-toshogu's Entsuji Temple is now a pottery gallery. A corner of the site is used to run a pottery classroom. You can also soak up the nostalgic ambience of the shops near the station as you explore the area. Drop by a restaurant with a Showa-like atmosphere, located in front of the station. Founded about 60 years ago, the restaurant features cheap and tasty dishes such as tendon, eel, tenzaru, freshly fried tempura or a set meal of grilled fish with shirasu-oroshi and rice.
Next, hop on a train and make your way to YRP Nobi Station. YRP stands for Yososuka Research Park but it actually refers to a building which houses many companies. YRP is the Silicon Valley of Japan, and about 10,000 people work here. As you continue your train ride along the Keihin Kyuko line, you will soon see a Buddha statue and a five-storied pagoda on top of a mountain. It is about 15 minutes from the station by foot. As you stroll to the site of the Buddha statue, you will come across the Kurihama Cemetery. You can also enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo Bay and Boso Peninsula. Continue walking and you will soon see reach the Buddha statue, which is 13.5m high. It was built to protect the deceased in 1983, while the five-storied pagoda was built in 1990.
Continue your train journey and alight at Misakiguchi terminal. Enjoy the scent of the sea as you make your way to the sea. Take a leisurely walk and enjoy the sights on the way, including a radish farm. After walking for about 15 minutes, you will reach Mito Kaigan. End your trip on a beautiful note, by going to the Beach Bum, from where you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the sunset and the sea.
Our next trip of exploration takes us from Tokyo to Yamanashi along the Chuo Line. Start your train journey at Takao Station. The 80km line from Takao to Kofu boasts 20 stations. On the train, open the window to enjoy the wind as the train makes its way to your destination. The train passes through a valley as it leaves the Tokyo area and enters Kanakawa. On the way, you will see an interesting image - a “letter held by hands” on a hill. Get off at Fujino to unravel the mystery behind this unusual sight. The “Green Love Letter”, a symbol of Fujino, is actually an art object made by an artist 20 years ago. Many artists have settled in Fujino, which is an art town. Various art works are scattered around the town, creating a unique atmosphere. Take a 20-minute walk from the station to get a closer look at this “letter”. You will discover that the “letter” is actually made from pipes. This great work of art can be seen from the Chuo Line and the Chuo Highway.
Another unique sight can be seen near Saruhashi (monkey bridge) Station. This district was prosperous as a post station of Koshu Kaido. Here you will encounter one of Japan’s “three odd bridges”, which is used by monkeys and people! As you travel by foot to the bridge, you will come across the Red Fuji Taiko (drum) Dojo, where children, adults and even foreigners are trained. Drop by and you can also try your hand at playing the taiko. After a 10-minute walk, you will arrive at the famous “odd bridge” of Saruhashi. As the valley is steep, piers can't be used. Thus, a horizontal combination of wood pieces is used to support the bridge. It is solidly built, and is also a spot for autumn leaves. If you’re hungry, make a stop at a soba shop, which used to be the Daikokuya inn. Try the Chuji soba for 1000 yen (S$15.20). It includes ginger-flavoured horse meat tatsuta-age.
After leaving Saruhashi, the Chuo Line runs deep into the mountains. Alight at Katsunuma-budokyo Station and visit the Yamasa Farm, which cultivates some 23 kinds of grapes. For 1200 yen (S$18.10), you can indulge in as many grapes as you like. It’s a delicious treat indeed! Next, continue your train journey deep into the Kofu Basin. Alight at an unattended station in the basin and pamper your feet at the free ashiyu (foot bath). The ashiyu will warm your feet after your long train journey and even improve blood circulation. The public ashiyu, which was built five years ago, even has a dressing area and shelves. The unattended station is actually a popular place for people and visitors to gather and chat. It is a good place to rest before you continue your train journey. The next stop is Sakaori Station, one station before Kofu terminal at the end of the Chuo Line. Take a leisurely 15-minute stroll from the station to the Kai Zenkoji temple. The main shrine is the biggest wooden building in East Japan, and is a national cultural property. Here you will experience something unusual – the Nakiryu (roaring dragon). A huge dragon is drawn on the ceiling. If you clap your hands loudly at the centre of the corridor, just under the head of the dragon, you will hear an echo (or a “roar”) around the mouth of the dragon!
Our next adventure takes place on the Uchibo Line in Chiba. The line from Soga to Awakamogawa has 30 stations along it, and offers scenic views from its train windows. Start your trip at Chiba Station. As the train passes the urban areas, you will notice the landscape slowly changing. You will see interesting sights from your window, such as a farm, and the 56m-tall Tokyo Wan Kannon, from where you can see the Tokyo Bay. You will see a sign listing interesting places such as monuments. Get off at Takeoka Station, which is an unattended station. The first thing which strikes you is the welcoming scent of the sea. There is a fishing spot here where you can fish for sea bream. However, as you need to take a boat out to the sea to fish, you need to make an appointment in advance. Continue the train ride and get off once you see a sign which says “Kanaya International Shooting Range”. From the station, travel by foot for 20 minutes to the shooting range, which was built 40 years ago. In Japan, one needs permission to shoot, but don’t worry, you can watch a “live” shoot instead. You can also enjoy the scenic view as the shooting range faces the sea. The place attracts about 5,000 visitors every year.
