Train journey using Seisyun 18 ticket
I used the Seisyun 18 ticket and traveled around San-in, Sanyo, and Shikoku from March 9th for 2 nights and 3 days.
※Seisyun＝the spring of life, youth
Although I had booked hotels, but the schedule in the middle woud be changed by the weather. According to the weather forecast, the second day, March 10th would be rainy all day.
On the first day, I took the Tokaido Main Line from Nagoya to Osaka at irast. Then, I got on the Fukuchiyama Line Tanbazi Rapid and headed for Sasayamaguchi Station. Furthermore, I was supposed to pass through Toyooka and Tottori to Matsue after viviting Fukuchiyama.
Tanbazi Rapid train was not crowded after morinig rush hour. I didn't have to worry about COVID-19. The conductor announced that the cargos were well-ventilated with air conditioners.
After passing Sanda city, which is a bed town of Osaka and Kobe, I could see the low mountains of 300m-700m above sea level in Tamba. It was a peaceful landscape.
At Sasayama-guchi, I changed the train bound for the Fukuchiyama.
Sightseeing in Fukuchiyama
About two and a half hours had passed since I left Osaka, it was about 1:15 pm, I arrived at Fukuchiyama Station.
Fukuchiyama City is one of the largest city in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, along with Maizuru City, with a population of approximately 76,000. However, the population continues to decline.
Kyoto prefecture is a place with a very large north-south disparity, where most of the population is concentrated in Kyoto city and its southern parts such as Uji city and Nagaokakyo city. Hyogo prefecture, which has Kobe city, is the same.
Fukuchiyama City is promoting tourism as a town built by Mitsuhide Akechi in the battle war era. He now appears in "Kirin comes",which is the taiga drama. Mitsuhide Aketi is said to be the first owner of the Fukuchiyama castle.
※kirin=imaginary creature looks like lion
※taiga=big river
It's a wrapping community bus.
I walked from the station towards the castle . It ws about 1 km.
I walked through in front of the Fukuchiyama City Hall where the Mitsuhide Aketi banners lined up.
Fukuchiyama Castle was built on a small hill on the east side of City Hall. The weather was nice and there were some tourists.
The castle is a reinforced concrete structure restored in 1985, but it seems that the appearance has been accurately reproduced. It's a great castle. If you pay the entrance fee, you can explore inside. However I didn't enter,because I was satisfied with taking a picture.
A little later, the cherry blossoms would be in full bloom.
This wall was also beautiful design, so was it be restored?
The castle is built on a hill 40 meters high and offers a 360-degree view of the city.
Walk in Fukuchiyama city
After visiting the castle, I walked around the city as much as time permits.
There was nobody on the shopping street. It was a desolate scene.
There was such an old building. It seemed that the town was still a castle town.
There was a small railway museum in the shopping district. It didn't seem to be open.
I found a retro shop nearby. It was an appriances shop.
How many years ago was the Hitachi Kid Color signboard? I think it was 40 to 50 years ago.
There were statues of the Fukuchiyama Ondo with a history of 400 years.
※Ondo=Japanese traditiona dance
They looked scary a lttle.
It as an wrapping vending machine featuring Mitsuhide Akechi.
Fukuchiyama has been a railway town for 100 years. The city is an important place afor connecting Kansai and San-in.
There is a building of the Fukuchiyama branch of JR West in front of the Fukuchiyama station.
Head west on the San-in Main Line
After strolling around Fukuchiyama city, I headed west on the San'in Main Line. First of all, I took the train bound for Toyooka.
I arrived at Toyooka Station after 4pm.
The limited express "Konotori" appeared.
※Konotori=Stork
This is also Konotori. The train connects Osaka and Kinosaki-Onsen via Fukuchiyama Line.
To Tottori along the Sea of Japan
The San'in Main Line beyond Kinosaki Onsen is a non-electrified section except for some areas. From Toyooka Station, I took a railcar to Hamasaka, a fishing port town on the Sea of Japan side.
The inside was quite old style.
The train ran from sea to mountain and from mountain to sea, connecting the small villages along the Sea of Japan.
I expected to see the beautiful sunset of the Sea of Japan. Unfortunately the weather turned cloudy from noon.
l passed the Amarube Bridge. It was scary because a train had fallen from this height in the past. I remember the terrible accident reported on TV news.
I transfered to Tottori at Hamasaka. At 6:15pm, it got completely dark.
From Tottori to Shimane / Matsue
From Tottori, I took the rapid train for Yonago. It was the most crowded train except for trains around Osaka. I was lucky enough to take a seat.
At Yonago, I transfered to the last train for Izumo City. It was the 9th transfer on this day.
At 9:30pm, I arrived at Matsue.
However, there was nothing in front of Matsue station even if I wanted to have dinner.
It is normal that 24 hours beef bowl or McDonald's in the capital city of the prefecture, but I wasn't able to find it. There were only a few izakaya, and the prefectural office was in front of the station. Was it a little far from the city center? After all, I bought a bento at a convenience store and decided to eat it in the hotel.
Stayed at a capsule hotel tonight
I had booked a capsule type room to save on travel expenses.
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