Shin Hanamaki JR Station 新花巻駅, is a train station located along Tohoku Shinkansen line 東北新幹線 and Kamaishi line 釜石線, in Iwate Prefecture. One thing to take note of is the Shinkansen station is not directly connected to the local train station. In order to transfer to the local train, passengers will need to exit from the Shinkansen station building and follow a sheltered pedestrian walkway, with clear directional sign indicating Kamaishi line. The exact train boarding platform is located on the other side of the road which is accessible via an underpass. Also, there are no hotels located in the vicinity of the train station as the surrounding is mainly occupied by houses for residential purposes. The next place to find any accommodation will have to be near Hanamaki JR Station, which is located two stations away on Kamaishi line.
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| Sheltered walkway from the Shinkansen station to the local train station. |
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| Underpass. |
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| Arrived at the local train boarding platform to catch SL Ginga. [May 2016] |
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| Some walking is required between the Shinkansen station and local train station. |
(1) Hayabusa はやぶさ and Komachi こまち commutes northwards from here to Morioka via Tohoku Shinkansen line. At Morioka, Hayabusa continues its journey northwards to Hachinohe 八戸駅 and Shin Aomori 新青森駅 via Tohoku Shinkansen line, while Komachi commutes westwards to Tazawa-ko 田沢湖駅, Kakunodate 角館駅 and Akita 秋田駅, via Akita Shinkansen line.
(2) Hayabusa はやぶさ and Komachi こまち commutes southwards from here to Ichinoseki 一ノ関駅, Sendai 仙台駅 and Tokyo 東京駅, via Tohoku Shinkansen line.
(3) SL Ginga SL銀河, a steam locomotive sightseeing train which commutes between Hanamaki and Kamaishi, stopping by Shin Hanamaki and Tono via Kamaishi line. This special themed train is only in operation on weekends and public holidays.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/galaxysl.html
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| Hanamaki Tourist Information Center. |
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| A convenience store and souvenir shop are located within the Shinkansen station building. |
What's nearby?
(1) Hanamaki Tourist Information Center 花巻観光センター, located within the train station.
Operating hours: 0900 -1800 hrs (Apr - Sep); 0900 - 1730 hrs (0900 - 1730 hrs)
The first place I headed down to after exiting from the ticket gates to collect more information such as maps and brochures on the places which I was visiting in Hanamaki city. One other convenient service that some tourist information centers provide (including this particular one) is the safe keeping of luggage either for free or at a nominal fee charged per piece of luggage (usually cheaper than coin lockers). This comes extremely handy and affordable for tourists who are carrying bulky luggage or bags and are planning to stay in the area for a couple of hours, or when the limited large size coin lockers in train station are fully occupied.
https://www.kanko-hanamaki.ne.jp/information_office/
(2) Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura / Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Village 宮沢賢治童話村, about 20 minutes walk away from the train station.
The reason why most people come to this train station is its proximity to several attractions which are associated with Miyazawa Kenji, a late Japanese poet and children's literature author who was born in Hanamaki. Some of his most popular titles include Night on the Galactic Railroad 銀河鉄道の夜 (Ginga tetsudo no yoru), which the sightseeing train SL Ginga took inspiration from, and The Restaurant of Many Orders 注文の多い料理店 (Chumo no ooi ryoriten), have been translated into numerous languages and are still widely read by the younger generation today. Visited the fairy tale village in Oct 2015; regardless whether you have read his works previously, the beautiful and intricate exhibits put up on display here will definitely appeal to all ages.
(3) Miyazawa Kenji Muesum 宮沢賢治記念館, about 30 minutes walk away from the train station.
Even though the entrance to the museum appears to be just opposite to the fairy tale village, it takes at least another 5 to 10 minutes to overcome a flight of 367 stairs before arriving at the final destination! Here, you can find a more detailed bibliography of the late poet, showcasing his other expertise beyond the literature world that are less known of. Visited the museum in May 2016; was totally impressed by the numerous talents that an individual can possess and learnt about the efforts taken by him to improve the livelihood of impoverished farmers.
On both occasions when I visited the fairy tale village and the museum, I walked from Shin Hanamaki JR Station because the bus timing did not fit my itinerary very well. By bus from Shin Hanamaki JR Station Bus Platform 5, board Iwate Kotsu Bus 岩手交通バス Dosawa line 土沢線 heading for Hanamaki Station 花巻駅 and Ito Yokado イトーヨーカドー, and alight at Miyazawa Kenji Kinen Guchi 宮沢賢治記念口. The bus journey takes approximately 3 minutes and the fare is 150 yen.
Iwate Kotsu Bus Dosawa line Schedule (Search for Dosawa line 土沢線): http://www.iwatekenkotsu.co.jp/hanamaki_tiku.html
* Note that there are more bus services operating on weekdays than on weekends/public holidays.
Commemorative stamps:
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