tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252992382024-03-13T08:38:21.645+09:00Japanese Landscape and LocationsPlaces. Mostly Japanese.sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.comBlogger460125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-27945166290394137802016-03-13T11:53:00.000+09:002016-03-13T11:53:11.615+09:00Return To Tanise no TsuribashiBack in 2008 I proposed to Yuko on <a href="http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/2008/05/where-i-proposed-or-tanise-no.html" target="_blank">Tanise no Tsuribashi</a> and we went back there on a little trip 8 years later and now with an extra passenger in the car.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25741608825/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="480" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1667/25741608825_11d85cda35_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Here's our extra passenger. She got a car sick throughout the trip. To many windy roads and Dada's crazy driving.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25620614952/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1470/25620614952_e631dba447_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
The bridge was pretty scary at first. I'm sure the slippery wood and the rain didn't help either.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25440887050/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1717/25440887050_5840c651cc_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Pretty soon into the walk across the bridge Mia got use to it.<br />
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It's pretty high up.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25114997593/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1515/25114997593_e75bb5e072_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
After the fist half we were crossing the bridge with no problems. But she wanted to hold our hands.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25440898340/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1684/25440898340_59670687cd_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Almost to the end.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/25111201474/in/album-72157665261065370/" title="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016"><img alt="Tanisenotsuribashi - Mar 2016" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1625/25111201474_f249b75f6b_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
Looking back.<br />
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It was wet and cold so we returned quickly.<br />
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I'm happy to say that the cup and the great spring water is still flowing.sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0Uenoji, Totsukawa, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture 637-1103, Japan34.0996354 135.7616914000000234.0470404 135.68101040000002 34.152230399999993 135.84237240000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-87903809797030791512014-06-14T11:39:00.001+09:002014-06-14T11:39:54.956+09:00Kizugawa Trip<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/14229744299" title="20140601-KizugawaTrip-3 by David Kawabata, on Flickr"><img alt="20140601-KizugawaTrip-3" height="480" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14229744299_352c3ea1d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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My first job in Japan was in the suburb of Sanda. Trains on the JR Fukuchiyama Line would originate there travel down the mountains to Amagasaki before going under Osaka city center and coming out at Kyobashi on the loop line. This line, Katamachi Line, would then curve over the mountains and down to a station called Kizu in far south of Kyoto Prefecture. I always wondered where the trains that I took on many a trip into Osaka would end up, but never got much farther than Kyobashi. On a whim a few Sundays ago I rode the line to the end starting at Kitashinchi after doing some shopping in Umeda.<br />
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Emerging from under the earth at Kyobashi, the double track then runs elevated partially through eastern Osaka city into the carpet of low-rise buildings that makes up Daito and Hirakata cities. Eventually more and more open areas appeared and more and more farms showed up and the train pulled away from Osaka city. At Matsuiyamate Station the line becomes single track and does some snaking through some nature only to quickly emerge back into the quasi-suburban quasi-rural landscape that the train runs through till its terminus at Kizu. The amount of new construction along the line between Matsuiyamate was quite amazing. Who is exactly buying all these houses? I looks like the cities in east of Los Angeles that were all built up during the housing bubble of the 2000’s. I guess that many of these houses are owned by families looking for more space, the Japanese version of the American Dream: a car, 0.7 kids, a pet, and an insanely long commute into the city for work.<br />
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It was interesting to finally see Kizu Station, named after the village and river its located in and next to. To the east are more and more mountains with less and less people. I have actually traveled through this station before taking the Kansai Main Line to Kameoka in Mie. Trains end up here taking the “low road” (as compared to the Katamachi Line’s “high road”) around the mountains starting at Tennoji Station. They head past Nara Station and Kizu Station before reaching the point where the express trains stop and the few and infrequent rural local trains start at Kamo.<br />
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I looked for a short walk from Kizu Station to another station near by and chose heading towards Kyoto following the JR Nara Line. After crossing the Kizu River I looped back under the bridge and cut through some heavy growth to get some photos of trains on the Nara Line crossing the Kizu River. Hopefully one will show up on next years train calendar. It was great being there under the bridge, listening to the birds, watching the water, and waiting for the next train so I could snap some more photos.<br />
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Back up and over the banks I found my way to Kamikoma Station passing by some great old buildings and a maccha farm. The little park in front of the station was so serene covered in long late afternoon shadows. Taking the next train I eventually cut over to the Kintetsu Line and got to Ikoma where I found a classic sento for a well needed bath and headed home (via the “middle road”). A great day exploring in the early summer.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/14415238414" title="20140601-KizugawaTrip-2 by David Kawabata, on Flickr"><img alt="20140601-KizugawaTrip-2" height="150" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14415238414_65eb5eeda3_q.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/14415109042" title="20140601-KizugawaTrip-1 by David Kawabata, on Flickr"><img alt="20140601-KizugawaTrip-1" height="150" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5040/14415109042_8b34af0fbb_q.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/14415242304" title="20140601-KizugawaTrip-4 by David Kawabata, on Flickr"><img alt="20140601-KizugawaTrip-4" height="150" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3899/14415242304_81ccbc3d57_q.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/14393269766" title="20140601-KizugawaTrip-5 by David Kawabata, on Flickr"><img alt="20140601-KizugawaTrip-5" height="150" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2907/14393269766_7f75b6e14f_q.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157644751457158/" target="_blank">Kizugawa Trip Set on Flickr</a></div>
sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-36628396893234106892014-03-18T09:31:00.001+09:002014-03-18T09:33:41.569+09:00Tanba, Hyogo 兵庫県丹波市<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/13219504183/in/set-72157642488782795/player/" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157642488782795/">Tanba, Hyogo 兵庫県丹波市</a>, a set on Flickr.</div>
Went to the relatives house up in Tanba yesterday and that gave me a chance to try out the new camera. I've dropped the big Canon 40D for a new, lighter, and smaller Olympus OMD EM-5 and I love it. Great shots and control. Got to get use to the feeling of the Olympus over the Canon. Overall it's a great camera and really fun to take out on a photo walk.sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-38741916646513420812014-03-16T13:52:00.002+09:002014-03-16T13:52:58.510+09:00Modern Transportation Museum / 交通科学博物館<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/13182472795/" title="20140302-BentenchoMuseum-8 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20140302-BentenchoMuseum-8" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3828/13182472795_1d3830b050_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a>
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On April 6th the <a href="http://www.mtm.or.jp/eng/" target="_blank">Modern Transportation Museum</a> is closing. The museum is no longer modern, but was a great place to take kids. It will be crowded, but if you have the chance to make it to Bentencho Station (弁天町駅) between now an the 6th I totally recommend it. Thankfully many of the exibits will be moved to the second JR West run train museum near Kyoto Station.<br />
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What made the Modern Transportation Museum so fun was all the great hands on exhibits. You could climb into the cab of an original first generation Shinkansen, reprogram a signboard, and open and close a real train door. The museum was also very affordable at only ¥400 for adults and ¥100 for children. I was only able to go twice, but I loved it each time.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/13182600493/" title="20140302-BentenchoMuseum-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20140302-BentenchoMuseum-9" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/13182600493_95d2f9fe1c_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157642412716905/">Modern Transporation Museum / 交通科学博物館</a>, a set on Flickr.</div>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-16170648387159357792014-01-03T19:44:00.001+09:002014-01-04T14:13:30.526+09:00Yagi-Shingu Line #168<div style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0; width: 500px;">
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This September I had the opportunity to ride Japan's longest bus line. </div>
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The Yagi-Shingu Line #168 is a great adventure for anyone living or traveling around Japan. Check out the guide I made for it below.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X28MqCxGqrA/UseYEyfEGCI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Zp2v8ww3J2Y/s1600/YagiShingu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X28MqCxGqrA/UseYEyfEGCI/AAAAAAAAAw4/Zp2v8ww3J2Y/s640/YagiShingu.png" width="232" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/vpy0vt04l3pqtpt/YagiShingu.pdf" target="_blank">View the full guide in PDF format.</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11726991915/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-1"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-1" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/11726991915_2be40677f0_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727764916/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-2"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-2" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/11727764916_97d6b7cf2d_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727396484/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-3"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-3" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/11727396484_131f26b729_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727403044/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-4"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-4" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3683/11727403044_d66e17d3e3_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727278803/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-5"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-5" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/11727278803_cfeee09efa_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727413914/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-6"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-6" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/11727413914_4272919986_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727072035/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-13"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-13" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/11727072035_78193420a4_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727341683/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-14"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-14" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/11727341683_39f3b77fbd_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727852386/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-15"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-15" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/11727852386_cdc8c57d49_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727859326/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-16"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-16" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7450/11727859326_65807dc4df_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727362603/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-17"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-17" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/11727362603_07819494a9_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727369743/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-18"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-18" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/11727369743_015384549b_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727881136/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-19"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-19" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3807/11727881136_012de68098_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727889166/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-20"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-20" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5526/11727889166_539c4c9ddb_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727132565/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-21"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-21" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5481/11727132565_aabdbd0d25_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727907576/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-22"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-22" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/11727907576_9cefc2a97c_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727542504/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-23"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-23" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2812/11727542504_046037f8e5_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/11727552564/in/set-72157639345429544/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20130930-168YagiShingu-24"><img alt="20130930-168YagiShingu-24" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3707/11727552564_11ca632e6e_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157639345429544/">Yagi-Shingu Line #168</a>, a set on Flickr.</div>
sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2Yamatoyagi Station, 5 Chome-1 Naizencho, Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan34.5130979 135.7919792000000134.4869299 135.7516387 34.5392659 135.83231970000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-57822544486563091862014-01-01T00:00:00.000+09:002014-01-01T00:00:02.307+09:00Welcome 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ptVKH7IQZo/UsIVOiznoPI/AAAAAAAAAv0/Y_lBjsXbxxE/s1600/%25E5%25B9%25B4%25E8%25B3%2580%25E7%258A%25B6%25EF%25BC%2592%25EF%25BC%2590%25EF%25BC%2591%25EF%25BC%2594+Front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ptVKH7IQZo/UsIVOiznoPI/AAAAAAAAAv0/Y_lBjsXbxxE/s400/%25E5%25B9%25B4%25E8%25B3%2580%25E7%258A%25B6%25EF%25BC%2592%25EF%25BC%2590%25EF%25BC%2591%25EF%25BC%2594+Front.png" width="270" /></a></div>
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Here's wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!</div>
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I hope 2014 will be a great one for all of us.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETmrx4lgvv4/UsIVO0rzTHI/AAAAAAAAAv4/Gj2uwrZooGI/s1600/Photo+H25-12-31+9+16+35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETmrx4lgvv4/UsIVO0rzTHI/AAAAAAAAAv4/Gj2uwrZooGI/s200/Photo+H25-12-31+9+16+35.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ev0w0Zj16rw/UsIVOqTYPWI/AAAAAAAAAv8/FNp5oMVE4Eg/s1600/Photo+H25-12-31+9+16+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ev0w0Zj16rw/UsIVOqTYPWI/AAAAAAAAAv8/FNp5oMVE4Eg/s200/Photo+H25-12-31+9+16+51.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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This year is a great one for me because on the page for Saturday, January 4th in the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4873038677/" target="_blank">365 Himekuri JR Tetsudo Calendar 2014</a> my photo is featured! I hope I can get one into next year's calendar too!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vJY3A14Ox8/UsIWOW0KBpI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PY0LBK05FlQ/s1600/20131116-IMG_2185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--vJY3A14Ox8/UsIWOW0KBpI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PY0LBK05FlQ/s320/20131116-IMG_2185.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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In 2013 Mia turned 3 and celebrated her 753 ceremony.</div>
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We were able to travel many places this last year.</div>
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As a family we went to Nagasaki </div>
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and America.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpG0_kNWX2o/UsIVJPikLQI/AAAAAAAAAuw/iQIjzEeXd9E/s1600/20130526-IMG_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpG0_kNWX2o/UsIVJPikLQI/AAAAAAAAAuw/iQIjzEeXd9E/s320/20130526-IMG_0743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My brother came to visit.</div>
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I was able to ride the Bantan Line in eastern Hyogo.</div>
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I rode the Yagi-Shingu bus line in Nara and Wakayama prefectures.</div>
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Lastly, I visited Tohoku from December 26th and was able to visit Sendai, Matsushima, Akita, Yokote, Fukushima, and Toyama on a crazy roundabout train trip I'm still aching from.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLFYp6USoqo/UsIVMCwk_nI/AAAAAAAAAvM/SU4tKvf_JDk/s1600/20130723-IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLFYp6USoqo/UsIVMCwk_nI/AAAAAAAAAvM/SU4tKvf_JDk/s320/20130723-IMG_0926.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Sadly in 2013 our family friends closed their amazing okonomiyaki restaurant Tonbo here in Nishinomiya. お疲れ様田村さん!</div>
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Goodbye 2013, hello 2014. </div>
sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-30426276128268767992013-10-27T12:21:00.003+09:002013-10-27T12:39:49.573+09:0020 Year Ago Today - the 1993 Laguna Firestorm<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/10504467696/" title="20130820-LagunaFireLATimes-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130820-LagunaFireLATimes-1" height="380" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/10504467696_e10b7c7504_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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20 years ago an arsonist started a fire in Laguna Canyon that spread to the city burning down over 300 houses. My family was evacuated from our house barely getting out before the flamed crested the hill. I remember embers falling down around me like rain. I left with my CD walkman, a change of clothes and my school books. Everything else burnt down. We knew our house was gone when we saw the cover photo of the Los Angeles Times the next day. Our neighbor's house sad alone on the hill with destruction all around. (Funny thing, they didn't have fire insurance.) The city smelt like wet smoke for months after. A few days later school had restarted and as one of the few students who lost their houses they took me out of class for counseling. I got pissed, it was world geography class! With Mr. Slevcov! (How do you spell his name?) That was the last I really thought about it. Since then, however, campfires, the kitchen stove or just smoking a cigarette, I am always extra careful with fire. It's a powerful and dangerous force.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/10504787526/" title="20000622-LagunaFire-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20000622-LagunaFire-2" height="294" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/10504787526_c733fb3aba_o.jpg" width="442" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/10504789656/" title="20000622-LagunaFire-4 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20000622-LagunaFire-4" height="409" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/10504789656_3bf7d060d5_o.jpg" width="286" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/10504978773/" title="20000622-LagunaFire-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20000622-LagunaFire-1" height="289" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/10504978773_d0f688ea7c_o.jpg" width="442" /></a></div>
sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-46343984865083624072013-09-28T15:02:00.005+09:002013-09-28T15:05:17.414+09:00Kansai Bus Festvial 2013 - スルッと関西バス祭2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9976384995/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20130922-KansaiBusFestival2013-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130922-KansaiBusFestival2013-1" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/9976384995_1d9570c8d9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every September in a different location the private, non-JR, transportation consortium in Kansai called Suttro puts on a bus festival. Last year it was in Kyoto, this year it was in Osaka. At the festvial there are mascot characters, food stands, booths from all the different bus companies selling goods and many many busses. The place was packed with families with little children who all gradated to the mascots, single men in various stages of otaku, and one white dude from America. Besides me the only other foreigner was the Nepalese guy selling curry. It was pretty good too.<br />
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Mia really loves running around the busses and pushing all the stop buttons on the busses. Her favorite thing is the giant mascot characters roaming the grounds. Her favorite is the Amagasaki city bus mascot, Amakko whom she calls Amakko-chan. She's a girl with a giant red heart shaped head. This time Mia got to see Amakko-chan twice. Both times were accompanied with screams of happiness then after getting really close, a bit of fear. I go there to buy some fun Christmas gifts for my family back in the states. For myself, I got a new <a href="https://twitter.com/sleepytako/status/382131710366072832">Shinkibus iPhone case</a> and an Amakko tie pin. Yes, I am a dork.<br />
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Posters and flyers for the event come out a month in advance. It's always free and on one of the two Mondays that are national holidays in September.<br />
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Homepage: <a href="http://www.surutto.com/" target="_blank">スルッとKANSAI</a><br />
Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157635966538594/" target="_blank">スルッと関西バス祭2013</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9976613596/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20130922-KansaiBusFestival2013-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130922-KansaiBusFestival2013-9" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/9976613596_7c3f6b107e_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia and Amakko</td></tr>
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<iframe align="center" frameborder="0" height="650" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=89188494@N00&set_id=72157635966538594&text=" width="650"></iframe><br />
<small>Created with <a href="http://www.admarket.se/" title="Admarket.se">Admarket's</a> <a href="http://flickrslidr.com/" title="flickrSLiDR">flickrSLiDR</a>.</small>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-90891980211516193632013-07-30T18:58:00.001+09:002013-07-30T18:58:49.086+09:00焼酎天国I received 14 half to barely filled bottles of <i>imo</i> (potato) <i>shochu</i> from my friend's restaurant which closed last Sunday. It was very sad to see the restaurant go, however I can't be anything but happy to have these bottles! I'm going to have to save all the labels and make something from them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yt8sVaXpaK4/UfeMDa4Bb_I/AAAAAAAAAmE/h1am1jFGooc/s1600/20130730-shochu-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yt8sVaXpaK4/UfeMDa4Bb_I/AAAAAAAAAmE/h1am1jFGooc/s320/20130730-shochu-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wife told me that もぐら the one in front should be good. I never knew they had it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytadFV_yKy0/UfeMH8ZZ5tI/AAAAAAAAAmM/HNatC698f-4/s1600/20130730-shochu-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ytadFV_yKy0/UfeMH8ZZ5tI/AAAAAAAAAmM/HNatC698f-4/s320/20130730-shochu-2.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowling for shochu.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WmG3GFHG6JY/UfeMK_JtYfI/AAAAAAAAAmU/6ThyDwgJlu0/s1600/20130730-shochu-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WmG3GFHG6JY/UfeMK_JtYfI/AAAAAAAAAmU/6ThyDwgJlu0/s320/20130730-shochu-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Mia with the booze.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5Q2Wx1UIAs/UfeMP3CNcDI/AAAAAAAAAmc/z0pPdSn-HTs/s1600/20130730-shochu-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m5Q2Wx1UIAs/UfeMP3CNcDI/AAAAAAAAAmc/z0pPdSn-HTs/s320/20130730-shochu-4.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first choice, if only to finish off the bottle, is 朝日 (Asahi) one of my favorites.</td></tr>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-61297556688808081792013-07-27T15:48:00.000+09:002013-07-27T15:48:07.180+09:00Nagasaki Electric Tramway - 長崎電機軌道<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9373356747/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-1" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/9373356747_2a2e5326d9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nagasaki Ekimae Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Railway: Nagasaki Electric Tramway (Nagasaki Dentetsu) - 長崎電機軌道 (長崎電鉄)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Type: Railway 鉄道</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location: Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu Region, JAPAN</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Distance: 11.5km</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Number of Stations: 38</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Homepage: <a href="http://www.naga-den.com/">http://www.naga-den.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Price: ¥120</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">One day free pass: ¥500</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Number of lines: 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Number of routes: 5</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157634812780190" target="_blank">Nagasaki Electric Tramway</a></span><br />
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I was able to ride all of Nagasaki’s lines during a half day of sightseeing in the city with my wife and daughter. The inner city section from the JR station out into the small, moderately level section of this very, very mountainous city is where most of the tourist attractions are. The longest line reaching out to Akasako (赤迫) terminus and passing the Peace Park is under 7km. It contains a part where the tracks parallel the JR Kyushu line. This section plus a street car only bridge on the Hotarujaya Branch Line are the only times the streetcars do not run with traffic.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9373367107/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-5" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9373367107_3e01ed918b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shokakuji-shita Station</td></tr>
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Two of the terminal stations were really appealing for me. The first is Shokakuji-shita (正覚寺下駅) on the Main Line (routes 1 and 4). This station is half built on a bridge over a small river coming down from the mountain above. Across from station, on the other side of the river, houses are built above the river on stilts. The second is Hotarujaya (蛍茶屋) at the end of the eponymous branch line (routes 3,4, or 5). After climbing a steepish slope in the middle if a wide road the train stops at a large intersection. Passengers have to get off, but the tracks go on crossing the intersection and entering a garage. The slope of the hill behind the garage increases greatly making running streetcars up unrealistic. Both of these stations exemplify how tight the land is in Nagasaki and how the streetcars go right up to the end of that useable flat-ish space.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9373375107/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-11 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-11" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/9373375107_584fcff2a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotarujaya Station</td></tr>
