Objective: Riding lots of trains and hiking in the Minami Alps
Budget: 7,000 yen approx.
For our Golden Week holiday this year we wanted to save money by keeping all of our travels within our local area of Shizuoka, so I set about researching some day trip options for us. This trip along the Oigawa and Ikawa Train Lines was suggested to me by one of my students who brought in some photos of his excursion. It struck me as some of the most beautiful scenery I had ever seen in Japan.
The start point of the Oigawa line is at Kanaya station which connects to the JR Tokaido line. There is a separate building just outside the station where you can buy tickets along with a selection of train themed bento boxes. They have a lot of deals on return tickets and circuit trips so make sure you state all the destinations you want to visit and they'll work out the cheapest option. Our plan of a round trip up the Ikawa line with stops along the way would have cost around 5,500 yen but they discounted it to 4,800 once they knew our plans. This train line also runs a steam locomotive a few times a day but you must pay an additional fare of 560 yen per ride. As you take the train up be sure to look out to the right at Kawane-onsen to see all the naked people in the outdoor baths waving at the trains.
From Okuizumi you can take the Ikawa line, which is a tiny mountain train with all the windows open so you can feel the breeze and truly appreciate the views as the train clings to the mountain sides.
The train stops halfway along to hitch up the "Abt" car which pulls you up a steeper incline of 9%. While we were waiting for them to attach the train we got out, took pictures and bought some fresh kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves) from some little old ladies set up nearby. Of course they were the most delicious we had ever tasted as well as being the largest ones we had ever seen.
After the Abt train delivers you up to Nagashima Dam you get amazing lakeside views of tea fields and mountains. We stopped at Sessokyo-onsen for a lunch of cold udon with sansai (mountain vegetable) tempura at the only restaurant around and then set off walking back along the river to the lake.
Our hike brought us back to the previous station of Okuoikojo which stands in the middle of the Rainbow Bridge over a small island and most of the lake. We had to walk on the bridge alongside the tracks to reach this station.
From Okuizumi you can also take a bus to Sumatakyo Onsen where there is plenty more hiking and various onsen to try. We walked a beautiful circuit crossing the valley on a very narrow, very wobbly suspension bridge and past some abandoned logging trains. The map suggested 90 minutes for our course but we managed it in about an hour.
This was a really enjoyable trip that was a little expensive due to the twelve different trains and buses we took, but was certainly worth it for the incredible views and beautiful experiences. It showed us a new side of our old home.
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| Being pulled up by the Abt car |
The train stops halfway along to hitch up the "Abt" car which pulls you up a steeper incline of 9%. While we were waiting for them to attach the train we got out, took pictures and bought some fresh kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves) from some little old ladies set up nearby. Of course they were the most delicious we had ever tasted as well as being the largest ones we had ever seen.
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| Me against the tiny Ikawa line train |
After the Abt train delivers you up to Nagashima Dam you get amazing lakeside views of tea fields and mountains. We stopped at Sessokyo-onsen for a lunch of cold udon with sansai (mountain vegetable) tempura at the only restaurant around and then set off walking back along the river to the lake.
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| Sansai Udon with maple leaf tempura |
Our hike brought us back to the previous station of Okuoikojo which stands in the middle of the Rainbow Bridge over a small island and most of the lake. We had to walk on the bridge alongside the tracks to reach this station.
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| Looking out at Okuoikojo station |
From Okuizumi you can also take a bus to Sumatakyo Onsen where there is plenty more hiking and various onsen to try. We walked a beautiful circuit crossing the valley on a very narrow, very wobbly suspension bridge and past some abandoned logging trains. The map suggested 90 minutes for our course but we managed it in about an hour.
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| People crossing the wooden suspension bridge |
This was a really enjoyable trip that was a little expensive due to the twelve different trains and buses we took, but was certainly worth it for the incredible views and beautiful experiences. It showed us a new side of our old home.
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