Japan’s Amazing Train Station in Seagulls’ Paradise

Visiting an amazing local train station on lakeside in Japan where friendly seagulls come to visit during the winter season, Hamanako-Sakume on Tenryu Hamanako Railway. The train stations and facilities, which have remained unchanged since the time they first opened, will make us feel nostalgic. Also, don’t miss the spectacular sunset as the train crossing an old railway bridge in the background.
Please enjoy our journey to the end!

Chapter:
0:00 Digest / Introduction of journey
2:30 Kakegawa to Tenryu-Futamata
4:12 Railway History Museum / Tenryu-Futamata Station
7:12 Seagulls’ Paradise / Hamanako-Sakume Station
11:05 Station Cafe / Miyakoda Station
11:57 Suset in Towata / End of journey

Fares and Time:
– 1day Pass, 1,750JPY by Tenryu Hamanako Railway
– Kakegawa – (46mins) – Tenryu-Futamata
– Tenryu-Futamata – (41mins) – Hamanako-Sakume
– Hamanako-Sakume – (24mins) – Miyakoda
– Miyakoda – (44mins) – Towata

Fares are subject to seasonal changes. Please check the operator’s website for details.

References:
– Tenryu Hamanako Railway
https://www.tenhama.co.jp/english/
– JR Tokai [en]:
https://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/
– Railway History Museum
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303148-d8600645-Reviews-Tenryu_Futamata_Station-Hamamatsu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html
– Hamanako Sakume Station [en]:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303148-d15710406-Reviews-Hamanako_Sakume_Station-Hamamatsu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html
– Miyakoda Station Cafe [en]:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303148-d14722767-Reviews-Miyakoda_Station_Cafe-Hamamatsu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html
– Things to Do in Kakegawa [en]:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1019667-Activities-Kakegawa_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html
– Things to Do in Hamamatsu [en]:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g303148-Activities-Hamamatsu_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu.html
– Things to Do in Mori-machi [en]:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g1121221-Mori_machi_Shuchi_gun_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Tokai_Chubu-Vacations.html

Music:
Iamalex x felty – Hario
Provided by Lofi Girl
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_2B0-DtrR0
Listen: https://open.spotify.com/album/1DEadax0OB9w0Lzc90tcUV

Blurred Figures x another silent weekend
– when you go
– flower dance ft. chaiflow
– somebody lovely ft. Bitter Blossom
Provided by Lofi Girl
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9FhWVTwvwU
Listen: https://open.spotify.com/album/1343CO1yUQ2YeIJKJcqCk6

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https://iconscout.com/icons/closed-caption
https://iconscout.com/contributors/google-inc

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Good morning, and welcome to Kakegawa, Japan. About 1.5 hr from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Located in the west part of Shizuoka Pref. Kakegawa Castle overlooks the city. Kakegawa city has prospered as a castle town. We start this journey from Kakegawa Station. The retro wooden station building.

It fits in well with the atmosphere of the castle town. A short walk from the JR line station building… Another building is tucked away behind the bicycle parking lot. A diesel car of the Ten-Hama line is waiting for us. I love the sound of an idling diesel engine.

It tickles my wanderlust just by hearing it. So just go home and listen to a tape recording of it? I’m not Pavlov’s dog! I bought an one-day pass for 1,750 JPY. Here is the route. Take a Tenhama line train, we’ll visit the historical railway facilities at Tenryū-Futamata.

Then, we’ll meet friendly seagulls at Hamanako-Sakume. The final destination is Towata and see the sunset. Please enjoy the journey to the end! Away from the Tōkaido line and into the countryside. The railway runs from Kakegawa to the north side of Lake Hamana.

And rejoins the Tōkaido Line at Shinjohara on the border with Aichi. It is a tea plantation. Shizuoka district is the largest producer of Japanese tea. Oh, maybe that’s why when I turned on the tap… I was surprised that the green tea came out! Do you believe me? Yeah, you should just try.

Tenhama line started operation in 1935 as National Railways Futamata line. The station and railroad facilities have remained since its opening. They are registered as a national tangible cultural property. The railway facilities at Tenryū-Futamata are one of them. We are almost there.

Looking forward to being back in time to the heyday of the railroads. By the way, it’s just 2 mins before the meeting time of the facility tour. You know we walk a constant tightrope. Um…, we have fallen down the rope more than a half, maybe? We made it! The ticket costs 600 JPY.

The staff in the train company seems to be showing us around. Although a weekday, it looks very popular with many participants. I’m so excited to explore the area where I usually can’t access. A huge water tower of the steam era is now a thing of the past.

The old office at the locomotive depot is still there. It looks like a rural school building. The fan-shaped engine house and turntable are still in operation. They are going to demonstrate the turntable. The turntable looks like an auto show. He’s a promotional model costumed as a worker, isn’t he?

Because you know, revealing outfits are criticized these days. Oh, by the way, have you ever seen the movie, EVANGELION:3.0+1.0? Actually, this place was featured as the 3rd village in the movie. Of course, this turntable also appeared. Beside it, the Lance of Longinus is pierced. The fan-shaped engine house appeared as a village clinic.

Well, I’m talking as if I know much about it… I’ve NEVER seen this movie before! The clinic… No, I mean, the museum was filled with historical items. With the nostalgic atmosphere pulling our hair back, we just head further west. When we see Lake Hamana from the train window,

We are getting close to our next destination. The stars of this journey have just showed up. They became famous on social media. I never imagined there would be so many of them. Seagulls from Siberia have come to Japan to overwinter. They’re making a big fuss, begging for crusts.

They don’t even care about the whistle, with the brazenness of city pigeons. Everyone’s so laid back… Mr. driver is rather more concerned about them. Why do these seagulls gather so much? One day, a seagull was starving as he couldn’t catch any fish. There is a coffee shop at the lakeside train station.

The owner felt sorry for him and gave him an extra crust. The seagull was impressed and posted on insta”gull”m. “This crust is AWESOME!” That’s why we’re in this mess. It seems that social media has a powerful influence, even in the seagull world. But don’t just take posts at face. Because it’s insta”GULL”m, right?

Unlimited fish FOREVER for $10,000! “Seriously?” Although white and adorable form, they have a rough temperament. However, the young gulls with yellow legs are modest. Come on, get in front, or you guys won’t get the crust. You guys, too. Come on. You’re amazing, tough guy. You’ve got guts.

There are many problems happening in the world. But there is a peaceful time here. I felt like I could stay in this paradise for hours. A photographer beside me gave me the sunset information. Let’s see the sunset behind the railway bridge near Towata. Good-bye, seagulls. Beware of ripoff!

Passed an Evangelion train at Kanasashi station. There’s still time before sunset, so we get off at Miyakoda Station. A local company redeveloped this area into like Scandinavia. The station building was renovated accordingly. There is a café in the station. In a cozy atomosphere where time passes slowly, I had coffee and chocolate cake.

This is my lunch for today, by the way. Here is an irresistible space for rail fans to see trains up close. An hour later… The sun is setting beautifully. I love this time when the whole landscape is tinted by the sun. Arrived at Towata station after 50 minutes ride.

It looks like we’ll make it in time. The sunset location is just a few minute walk from the station. How was the Tenhama line journey? For the moment in this journey, I feel my mind has been liberated from the idea of time. Our journey continues. Thank you for watching!

See you in the next episode.