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Most of the cars are older and quite enjoyable to ride on. There are few longer, newer trains also which were more comfortable. The stations are typically in the middle of the street and are very, very skinny. Unlike <a href="http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/2012/09/hiroshima-electric-railway-hiroden.html" target="_blank">Hiroden</a> there aren’t any larger developed stations with gates. All payment is done when departing in cash, via a smartcard, or using a one day free pass. The paper passes are the scratch off type and sell for ¥500. You cannot get them on the trains, so plan ahead. We got ours at tourist information office in JR Nagasaki Station, but they are also sold at various stores around town near the larger stations. Android users can <a href="http://www.naga-den.com/kikaku/1day/mobile1day" target="_blank">download a free app </a>that lets you show your phone to the driver, a single day pass costs ¥520 per adult, however.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9376148734/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-8 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130322-NagasakiElectricTramway-8" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9376148734_5f1361342f_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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My family and I really enjoyed riding the trains. It was a great, easy way to get around the city and see some of the highlights. We had a small amount of time on a rainy day, but thanks to the streetcars we made the most of it.<br />
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<iframe align="center" frameborder="0" height="600" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=89188494@N00&set_id=&tags=長崎電気軌道" width="600"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2235905">Nagasaki Electric Tramway - 長崎電機軌道 at EveryTrail</a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=2235905&width=400&height=300" width="400"></iframe></div>
sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-53796731829608317892013-07-06T16:21:00.003+09:002013-07-06T16:21:57.711+09:00Akashi-Kaikyo Bridgeworld / 明石海峡大橋ブリッジワールド<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9221856434/" title="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-4 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-4" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5463/9221856434_a53410bc84_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location Name: Akashi-Kaikyo Bridgeworld 明石海峡大橋ブリッジワールド</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Type: Bridge 橋</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location: Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, JAPAN</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Terminals: Tarumi Ward, Kobe / Awaji Island</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157634509871310/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157634509871310/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Webpage: <a href="http://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/english/bridgeworld/">http://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/english/bridgeworld/</a></span><br />
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My brother came to Japan a few months ago on a trip and I decided to book the Awaji Bridge tour for him. My friend and I had discussed going but never had a reason to. Having my brother in town gave us that reason. The tour costs ¥3,000 and is very thorough You are required to sign waivers, wear a helmet, headphone radio, and everything must be strapped to your body. Dropping a camera off the top of the tower will not only result breaking your camera, but also causing a car accident.<br />
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The tour meets on the Kobe side near Maiko station and begins with a lecture and video, then a guided tour of the museum. I figure this long build up to the actual tour is to help get your mind ready for the experience. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to handle the heights, but did was ok. One member of our group had to return early however. After a decent hike out on the catwalk installed under the road section of the bridge the tour arrives at the first tower. I was surprised to see two cars parked there for use by the bridge maintenance staff.<br />
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Since the elevator can only take up so many people at once, the tour goes up in groups. We were in the second group giving us time to watch the sea and inspect the large drying machines. Keeping the wires dry in humid Japan is a very important aspect of keeping the bridge safe and above the water. Wet wires get rusty. The elevator ride was not as claustrophobic as I thought it would be. It went by much faster than I thought it would. Walking up the stairs to the top takes about 2 hours I think the tour guide said. The elevator takes about 2 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9221868048/" title="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-9" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3678/9221868048_52d5dfa7b4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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At the top the entrance opens like the hatch in some spaceship. The initial sense of vertigo and fear was strong, but by the second or third minute I felt at ease and was able to enjoy the experience. Our tour guide was kind enough to take a photo of our group which we got a print copy of at the end of the tour. The time at the top was about 15 minutes which was more than enough to take photos and just take in the amazing views. We were lucky because elsewhere on the bridge workers were testing the lighting systems so they were on while we were on the top adding to the beauty.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/9221876040/" title="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-12 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130530-AkashiBridgeTour-12" height="427" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/9221876040_c109692c68_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The tour is well worth it and the guides have an incredible wealth of knowledge about the bridge. So much that I just tuned it out and stop trying to listen. Bridgeworld is a must for anyone living here or coming to Kansai. Check out the rest of the photos on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157634509871310/" target="_blank">flickr set</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcJvdniwbW4/UdfEwGCi0dI/AAAAAAAAAlc/ywjTHmfa8zg/s1600/IMG_3744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcJvdniwbW4/UdfEwGCi0dI/AAAAAAAAAlc/ywjTHmfa8zg/s320/IMG_3744.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the fun stuff they send you home wi</td></tr>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0Japan34.623614936174846 135.0278202557860834.617081936174849 135.01773525578608 34.630147936174843 135.03790525578609tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-1889764881631362022013-05-04T12:21:00.001+09:002013-05-04T12:21:37.844+09:00Sumaura Park Mural Desktop<div style="font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;">
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8706604784/" title="SanyoDesktop"><img alt="SanyoDesktop by sleepytako" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8416/8706604784_4c1dd2b9dc.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8706604784/">SanyoDesktop</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/">sleepytako</a> on Flickr.</span></div>
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At the Sumaura Park ropeway station there are these murals of famous places in Kansai visible from the top. I cut them together to make this image for my desktop and thought you might like it!<br /><br />More info on the park: <a href="http://kogumachan.blogspot.jp/2012/09/sumaura-park_29.html">http://kogumachan.blogspot.jp/2012/09/sumaura-park_29.html</a>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-74121026735874105162013-04-27T11:45:00.002+09:002013-04-27T11:45:19.718+09:00Bantan Line – 播但線<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8685180266/" title="20130106-BantanLine-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-5" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8685180266_32c396cb7a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Location Name:</b> JR West - Bantan Line JR<span class="s1">西日本</span> – <span class="s1">播但線</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Type:</b> Railway Line <span class="s1">列車線</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Location:</b> Hyogo Prefecture, Honshu, JAPAN</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Terminals:</b> Himeji Station, Wadayama Station</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Distance:</b> 65.7km</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Number of Stations:</b> 18</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:</b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157633345041103/"><span class="s3">BantanLine – </span><span class="s4">播但線</span></a></span></div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantan_Line"><span class="s5">Bantan Line</span></a> (<span class="s6">播但線</span>) and Kishin Line (<span class="s6">姫新線</span>) both leave from the same platform closest to the mountain side of JR Himeji Station (<span class="s6">JR姫路駅</span>). They are in the backwater of this vital station in the JR West system. If you imagine a parabola, Himeji Station is at the bottom. Rising up and to the left is the Kishin Line heading towards <a href="http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/2012/09/inbi-line.html"><span class="s5">Tsuyama, Okayama</span></a> (<span class="s6">岡山県津山市</span>). Rising up to the right is the Bantan Line which connects to the San’in Main Line (<span class="s6">山陰本線</span>) at Wadayama Station (<span class="s6">和田山駅</span>) in Asago, Hyogo (<span class="s6">兵庫県朝来市</span>). Both of these lines serve the suburbs and quasi-rural areas around Himeji feeding workers to places as far as Osaka, over 100KM away, on a daily basis. Once past the suburban portion, these lines act as conduits between the more important and heavily used routes while offering service to some of Japan’s bucolic rural landscapes.</div>
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Bantan is a connection of two kanji, the “ban” (<span class="s6">播</span>) can also be read as “hari” in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harima_Province"><span class="s5">Harima</span></a> (<span class="s6">播磨</span>) which is the traditional name of the region around Himeji. The “ta” (<span class="s6">但</span>) comes from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajima_Province"><span class="s5">Tajima</span></a> (<span class="s6">但馬</span>), the region just to the north of Harima/Himeji known for its beef production. If you look around, you will likely see both Harima and Tajima appear quite often in stations, companies and products; especially if you spend some time in Hyogo Prefecture.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8684064925/" title="20130106-BantanLine-8 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-8" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8401/8684064925_af042fc9ce_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The Bantan Line has a history going back to 1894 when the original line was built by the private Bantan Railway (<a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%92%AD%E4%BD%86%E9%89%84%E9%81%93"><span class="s7">播但鉄道</span></a>). The railway was later purchased by the also private <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San%27y%C5%8D_Railway"><span class="s5">Sanyo Railway</span></a> (<span class="s6">山陽鉄道</span>). During ownership by Sanyo Railway in 1906 the line was completed all the way to Wadayama Station. A few months later the entire Sanyo Railway was nationalized. It was then that the Bantan Line and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San'y%C5%8D_Main_Line"><span class="s5">Sanyo Main Line</span></a> (<span class="s6">山陽本線</span>) running from Kobe to Shimonoseki at the tip of Honshu among others became parts of JR West as we know it today. It is important to note that the current Sanyo Electric Railway (<span class="s6">山陽電車</span>) and the former Sanyo Railway are different companies. Sanyo (<span class="s6">山陽</span>) is a geographical term describing the south facing coast of Honshu from Osaka to Shimonoseki along the Seto Inland Sea.</div>
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Currently the Bantan Line is only electrified in the most used portion from Himeji to Teramae Station (<span class="s6">寺前駅</span>). The rural and quasi-wilderness section heading from Teramae to Wadayama is run using diesel trains. Because of this there are no local trains that run the entire length of the line, although most trains run on a relay system to reduce layover time. The Bantan Line also hosts the Hamakaze (<span class="s6">はまかぜ</span>) limited express train heading from Osaka to Tottori with stops at 5 stations on the Bantan Line, including Himeji and Wadayama.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8685177046/" title="20130106-BantanLine-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-1" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8533/8685177046_0c99e7a6e5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I traveled the Bantan Line on January 6, 2013 leaving from Himeji around 9am. This was the second time I’ve taken this line, but the first time heading from Himeji and the first time in the daylight. The two car train was decorated in commemoration of the Gin no Bashamichi (<a href="http://www.gin-basha.jp/"><span class="s7">銀の馬車道</span></a>), a Meiji era 49km road for horse drawn carts connecting Ikuno to Himeji which was a predecessor to the modern highway in Japan. The two car conductorless train was not packed and I had more than enough space to myself. Be aware that the Bantan Line is not equipped for using IC chip smartcards like Icoca or PiTaPa, so you’ll have to pay in cash upon exiting the train or buy a ticket from a machine beforehand.</div>
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Leaving Himeji Station the line makes a long slow curve towards the mountains and offers a few views of Himeji Castle before leaving the main area of Himeji City. At Nozato Station (<span class="s6">野里駅</span>), the second station after leaving Himeji, there is an entertainment complex with a super sento and public park. Soon after that the tracks go under the Sanyo Expressway and the housing becomes more spread out with some newly built single family housing. Instead of being in a slope heading to the ocean like most of the area between Osaka and Himeji, the landscape becomes a wide valley bordered by low hills. Houses get bigger and some heavy industrial plants come in to view including a large <a href="http://www.trueactivist.com/nestle-ceo-water-is-not-a-human-right-should-be-privatized/"><span class="s5">Nestle</span></a> plant.</div>
