Niimi Ekimae - 新見駅前

This is the first of a few posts and videos about my Seshun 18 Trip this year through the Chukoku region of Japan on local train lines.

Niimi station

Niimi is a station in a city of the same name in the mountainous back country of Okayama prefecture. In other words, it's up in the mountains that make the backbone of Honshu--Japan's main island. The train line and major areas of the city parallel the Takahashigawa river. The station is a crossroads for local lines that cross from the Pacific and Japan sea coast of Japan. From here Lines connect through to Hiroshima, Okayama and Himeji on Pacific ocean side and Yonago and Shinji on the Japan sea side.

I came through here once on one of my first novice Seishun 18 Kippu trips riding the line from Shinji in the early spring and I remember it being rather cool. This time in the middle of August it was hotter and more humid than I expected.

Niimi seems like it would be a nice place if you had a car and could get around the area further from the station, but it's nowhere on the tourist map. Because I only had and hour till my next train, I quickly explored the area in front of the station and picked up some lunch.

Looking down river back to the Seto Inland Sea.

In front of the station is this statue commemorating something I don't know. Statues and taxi/bus lanes like this are common for larger stations in the rural areas of Japan.

Looking down the street that leads to the station. Reminiscent of cities in Montana or the Dakotas back in the USA.

Old Toshiba electronics dealership. I love the old rainbow logo on the sign.

More signs downtown. The red lantern like one is for a local festival.

Takahasigawa looking downstream.

Stairs leading up the embankment

Takahashigawa looking upstream.

Platform information in Niimi station.

大きな地図で見る