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After Mizoguchi Station (<span class="s6">溝口駅</span>) the line turns to single track and begins to climb the side of the mountains and passes under the Chuo Expressway. By the next stop, Fukuzaki Station (<span class="s6">福崎駅</span>), there were only 3 people in the rear car with me and the front one had only 45% of the seats filled. Past Fukuzaki Station I doubt that many people commute by train into Kobe or Osaka for work. Traveling on the valley gets tighter and tighter while the number of buildings gets smaller and smaller--gaudy pachinko parlors being the constant.</div>
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The morning’s weather was overcast and the view is limited by a low, dense fog. A farmer’s fire in the far distance brings just a hint of its smoky smell into the train. The hint of campfire smelling smoke mingling with the cold winter air was intoxicating. I had one of those moments of clarity about why I enjoy this somewhat odd hobby.</div>
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At Niino Station (<span class="s6">新野駅</span>), one stop before Teramae, there are only 5 people in the train. The landscape is mostly rice fields with traditional houses built along the sides of the hills to allow as much of the scarce flat land to be used for agriculture. The valley closes in along the Ichikawa River and the electrified part of the line ends.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8684063309/" title="20130106-BantanLine-6 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-6" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/8684063309_e8f0fdfd47_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Teramae Station is the main station in the rural town of Kamikawa (<span class="s6">神河町</span>). Connected to the station is a small community center that is decorated with images of the local mascot Kamin (<a href="http://www.kamikawa-kankonavi.jp/kamin/"><span class="s7">カーミン</span></a>). Opposite the tracks from the station is a gravel or ore processing and loading area for container trains and further on beyond that is the river. There is a small market and very rural looking shopping street also nearby.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8685181902/" title="20130106-BantanLine-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-7" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8685181902_47022ea27d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Right after leaving Teramae a huge mined out mountain comes into view on the riverside. I recommend sitting on the eastern side of the train for the best views. The non-electrified section of the Bantan Line is longer, 37.9km of the entire 67.5km length, but the travel time is much shorter as there are only 5 stations compared to 12 on the electrified portion. This is the dramatic part of the ride. Great tree covered hills above and a fast flowing river below. If you look carefully you can see where some sections of the mountains have been logged and replanted. Some spotty snow and ice is still visible from the train. The river looked like it would be good for fishing in the right weather.</div>
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Coming into Wadayama the valley widens and more houses are noticeable. Eventually a few pachinko parlors appear then the signs of the modern Japanese city and the chain store signs that come with it appear across the river where the heavily traveled roads are. Wadayama is a major station with most amenities within a short walking distance. There is an old JR water tower and train shed across the tracks that have become the image of the station. The station building itself is somewhat modern with rounded corners and a small park along the tracks. I took a 30 minute or so walk to get to the <a href="http://www.oukanoyu.jp/"><span class="s5">local super sento</span></a> which I thoroughly enjoyed. The area right around the station has many old buildings and small streets to explore. Most of the major shopping is along national highway across the river however.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8684073615/" title="20130106-BantanLine-16 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130106-BantanLine-16" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8684073615_4618141f94_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The Bantan Line is not one of the most dramatic or interesting rides in the JR West area, but it is very enjoyable and has a few highlights. The old water tower at Wadayama, the riverside ride just north of Teramae, and the mining apparatus visible from Teramae Station all are worth checking out for train fans. Getting there and back in a day is easy for someone looking for an easy train trip to get out of the city and can be made part of a loop returning via Fukuchiyama, to Kyoto, Osaka, or Kakogawa. My loop went as follows: Sannomiya - Himeji - Wadayama - Fukuchiyama - Tanigawa - Nishiwaki - Kakogawa - Sannomiya.</div>
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2105135">Bantan Line - 播但線 at EveryTrail</a></div>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2Teramae Station, Kaji, Kamikawa, Kanzaki District, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan35.065096 134.7429160000000435.0131155 134.66223500000004 35.117076499999996 134.82359700000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-5736363916566589352013-04-16T21:20:00.002+09:002013-04-16T21:28:41.152+09:00Nagasaki City on a Rainy Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8655220436/" title="20130322-NagasakiCity-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130322-NagasakiCity-1" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8655220436_79b8c23d6c.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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If you've never made it down to Nagasaki, I cannot recommend it more. It's a great place to get lost walking around the backstreets. Amazing food everywhere. Easy transportation to and from the many historical and cultural sites. It seemed that it would be very easy for non-Japanese speakers to navigate also.<br />
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Photos: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157633256071365/" target="_blank">Nagasaki City / 長崎市</a><br />
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan32.7502856 129.8776669999999732.3229936 129.23221999999998 33.1775776 130.52311399999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-64117111372203912732013-04-05T00:38:00.000+09:002013-04-07T03:57:25.863+09:00Matsuura Railway - Nishi Kyushu Line 松浦鉄道西九州線<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8619688612/" title="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-9" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8619688612_29ed22c159_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Location Name: </b>Matsuura Railway - Nishi Kyushu Line 松浦鉄道西九州線<br /><b>
Type: </b>Railway Line 列車線<br /><b>
Location:</b> Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures, Kyushu, JAPAN<br /><b>
Terminals: </b>Sasebo Station, Imari Station, Arita Station<br /><b>
Distance:</b> 93.8km<br /><b>
Number of Stations: </b>57</span></span><br />
<span class="s1"><b style="font-size: small;">Photos: </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157633161050725/" target="_blank">Matsuura Railway / 松浦鉄道</a></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Matsuura Railway (<a href="http://www.matutetu.com/" target="_blank">松浦鉄道</a>) loops around the Kita-Matsuura Peninsula in the western portion of Kyushu through Nagasaki and Saga prefectures. The line was originally called the Matsuura Line before the break up of the JNR in the late 80’s, but is now called the Nishi Kyushu Line (西九州). It is currently run as a class 3 railway and owned by Nagasaki Prefecture and local transportation and industrial interests.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Going up from the South and looping up clockwise, following my route, the line starts in Sasebo (佐世保). This port city is famous for its hamburgers and the home to a large United States Navy base. The station is quite large with elevated tracks. A single escalator in the northwestern corner of the concourse provides access to Matsuura Railway’s ticket machines and platform based ticket booth. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I bought the ¥2,000 one day free ticket from the man in the booth, who went out of his way to get me one. I think you can buy them on the train, however. The “Free Ticket” (<a href="http://www.matutetu.com/kipu/kkipu.htm" target="_blank">フリーきっぷ</a>) offers one day on the trains allowing you to get on and off as you please. Traveling from Sasebo to Imari (伊万里) is ¥1,950 so it is worth buying if you plan to ride the entire line.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Initially, I thought this ride was going to be quite basic and I was only riding it to be a completionist. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful rail lines I’ve been on. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Matsuura line leaves Sasebo Station through a valley of buildings on an elevated track. The city is quite built up. Sasebo is a city much like Nagasaki in that the city is built into the mountains. Small tunnels open up into little valleys full of haphazardly placed homes. The train is elevated to a degree so you can look down on the little streets and houses. I thought it would turn rural much faster, but the city seemed to continue on and on into the mountains. This part of the line reminded me of Shintetsu and driving through western Kobe. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">It is on this first stretch that the line passes Sasebo-chuo (佐世保中央) and Naka-Sasebo (中佐世保) stations. Both names mean pretty much the same thing and the two stations are a mere 200m apart. This is the shortest distance between any two train stations in Japan--streetcars and cable cars excluded. I was on an express and didn’t even notice passing by Naka-Sasebo station.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">At around Motoyama station the landscape becomes more rural/residential as the train crosses a many small valleys and goes through many small bucolic tunnels. Make sure to check out the very fun looking new playground and unique public toilet as you reach Kora Station (小浦).</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8618579515/" title="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-7" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8618579515_507793a797_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span class="s1">I planned a layover at Saza station (佐々) and was very glad I did. The station itself is modeled after a log cabin and is very welcoming. Not much around the station as far as stores go, but it was fun to explore. The air had a natural fresh spring scent to it. Leaving Saza the tracks follow the river of the same name. The next train car I got on was much more packed and not as new as the first one I rode. There was a group of grandparents on a hiking excursion sponsored by the railway and a large group of young people all in black for a funeral as I later discovered. Both groups piled out of the train at the same station in a mass exodus that was quite a sight to see. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">As the line reaches the tip of the Kita-Matsuura Pennisula the train makes a brief stop at Tabira-Hiradoguchi Station (たびら平戸口). Excluding the monorail in Okinawa, this is the westernmost train station in Japan. I didn’t realize this until I got on the train and saw a pamphlet advertising the fact. Just like Nishi-Oyama (西大山), the southernmost station, the train holds for a few minutes to allow us train people to snap a few quick photos. Be careful though, the train almost left with my bag, but not me on board!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8618586791/" title="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-11 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-11" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8618586791_31027f323e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span class="s1">From Tabira-Hiradoguchi the view gets a little boring. Coming into the namesake village of Matsuura, there are a few large factories and a power station to look at. There are no toilets in the trains so make use of the short stop at Matsuura Station if needed. Leaving Matsuura the landscape gets increasingly built up with stores and houses. Some nice views of the sea do pop up. Imabuku Station (今福) <a href="http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/dejima005/9012125.html" target="_blank">is lined with sakura trees</a> which were in bloom when I passed by. Photographers along the side of the tracks were so close that the engineer had to blow the horn at them so they would move back to a safe distance.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The train pulls to a stop at Imari Station where the JR and Matsuura sides are bisected by a road. There is a supermarket, restaurants, and convenience stores near by. In the station is a very helpful tourist information desk that also sells local products where I picked up some omiyage.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8618591223/" title="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-13 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20130323-MatsuuraRailway-13" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8394/8618591223_f76a400115_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span class="s1">After exploring around Imari Station, heading to a shrine with some beautiful sakura, and hiking up the hill to a highly recommended supersento, I got on the train for the last haul to Arita. This portion of the line goes through a pleasant valley bounded by some tallish looking mountains. At Arita Station the Matsuura train pulls into a far platform of the JR station. The building at Arita has a small staffed ticket booth for the Matsuura Railway along with the JR one.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I really enjoyed riding this line. There seemed to be a lot of community support for it. The trains were clean and the staff was cheerful. If you get a chance to ride this line, I would go for it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2074930">Matsuura Railway - Nishi Kyushu Line 松浦鉄道西九州線 at EveryTrail</a><br />
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-12991138302289128082013-03-09T11:34:00.000+09:002013-03-09T11:34:05.616+09:00Kurayoshi - Shirakabe Dozogun 倉吉市ー白壁土蔵群<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Place Name:</b> Shirakabe Dozogun 白壁土蔵群</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Type:</b> Historical Preservation District </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Location:</b> Kurayoshi city, Tottori Prefecture, JAPAN </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Latitude:</b> 35.432089 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Longitude: </b>133.825031 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Date of Visit: </b>December 28, 2012 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Access:</b> JR San'in Main Line - Kurayoshi Station (山陰本線ー倉吉駅) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Web:</b> <a href="http://www.apionet.or.jp/kankou/f/e/html/midokoro1.htm#shirakabe">http://www.apionet.or.jp/kankou/f/e/html/midokoro1.htm#shirakabe</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Photos:</b> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8540022875/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8540022875/</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8541118564/" title="20121228-Kurayoshi-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121228-Kurayoshi-3" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8541118564_2bb6e50906_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Shirakabe Dozogun [白壁土蔵群] or Utsubukitamakawa [<a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%89%93%E5%90%B9%E7%8E%89%E5%B7%9D" target="_blank">打吹玉川</a>] as it's officially known is a "Group of Traditional Building" or in Japanese a <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%81%E4%BC%9D%E7%B5%B1%E7%9A%84%E5%BB%BA%E9%80%A0%E7%89%A9%E7%BE%A4%E4%BF%9D%E5%AD%98%E5%9C%B0%E5%8C%BA" target="_blank">重要伝統的建造物群保存地区</a>. Basically, it's a historic district of warehouses dating back to Edo period that have been preserved over the years. The beautiful neighborhood can be explored in a half day and has many small, and tasty looking, cafes hidden throughout the area. Small shops aimed towards the tourist trade are mixed among local shoe stores and boutiques. Even in the rain we had a great time wandering around the small streets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Free parking and, lucky for us, free umbrella rental is available near the tourist information office.</span><br />
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<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?t=m&q=35.432089,133.825031&ie=UTF8&brcurrent=3,0x3555d8fd290d4541:0xb4ec125cd5bd9c9c,0&ll=34.773204,134.46167&spn=2.165776,3.515625&z=8&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-53855532319918738722013-03-05T16:21:00.001+09:002013-03-05T16:21:31.212+09:00Kokawa-dera 粉河寺 #3<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Place Name: </b>Kokawa-dera 粉河寺 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Type:</b> Temple 寺 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Location:</b> Kinokawa city, Wakayama Prefecture, JAPAN </span><br />
<a href="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=34.280961,135.405908&ll=34.275765,135.405979&spn=0.01516,0.027874&t=m&z=16&brcurrent=3,0x600733abf21438f3:0x789e5a076b7f16d6,0"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Latitude:</b> 34.280961 </span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=34.280961,135.405908&ll=34.275765,135.405979&spn=0.01516,0.027874&t=m&z=16&brcurrent=3,0x600733abf21438f3:0x789e5a076b7f16d6,0"><b>Longitude:</b> 135.405908</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Date of Visit:</b> February 11, 2013 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Access:</b> JR Wakayama Line - Kokawa Station (和歌山線ー粉河駅) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Fee:</b> Parking ¥500 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Hours:</b> 8:00~17:00 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Web:</b> <a href="http://www.kokawadera.org/">http://www.kokawadera.org/</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Photos: </b><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157632920596244">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157632920596244</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Kokawa-dera is impressive for the beautiful stone work throughout the complex. Easy to walk to with no long stairs or hikes from the entrance it's also one of the most accessible of the Saikoku 33 temples. If you don't come by car, it's only 10 minutes or so from the nearest train station to the entrance also. The gem of Kokawa-dera is the amazing rock garden that makes up the retaining wall of the temple. It's also registered national cultural asset. While the garden dates from the 16th century the temple itself has a history dating back to 770. A picture scroll describing the foundation of the temple by a hunter is a natural treasure and is kept in the Kyoto National Museum. The lotus flower fountain in the front is amazing too. Behind the temple is a small Shinto shrine that had a two peacocks and some koi fish to look at. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The hill next to the temple is a city park with a small playground, view point and walking trails.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;">Place Name:</span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Izumotaisha-Mae Station -</span><span style="line-height: 1.4;"> 出雲大社前駅</span></span></b></div>
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Type: <b>Train Station 駅</b></div>
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Location: <b>Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, JAPAN</b></div>
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Latitude: <b>35.393569</b></div>
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Longitude: <b>132.687108</b></div>
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Date of Visit: <b>January 4, 2006 & December 26, 2012</b></div>
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Access: <b> Ichibata Electric Railway</b></div>
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Average Daily Passengers (2010): <b>504 </b></div>
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Date Opened: <b>February 3, 1930</b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Flickr Set: </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b><u><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157632780838439/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157632780838439/</a></u></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Web: </span><b style="color: #4d469c; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ichibata.co.jp/railway/operate/stations/00.html">http://www.ichibata.co.jp/railway/operate/stations/00.html</a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: small; line-height: 25px; text-align: justify;">Izumotaisha-Mae Station is a beautiful example of what a Japanese railway architecture can be. Stepping into this newly restored 1930's station you can feel the energy from that time long ago. The old ticket booths, hand cracked departure board and stained class windows stand out, but simple things like the heavy doors and benches help to produce a magical atmosphere. The Ichibata trains behind the station show the wear and tear of years gone-by but they still creek and shuffle down the rails without a sign of giving up. When I first came here in 2006 unaware of exactly where I was going or what I was doing, I could feel the something ethereal about this train line and the shrine it gives access to. These relics of the past that are still alive are a part of the living history that is always just around the corner in Japan.</span></div>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1Izumotaishamae Station, Taishacho Kizukiminami, Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan35.39357 132.6871059999999735.341787499999995 132.60642499999997 35.4453525 132.76778699999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-65870413474691107342013-01-14T15:19:00.002+09:002013-01-14T15:19:57.475+09:00Izumotaisha - 出雲大社 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8378584533/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-2" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8378584533_eaf60db087.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Location Name:</b> Izumotaisha - 出雲大社 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Type: </b>Shinto Shrine - 神社 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Location:</b> Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Access: </b>JR Izumo-shi or Ichibata Izumotasha-mae </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8379666260/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-4 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-4" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8379666260_dd82bb5d18.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main shrine</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Izumotaisha is the second most important shrine to the Shinto faith. Only the Shrine in Izu is revered higher. Being the home to some of Japan’s oldest archeological finds Izumotaisha is also the oldest Shinto shrine. It abuts the hills that make up the Shimane Peninsula and separate the Izumo plain from the Japan sea. The plain is made up of relatively flat farm land that has been cut up with rivers and canals. It bears a slight resemblance to the Imperial Valley of California. To the east and west the plain is set between the Japan sea and the brackish Lake Shinji. The landscape is utilitarian, but not dramatic. That said, it does look like it was an ideal place for early humans to develop agriculture.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8378590521/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-6 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-6" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8378590521_e7a8ec78ea.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parts of the shrine are still being repaired</td></tr>
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In the shinto faith it is believed that the gods all congregate in November at Izumotaisha. In basic Japanese the months named after their order. November becomes [10月] or “tenth month.” There is a secondary set of names for the months that appears in traditional calendars and dates. November’s traditional name is Kannazuki [神無月] literally “no gods month.”
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The god enshrined at Izumotaisha is called Okuninushi who, as a young man, helped heal the White Rabbit of Inaba. He is known as the god of enmusubi [縁結び] or matchmaking. When one prays at the shrine it is custom to clap four times instead of the typical two. The first two claps are for yourself and the second two are for your future (or current) spouse. When I first came to Japan on a cold January night in 2006 I stumbled into Izumotaisha late one night and prayed for my future clapping four times. In a mere two years later I married my amazing spouse Yuko. Now my experience might not match your own, but It’s worth a try if you’re looking. Enmusubi has also taken on the meaning of expanding one’s circle of friends and being more personable. Charms, amulets and chopsticks enchanted with the spirt of enmusubi are sold in the shrine and stores around it.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8379661838/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20060104-izumotaisha-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20060104-izumotaisha-1" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8379661838_3679ef760e.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 2006 photo of the shrine. This area is currently under construction as of January, 2013</td></tr>
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The shrine’s buildings have a design that is unlike any other one that you might have visited. I find the design helps produce a sense of awe and mystery when exploring the site. Everything from the trees in the garden to the moss growing on the roof have an aura of august maturity. As is common with Shinto shrines, the gardens and walkways leading to the buildings all glorify nature it’s elegant power.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8379670638/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-7" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8379670638_a65232d19a.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaguraden and shimenawa</td></tr>
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Located to the side of the main temple complex is the Kaguraden. Dating from 1776, the building itself is new looking and not as appealing as the unique design of the main shrines. It does have a the largest shimenawa, a type of devotional rope made of straw, weighing 5 tons hanging from the 13.5 meter long entranceway. A popular sight typically shown on most of the pamphlets advertising the shrine to tourists. I cannot recommend a visit to Izumotaisha and the San’in area more.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Shimenawa</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8379664434/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-3" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8379664434_f18c7cd38c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Main entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8379674372/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-9" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8379674372_69bb325a7c.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's sake on display</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8378597937/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-izumotaisha-10 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-izumotaisha-10" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8378597937_9362b117e2.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards the entrance</td></tr>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com4Izumo-taisha, 195 Taishacho Kizukihigashi, Izumo, Shimane Prefecture 699-0701, Japan35.402035 132.685455999999939.8800004999999977 91.376861999999932 60.9240695 173.99404999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-53084956336940235482013-01-02T21:20:00.000+09:002013-01-02T21:22:25.462+09:00JR West Hakubi Line - JR西日本伯備線 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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JR West Hakubi Line - JR西日本伯備線 </h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8333840606/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121226-HakubiLine-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-HakubiLine-5" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8333840606_1a2a31fe40.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards Yonago at Neu Station</td></tr>
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Location Name: JR West Hakubi Line - JR西日本伯備線<br />Type: Railway Line 列車線<br />Location: Tottori and Okayama Prefectures, Chukoku Region, JAPAN<br />Terminals: Kurashiki Station, Hoki-Daizen Station<br />Distance: 138.4km<br />Number of Stations: 28 </h3>
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The Hakubi Line is a major north-south train line cutting across the Chukoku region of Honshu. It begins in Kurashiki when the Hakubi Line splits from the Sanyo Main Line just after leaving the station. From Kurashiki the line follows the Takahashi River up into the mountains through mostly flat farmlands and semi-rural sprawl. The line is shared with the private Ibara Railway for its single line from Kiyone to Soja. Also at Soja the Kibi Line, a short, commuter line that serves the upper parts of the Okayama plain, ends. From Soja the line follows the river, goes through tunnels, and cuts across small agricultural valleys as it makes it was into the mountains. Mining and light industry is also visible from the line.
Only two local trains run the entire Hakubi line in one shot heading all the way to Yonago. The remainder stop at Bitchu-Takahashi or Niimi. On those trains to Niimi most of the passengers will get off by Bitchu-Takahashi. After that station the train enters even more rural areas and the line becomes primarily single track till the terminal in Tottori prefecture. Between Bitchu-Takahashi and Niimi the train passes by Ikura station which provides access to the Ikura Cave a regional tourist attraction.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8333825952/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20121226-HakubiLine-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-HakubiLine-2" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8333825952_0fb0c5314f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Niimi is an important transportation hub for JR West. It is the middle point in a line of three major stations in the mountainous center of the Chukoku region. Miyoshi to the West and Tsuyama to the East are the other two. I have been through all three of the stations at least twice and all have been featured on this blog. The Kishin Line from Tsuyama and Himeji terminates here and trains heading west on the Geibi Line to Miyoshi and Hiroshima originate here.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8332769663/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20121226-HakubiLine-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121226-HakubiLine-3" height="333" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8332769663_730863ea39.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow at Neu Station. The yellow train is a local for Yonago.</td></tr>
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The next station past Niimi is called Nunohara. While technically on the Hakubi line no Hakubi Line train stops at the station. The average of one person a day who uses the station must either ride one of the trains headed for the Geibi line back to Niimi or on to Bingo-Ochiai and Miyoshi. Nunohara station used to be important as a staging area when steam trains were still in service but lost importance when the rolling stock was upgraded to diesel. Moving on past Nunohara is Bitchu-Kojiro when there Geibi Line officially begins. Between Bitchu-Kojiro and Kami-Iwami the line reaches its highest point, crosses the border into Tottori and the control is changed from Okayama to Yonago. After entering Tottori the train will begin it’s decent towards the Sea of Japan. Beautiful farmland and the Hino River can be seen along the track as it crosses through this sparsely populated part of Honshu.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neu Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hino-cho</td></tr>
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Our express train had a 2 hour delay at Neu due to an electrical failure at Hoki-Daisen Station. Neu Station is located in front of the Hino City Office in the most developed part of the 3,500 person village. Neu was the original name of the village until 1959. During the wait I took a quick walk down the street from the train and found a small liquor store, a few hair dressers, a Shinto shrine, a city cultural center, and a bank. The opposite side of the station had a large home center, a convenience store, and a gas station. After Neu the train soon leaves the mountains and the wide rice fields appear as you skirt by the 1729m peak of Mt. Daisen on the East. The Hakubi Line then merges with the San’in Main Line at Hoki-Daisen and continues on to Yonago for the local trains, or past Yonago to Izumo-shi for the express trains.
The Hakubi Line is the busiest between Okayama and Niimi and trains run about hourly. Local trains from Niimi down to Yonago are less frequent with only 8 each day. In the morning the Sunrise Izumo overnight train from Tokyo runs the line leaving Okayama at 6:34. During the day once an hour between 7am and 9pm the Super Yakumo runs between Okayama and Izumo-shi. Local trains are typically one or two cars with a toilet. The Super Yakumo is an express train with toilets and sinks but no vending.</div>
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The Hakubi Line is the workhorse of the lines connecting the San’in (Japan Sea side) to the Sanyo (Seto Inland Sea side) of Japan [<a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%99%B0%E9%99%BD%E9%80%A3%E7%B5%A1%E8%B7%AF%E7%B7%9A" target="_blank">陰陽連絡路線</a>]. None of the other lines run express trains for the entire length. This means the ride is less dramatic as parts of the Inbi or Kibi lines, and there is not as much absolute wilderness along the ride. The line is still a great way to see some of the less explored parts of Japan with some great scenery along the route. It also provides access to Yonago and Matsue two of my favorite cities both with history, cuisine and abundant hot springs.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8333862486/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Hakubi Line Ekiben by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="Hakubi Line Ekiben" height="350" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8333862486_920cd34270.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Left: Omusubi Kororin Right: Bise </span></td></tr>
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Okayama station has a large selection of Ekiben for the trip. On the way from Okayama to Izumo-shi I had the Bisei bento with beef and pork on a bed of rice. Yuko had the Omusubi Kororin a two box bento with a collection of small onigiri on the bottom and various little things on the top.</div>
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The name Hakubi (伯備) comes from Hoki Province (<b>伯</b>耆の国) which used to be the area around Yonago in western Tottori Prefecture and Bitchu Province (<b>備</b>中国) which is now western Okayama Prefecture. The names Bitchu and Hoki are used in station names along the line to differentiate them from stations with the same names in other regions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1965462"><b>Hakubi Line - 伯備線 at EveryTrail</b></a><br />
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-51391847432927555662013-01-01T13:59:00.001+09:002013-01-01T13:59:51.664+09:00Happy 2013!<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8331557565/" title="年賀状2013"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8331557565_3d44951409.jpg" alt="年賀状2013 by sleepytako" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8331557565/">年賀状2013</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/">sleepytako</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Wishing you all a great 2013.</p>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-82267135865211055652012-10-08T13:54:00.000+09:002012-10-08T14:55:46.156+09:00Sefuku-ji 施福寺 - #4<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065499049/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-5" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8065499049_91e590c3b7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the trail</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Place Name: <b>Sefuku-ji 施福寺</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Type: <b>Temple 寺</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location: <b>Izumi city, Osaka Prefecture, JAPAN</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Latitude: <b>34.392908</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Longitude: <b>135.511578</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Date of Visit: <b>October 1, 2012</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Access:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.city.osaka-izumi.lg.jp/bizikankosan/sourokasen/1326193427432.html" target="_blank">Izumi city Orange Bus Makiosan route</a> (槇尾山) from Nankai Izumiotsu station on the Nankai Main Line or Izumichuo station on the Senboku Line. </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Fee: <b>None</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hours: </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">March through November: 8:00~17:00</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">December through February: 8:00~16:00 </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Web: <b>None</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="s2">The road to Sefuku-ji </span><span class="s1">goes from the crammed residential areas to rural mountainside quite quickly. Soon the road turns into a single track with a stream on one side and a forested slope on the other. It felt like driving through a national park back in the USA. A single free parking lot is at the end with a hand full of buildings.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the start of the walk I thought it was just going to be a few minutes, but then the concrete slope got steeper. Then it got even steeper. After passing a few impromptu miniature waterfalls thanks to the typhoon that passed over the area the day before and one perennial waterfall made by the stream paralleling the trail we reached a gate and a sign. The sign read it would take 30 minutes to reach the temple from here. I was excited for a good hike through this forest.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065502505/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-6 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-6" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8065502505_7741c18ee7_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Soon after passing through the gate we stumbled upon a snake on the trail. A bit further up we encountered a wooden bridge over the stream. Yuko was nervous that it would support her let alone me with our daughter, Mia, on my back. By then the path turns to dirt and stone broken up with stone stairs. Along the path short stone monoliths are placed in the ground with a number and the kanji 丁 carved into them. There are 6 that I noticed with #6 in front of the temple gate at the bottom of the trail. By the time you get to #2 the route is predominately stairs. We met a woman on the way up. She hikes up to the temple everyday to loose weight. I wish I had her fortitude. Overall, the hike up is not too hard and we completed it well within the 30 minute estimate on the sign below. Going down is a breeze.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More stairs!</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">At the top the temple sits on the Osaka bay side of a flat area. A small yard has a collection of random benches and tables, a public restroom, a small udon shop and a few statues. The view looking east towards Nara prefecture is of absolute untouched wilderness. The only man made thing in view is a mine at the bottom of the valley that you have to strain to get a good look at.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Right as we got to the temple an older man in casual clothes asked us if we came to get our scroll signed. We said yes and he told us to wait a second with a great big smile. We sat down and took the now awake Mia out of the backpack. The man, who turned out the be the obosan, quickly came back. Before I noticed he had picked up Mia, started carrying her around the temple and playing with her. Mia typically is good with strangers, but she does not let everyone pick her up like that. She must have sensed that he was a good guy. We have met many interesting and helpful obosan on our route, but none of them have been as cheerful as he was.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mia's new friend</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The temple was simple with a roof that seemed unlike any other I have seen. There was no incense burning so we bought a few sticks for the three of us and lit them. The fresh nature smell was great on that day thanks to the storm that had just passed by and the incense intensified it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Yuko commented that going to temples clears her head, and I totally agree. The nature and the calmness up on the top of that mountain was a great refresher--a detox for the mind. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We did not stay long as it was getting dark and we had to hike back down the hill. Only a few minutes into the walk back we found some blood on the stone and a pair of bent eye glasses. Someone must had tripped. We checked the area to see if someone had slipped down the hill, picked up the glasses and rushed down to the shop. On the way we met a woman hiking up but she did not see anyone injured coming down. Getting down to the small shop we found out that a man from Nagoya had hurt himself. An ambulance had picked him up, but he did not appear very hurt to the people in the shop. After taping the glasses to the only car with Nagoya plates in the parking lot we headed to a super-sento in nearby Tondabayashi to end the day's adventure.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065546677/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-17 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-17" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8065546677_51f5303c62_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the benches and the view towards Nara</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065543940/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-16 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-16" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8065543940_5de99af640_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temple bell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065552804/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-18 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-18" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8065552804_6c4dff2955_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The way back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065525211/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-11 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-11" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8065525211_f6e8a6e02d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying at Seifuku-ji covers all the bases: good children, good spousal relationships, good job, good health, good friends, and lots of money.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065486774/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-2" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8065486774_da3c74c3fc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the stores by the parking lot</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065482786/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-1"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-1" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8065482786_ec685094ec_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065486774/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-2"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-2" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8065486774_da3c74c3fc_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065492082/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-3"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-3" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8312/8065492082_0950c5a435_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065496520/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-4"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-4" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/8065496520_b57316b6d8_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065499049/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-5"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-5" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8065499049_91e590c3b7_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065502505/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-6"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-6" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8065502505_7741c18ee7_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065511062/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-7"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-7" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/8065511062_85deaefe23_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065515168/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-8"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-8" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/8065515168_e181b56c49_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065516319/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-9"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-9" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8065516319_b98fb8f00e_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065523436/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-10"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-10" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/8065523436_40f6c04b21_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065525211/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-11"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-11" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8065525211_f6e8a6e02d_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065530573/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-12"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-12" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/8065530573_e1417b1059_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065534133/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-13"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-13" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8321/8065534133_51b3548d00_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065536265/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-14"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-14" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8065536265_66f6bb9799_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065541508/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-15"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-15" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/8065541508_e1e9ede584_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065543940/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-16"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-16" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/8065543940_5de99af640_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065546677/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-17"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-17" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8065546677_51f5303c62_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065552804/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-18"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-18" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8065552804_6c4dff2955_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065556958/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-19"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-19" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8065556958_6a9d356d2c_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065560900/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-20"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-20" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8065560900_f742201bf4_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8065563655/in/set-72157631717591927/" style="display: block; float: left; height: 75px; padding: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 75px;" title="20121001-Sefukuji-21"><img alt="20121001-Sefukuji-21" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8065563655_8bf45d791d_s.jpg" style="border: none; height: 75px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 75px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157631717591927/">#4 Sefuku-ji 施福寺</a>, a set on Flickr.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E6%96%BD%E7%A6%8F%E5%AF%BA&aq=&sll=34.794951,136.015481&sspn=58.116439,59.677734&brcurrent=3,0x6000d372a665260f:0x374c69a44769745c,0&ie=UTF8&hq=%E6%96%BD%E7%A6%8F%E5%AF%BA&t=m&ll=34.408751,135.481682&spn=0.063731,0.102997&z=13&output=embed" width="600"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=ja&geocode=&q=%E6%96%BD%E7%A6%8F%E5%AF%BA&aq=&sll=34.794951,136.015481&sspn=58.116439,59.677734&brcurrent=3,0x6000d372a665260f:0x374c69a44769745c,0&ie=UTF8&hq=%E6%96%BD%E7%A6%8F%E5%AF%BA&t=m&ll=34.408751,135.481682&spn=0.063731,0.102997&z=13" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">大きな地図で見る</a></small>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com3Japan, 〒594-1131 Osaka Prefecture, Izumi, Makiosancho, 136 施福寺34.3929151 135.511577534.3798121 135.49183649999998 34.406018100000004 135.5313185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-88777725086569974772012-09-24T19:28:00.000+09:002012-09-24T19:28:50.364+09:00Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) - 広島電鉄 (広電)<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) - 広島電鉄 (広電)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018981053/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120828-Hiroden-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-3" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8018981053_803af1e33f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="s1" style="font-size: x-small;">Place Name: <b>Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) - 広島電鉄 (広電)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Type: <b>Railway 鉄道</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Location:<b> Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Chukoku Region, JAPAN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Distance: <b>35km</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Number of Stations: <b>83</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">Homepage:</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><a href="http://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/">http://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/</a></b></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018984229/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120828-Hiroden-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-5" height="426" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8459/8018984229_eb5aa3bc30_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shiyakusho-mae Station [市役所前駅]</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">Hiroshima Electric Railway, or Hiroden [<span class="s1">広電</span>] as the locals call it, is Japan’s largest and most used streetcar system. There are eight routes on seven lines using a total of 35km of track. 18.9km of Hiroden’s track lies in the middle of the road with the normal traffic. This section of the track is called the “inner city lines” [<span class="s1">市内線</span>]. The remaining 16.1km from Hiroden Nishi-Hiroshima Station [<span class="s1">広電西広島</span>] to Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station [<span class="s1">広電宮島口</span>] is called the Miyajima Line [<span class="s1">宮島線</span>]. It runs free from traffic on its own right of way. Leaving Hiroshima Station, one can ride all the way to Miyajimaguchi without changing trains passing a total of 40 stations and taking just over an hour. This is the red #2 line<span class="s2">.</span> The newest and largest trains run this line.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eba Station [江波駅]</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The company also owns a hotel in the city, operates city bus lines, and holds stock in other transportation companies including the Miyajima Matsudai ferry. Hiroshima is one of Japan’s most visited locals outside of Tokyo and Hiroden competes with JR for foreign tourists to the city and Miyajima. They offer a two day one night tourist package that includes the streetcars, ferry, Miyajima Ropeway, hotel stay with some meals for $130 which is not a bad idea if you plan on visiting.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rakurakuen Station [楽々園駅]</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hiroden has purchased and maintains old train cars from other city’s streetcar operators. Some of which are now defunct. Cars from Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and Hanover, Germany are still in operation on Hiroden’s inner city lines. Two very special cars that survived the atomic bomb blast in 1945 also still run on the lines.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8019005854/" title="20120828-Hiroden-15 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-15" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/8019005854_583cbf3cc8_m.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8019004010/" title="20120828-Hiroden-14 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-14" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8019004010_bbab59f7e1_m.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018997945/" title="20120828-Hiroden-13 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-13" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8318/8018997945_e19f0e016d_m.jpg" width="160" /></a>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The beginnings of the Hiroshima street car began 100 years ago thanks to a plan to reclaim the land once used by the moats around Hiroshima castle. As the city grew and modernized through the Taisha era more lines and routes were planned. Ten years after it’s foundation in 1922 the Miyajima Line was opened. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018990409/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120828-Hiroden-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-9" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/8018990409_318cc3517c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dobashi Station [土橋駅]</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">As the Pacific War became the Second World War more and more stresses were put upon the railway. Soon most of the able bodied men working as drivers and conductors were conscripted into military service. Women were soon trained to take the men’s places on the trains and busses. Under orders from the government a new line was made to the port to support the military.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6</span><sup style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">th</sup><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">, 1945. 185 students and teachers Hiroden’s girls school perished and 266 others were injured. Of the 123 cars in operation at the time 108 were destroyed. Despite the massive losses in infrastructure, one section of the line was running only 3 days after the bombing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; line-height: 18px;">By 1947 most of the lines were restored to service. Into the 1950s Hiroden modernized the rolling stock and the readjusted of the lines to match the postwar reconstruction of the city. In the late 50’s the Miyajima ferry and ropeway begun operation. Hiroden then expanded into highway buses and land development through the 80s. 1997 brought about new trains as urban transit was undergoing a global resurgence. From the 90’s to today Hiroden has been rebuilding, modernizing stations, and improving accessibility where possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018984268/" title="20120828-Hiroden-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-2" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/8018984268_eb73777648_m.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018990264/" title="20120828-Hiroden-6 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-6" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/8018990264_26b8e88f94_m.jpg" width="160" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8019004109/" title="20120828-Hiroden-17 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-17" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8461/8019004109_8ac329c777_m.jpg" width="160" /></a>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I found the lines to be a pleasure to ride. The terminal stations, especially Hiroshima Port Station [<span class="s1">広島湾</span>], are well designed and each is unique. The difference in ride among the many types of trains was enjoyable especially for fan like myself. While modern in parts, there are many old and retro sections of the track. The section between Dobashi [<span class="s1">土橋</span>] and Hiroden Nishi-Hiroshima [<span class="s1">広電西広島</span>] in particular.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018982871/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120828-Hiroden-4 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-4" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8018982871_d529474dcb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiroshima Port Station [広島湾]</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">On the inner city lines, with the exception of the Hakushima Line, a flat rate fare of ¥150 is charged upon exiting the train. The Hakushima Line is only ¥100 per ride. Transfer tickets are available. From Nishi-Hiroshima to Miyajima-guchi a fare based on distance is charged and boarding slips are available on the train or from machines at the station. For those who live in the city there is an IC card called PASPY that also can be used on some busses and JR West trains. For tourists there are two one-day passes. The first covers all the trains for ¥600 and second covers trains and the Miyajima ferry for ¥840. A two-day pass for ¥2,000 offers trains, ferry and ropeway access. Remember to run the card through the reader when you get on and when you get off the train. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(Most of the information about the history of the company was taken from <a href="http://www.hiroden.co.jp/100th/index.html" target="_blank">the history on Hiroden’s own website</a> commemorating their 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary.)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8019007294/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120828-Hiroden-16 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-16" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8019007294_53031185a9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one day trip card</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1782607">Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) - 広島電鉄 (広電) at EveryTrail</a></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=1782607&width=600&height=500" width="600"></iframe>EveryTrail - Find the <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-california">best hikes in California</a> and beyond
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018991496/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120828-Hiroden-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-7" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8435/8018991496_5310d64946_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018977671/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120828-Hiroden-1 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-1" height="160" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/8018977671_eabbe10183_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/8018992179/" title="20120828-Hiroden-10 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120828-Hiroden-10" height="160" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8018992179_ef9ee6ffcd_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan34.3852029 132.455292734.3327869 132.3763287 34.437618900000004 132.53425670000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-79227459272671028592012-09-06T10:39:00.000+09:002012-09-06T10:42:17.945+09:00Inbi Line - 因美線<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to Tottori from Chizu station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">JR West Inbi Line - JR<span class="s1">西日本因美線</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span class="s1">Place Name: </span><b>JR West Inbi Line - JR<span class="s1">西日本因美線</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Type: <b>Railway Line 列車線</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location: <b>Tottori and Okayama Prefectures, Chukoku Region, JAPAN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Terminals: <b>Tottori Station, Tsuyama Station</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Distance: <b>70.8km</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Number of Stations: <b>19</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Inbi line cuts through the mountains that divide the Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean sides of Japan. Inbi [因美] is derived from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaba_Province" target="_blank"><b>In</b>aba</a> [<b>因</b>幡] and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimasaka_Province" target="_blank"><b>Mi</b>masaka</a> [<b>美</b>作] the traditional names of the areas centered around the current cities of Tottori [鳥取市] and Tsuyama [津山市] respectively. The entire line not electrified and diesel trains run on it. It is only serviced once every 1~2 hours for is busier section, and even less often on the more rural section.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trains leaving for Ohara and Wakasa from Tottori Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The line is divided into two sections at Chizu station [智頭駅] and no local train runs directly between the two terminals. From Chizu the semi-public Chizu Express Railway* cuts off from the line and provides a quicker route two the Sanyo Main Line. A second local private line the Wakasa Railway spurs off from the Inbi Line at Koge Station [郡家駅]. Depending on the time, train cars from these two companies leave Tottori station and head directly to Wakasa Station [若桜駅] or Ohara Station [大原駅] on the Chizu Express Line. Although the train does not change the crew does at Koge or Chizu station. Riding a JR West line in a non-JR West train is one unusual aspect of the Inbi Line. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940464268/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120817-InbiLine-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-2" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/7940464268_cb1776ca15_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Chizu Express HOT7000</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Two express trains run on the Tottori~Chizu section before switching to the Chizu Express. The Super Hakuto runs between Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe to Tottori and further on to Kurayoshi, a popular onsen. The HOT7000 trains appear to be modified versions of the common trains that run in the urban area of Kansai, but are actually based on a JR Shikoku model. The second express train to run on the line heads the opposite way to Okayama. These trains are much smaller and only two cars long. The HOT7000 is a Chizu Express train, while the Keha187 that is used for the Super Inaba is a JR West train. In both situations at Chizu and Kamigori the train staff will change.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940466628/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120817-InbiLine-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-3" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7940466628_bec0554859_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 0km marker for the Inbi line at Tottori station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Leaving from Tottori the train serves the city's suburbs and students. The train becomes much less crowded after Koge station. After Koge station the landscape becomes increasingly rural until Chizu. After Chizu the train goes through the last of the agricultural area and quickly enters the mountains. Due to a high preponderance of falling rocks the speed limit at some mountainous and steep portions of the line is 25km/h and slows down to a crawling 15km/h during heavy rainfall.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A JR Wext KiHa120 at Chizu station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Riding the Chizu~Tsuyama portion of the line is not the easiest thing to plan as only one train goes through every 4 hours. This is also the most beautiful portion of the line as it goes through the roughest terrain. When the train finally comes out of the mountains and into the plain around Tsuyama city the view of the mountains behind is quite stunning. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940469840/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120817-InbiLine-4 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-4" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/7940469840_48f00b6c2b_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Chizu Express HOT3500 at Tottori station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>*Travel Notes*</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Tottori Station:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Tottori station is a full service station with tourist information, various convenience stores, an excellent selection of <i>ekiben</i>, <i>omiyage</i> shops, and a drug store. There is a 100 yen shop a 5 minute walk from the station and two superb <i>sento</i> within a 10 minute walk. Both <i>sento</i> open early. English language newspapers are available from the smaller Kiosk next to the gates.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940479324/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120817-InbiLine-8 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-8" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7940479324_a98cf191de_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940476424/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120817-InbiLine-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-7" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/7940476424_7473bf19d4_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940473774/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="20120817-InbiLine-6 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-6" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/7940473774_80f0b340e5_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have had three of the <i>ekiben</i> from Tottori station and can recommend them all. The Tottori no Izakaya [<a href="http://www.ekiben.or.jp/abe/type/etc/2009/07/000369.html" target="_blank">鳥取居酒屋</a>], the self heating Tottori Beef Bento [<a href="http://www.ekiben.or.jp/abe/type/heat/2009/08/000292.html" target="_blank">鳥取牛弁当</a>], or the Sakyu Tottori Aji no Bento [<a href="http://www.ekiben.or.jp/abe/type/makunochi/2009/07/000371.html" target="_blank">砂丘鳥取味の弁当</a>] are all wonderful. The most popular <i>bentos</i> are most likely those with crab, another local specialty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">On this trip I had the Sakyu Tottori Aji no Bento. I was surprised about how good the rice was. The pickles, sweet potato, and mushroom were also great. I wasn't sure what the white stuff was in the corner. I also got two pear flavored drinks. Pears [梨:なし] are Tottori's best known product. The normal juice in the half sized can had bits of pulp and was not too sweet. The pear soda in the twist top can was a bit to sweet for me. A local pear chu-hi is also for sale at the station and recommended.</span></div>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940471978/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="20120817-InbiLine-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-5" height="240" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8177/7940471978_a79dbaf8e3_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">If you're looking for a place to stay in Tottori there are a ton of business hotels by the station for ¥5,000 and up. I stayed at Matsuyaso [松屋荘] a very nice Japanese style hotel for ¥3,500 a night for a room with shared bath and toilet. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g298138-d2695138-r138760300-Matsuyaso-Tottori_Tottori_Prefecture_Chugoku.html" target="_blank">I liked it so much, reviewed it on Tripadvisor.</a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7940482446/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120817-InbiLine-9 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120817-InbiLine-9" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7940482446_02b72350f2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river near Chizu station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>Chizu Station:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">You'll most likely have to spend sometime waiting here for your next train. While there is not much to see or do near the station there is ample shopping. Straight in front of the station is the local tourist information and locally produced goods shop which sells many beautiful wooden products. I found a cute handmade hairband for my daughter for ¥100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Next to the tourist information is a luxury Ikari supermarket. There is a nice selection of imported chips and snacks for the train ride, but expect higher than normal prices. Behind the Ikari is a normal supermarket with more reasonable prices. They also had Tottori pears for sale much cheaper than the ones I bought at Tottori station, as I didn't get one I cannot comment to the quality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A coin laundry and a small independent liquor shop are also with in a minutes walk from the station. If you head straight out of the station past the tourist information there is a bridge over a beautiful river. Across that bridge is a street of old style Japanese houses.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsuyama station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Tsuyama Station is south of the city center and is lacking in things to do or see because of that. The station convince store is adequate and there was a small fruit stand set up in front of the station the day I was there. With in a minute of the station is a chain restaurant plus a few cafes and yakiniku places. In the city there is a bigger shopping mall and castle ruins, but I have never been to either.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okayama peaches and grapes being sold in front of Tsuyama station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">*Please be aware that Chizu Express Railway is not a part of JR West and therefore not covered by the Seishun 18 Kippu. For the Chizu Express a separate one day pass is available, or you will have to buy a normal ticket. The same is true for the Wakasa Railway. More information on this <a href="http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/2012/03/seishun-18-kippu-pt2-planning.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com0Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan35.5011326 134.235091435.2943046 133.9192344 35.7079606 134.55094839999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25299238.post-9734364590751007222012-08-29T14:29:00.002+09:002012-08-29T20:46:10.521+09:00The Northern Tip of Hyogo: Nekozaki<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out to the Sea of Japan at the northernmost point of Hyogo - Nekozaki</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Place Name: <b>Nekozaki - 猫崎</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Type: <b>Hiking Course / Northernmost point of Hyogo - ハイキングコース / 兵庫県北端</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Location: <b>Toyooka city, Hyogo, JAPAN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Starting Location: <b>Takeno Station 竹野駅</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Latitude: <b>35.649967</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Longitude: <b>134.756522</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Ending Location: <b>Nekozaki lighthouse 猫崎灯台</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Latitude: <b>35.674444</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Longitude: <b>134.764167</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Date of Visit: <b>August 16, 2012</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Access: <b>JR West San'in Main Line</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Web: <b>Takeno Tourist Information [Japanese] <a href="http://www.takeno-kanko.com/">http://www.takeno-kanko.com/</a></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7884528614/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-2 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-2" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7884528614_5db92690b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takeno Station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Japanese Wikipedia entry for Hyogo prefecture lists it’s geographical extremities. Of the four the northernmost point seemed to be a nice hike near a beach with an onsen and would make a good day trip to do with the <a href="http://sleepytako.blogspot.jp/search/label/%E9%9D%92%E6%98%A5%EF%BC%91%EF%BC%98%E5%88%87%E7%AC%A6" target="_blank">Seishun 18 Kippu</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Kansai and Chugoku regions can be divided down the middle into a northern and southern half. Sanyo, the southern half, borders the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean beyond that. San’in, the northern half, is the more rural Sea of Japan side. Few roads and rail lines connect between the two sides so traveling between the two takes time and often goes through some spectacular scenery. One of my favorite words in Japanese is “陰陽連絡路線” meaning a road that connects San’in to Sanyo. I took the quickest route riding the Fukuchiyama and San’in Main line. My trip started at Osaka station at 5:55. After two train changes in Fukuchiyama and Toyooka, I arrived at Takeno station at 10:20.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center">
苦楽園口5:15発、竹野10:20着! <a href="http://t.co/5OqFYV5d" title="http://twitter.com/sleepytako/status/235910214627491840/photo/1">twitter.com/sleepytako/sta…</a><br />
— David (@sleepytako) <a data-datetime="2012-08-16T01:25:54+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/sleepytako/status/235910214627491840">August 16, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7884532326/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-3 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-3" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7884532326_3bd9cf8670_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takeno Beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The walk from the station to the beach goes through some typical countryside into a nice older section of town and ends up along the beach. Little cafes, small minshuku, and shops selling beach goods lined the streets while the beach was littered with tented beach huts offering a place to sit out of the sun, hot showers, food and booze. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It was hot on this August day and I was soaking in sweat even before starting the hike. The extra strength super sweat-proof sunscreen didn’t save my skin from getting burned. The humidity was high but not too bad. It was sweaty hiking weather, but nothing too hard and nothing I couldn’t handle I thought. Then I saw the hill.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7884544968/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-5 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-5" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8040/7884544968_09f657a6b1_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the trail with the hill in the background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7884554918/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-7 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-7" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7884554918_e676f17f97_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the beautiful scenery from the trail</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Coming straight off the ocean, it looks pretty tall. I thought the trail would cut around the side. No way I’d have to hike to the top of that hill. I was wrong. I also thought the trail would be rough, but not that rough. The signs warning me of dangers ahead seemed placed there for some bureaucratic requirement and not because of any real danger. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The trail wasn’t that dangerous really, but it was surprisingly hard. First, the humidity. In that forest the air just gets heavy with water making breathing difficult. Second, the bugs. I’m not a fan of bugs and the trail was just crawling with them. Cicadas were flailing around as I approached. Countless spiderwebs were destroyed by my face. Third, the footing. Various parts of the trail are covered in slippery loose soil. I took a fall once and lost my footing a few times. This was the first hike where I thought that I would actually like to get some of those dorky looking ski poles. Forth, the climbing. Getting up and down those slopes sometimes required holding on to a less then secure feeling rope. It was pretty close to scrambling getting up some of those cliffs. The last decent to the lighthouse was the steepest and most difficult.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge on the trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/7884584736/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-13 by sleepytako, on Flickr"><img alt="20120816-Takeno-Nekozaki-13" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/7884584736_bedfc747e0_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ocean</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The payoff and the view from the lighthouse makes the hike worth it however. The trail itself is dark and doesn’t offer much to look as the forest is just that dense with vegetation. The few spots where the forest opens up does offer some amazing views of the ocean. At the end, however, is the real good view. In the summer on a good day, like when I went, the ocean is a inviting blue color. So peaceful and cool looking. I considered climbing down but since I was there by myself I thought it would best if I didn’t. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It was a very secluded point. A lighthouse is at the end and there’s a concrete area around it thats big enough to sit down on and relax. The only things around me were a massive group of dragonflies, some other gross bugs that would run out of the plants onto the concrete, and a grandpa down on the rocks fishing. I had no clue how that guy got out there. I didn’t see a boat or float and there was no real trail to get there from where I was. I bet I could scramble my way there, but it would be dangerous and downright impossible with all that fishing equipment he had. I guess he was dropped off by a boat. It looked fun to be out there alone. I don’t think he ever noticed me either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I didn’t look forward to hiking back, but the beach was there and getting into the ocean and washing off the sweat kept me going. At the beach I changed in park and used a drinking fountain to give my sweat soaked clothing a quick wash. I left my wet clothing on the concrete pier to dry in the sun as I swam in the somewhat crowded ocean. Still, getting in the water after such a tough hike was the best.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the hill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">After swimming I headed to the onsen next the beach. <a href="http://kitamaekan.net/main/onsen/index.html" target="_blank">Kitamekan</a>, a building with a restaurant, omiyage shops, rest areas, and rental kayaks, has a real onsen on the second floor called Tanjyo no Yu. It’s 500 yen for a few baths with a decent onsen and a small sauna. Cheaper than the hot showers you can get on the beach. You can’t go in straight from the beach soaking with saltwater and all sandy however. I just made myself as presentable as possible at the water fountain and it was ok.
The hike and the beach itself are highly recommended. I am already looking forward to going back next year just to hang out on the beach.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">竹野ビーチなう。 <a href="http://t.co/btXj80b3" title="http://twitter.com/sleepytako/status/235949800200224768/photo/1">twitter.com/sleepytako/sta…</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">— David (@sleepytako) <a data-datetime="2012-08-16T04:03:11+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/sleepytako/status/235949800200224768">August 16, 2012</a></span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1744243">The Northern Tip of Hyogo: Nekosaki at EveryTrail</a><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=1744243&width=640&height=500" width="640"></iframe>EveryTrail - Find the <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-california">best hikes in California</a> and beyond</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">More pictures from the trip <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157631298282232/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span>sleepytakohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17554508523805590606noreply@blogger.com2Takeno Station, Takenocho Kusakai, Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan35.649969 134.75652435.6241635 134.71704200000002 35.675774499999996 134.796006