Tohoku 2016 東北の旅 - Hanamaki JR Station 花巻駅, Future City Galaxy Earth Railway Wall Painting 未来都市銀河地球鉄道壁画

Witnessed the sky turning into an alluring ombre pink during sunset at Hanamaki JR Station.

Hanamaki JR Station 花巻駅, is located along Tohoku main line 東北本線 and the terminus station on Kamaishi line 釜石線. The nearest Shinkansen station from here is Shin Hanamaki JR Station 新花巻駅 which is situated two train stations away on Kaimaishi line. As Hanamaki city is the hometown of Miyazawa Kenji, a late Japanese poet and children's literature author, you will find numerous monuments, display boards and museums here, built in memory of this well loved local writer whose literacy works continue to touch the hearts of future generations after his passing.

Sightseeing trains (as of 5 Feb 2019) serving this train station include:
(1) SL Ginga SL銀河, a steam locomotive sightseeing train which commutes between Hanamaki and Kamaishi, stopping by Shin Hanamaki 新花巻駅 and Tono 遠野駅 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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What's nearby?

(1) Bus stops, just in front of the train station East/Higashi Exit 東口.

- East Exit Platform 2 for buses to Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura / Miyazawa Kenji Fairy Tale Village 宮沢賢治童話村 and Miyazawa Kenji Muesum 宮沢賢治記念館:
Board Iwate Kotsu Bus 岩手交通バス Dosawa line 土沢線, heading for Shin Hanamaki Station 新花巻駅, and alight at Miyazawa Kenji Kinen Guchi 宮沢賢治記念口.
Bus journey takes approximately 17 minutes and the fare is 420 yen.

- East Exit Platform 4 for buses to Hanamaki Onsen 花巻温泉 and Dai Onsen 台温泉:
Board Iwate Kotsu Bus 岩手交通バス Hanamaki Onsen line 花巻温泉沢線, heading for Hanamaki Onsen and Dai Onsen.

Iwate Kotsu Bus Dosawa line Schedule: http://www.iwatekenkotsu.co.jp/hanamaki_tiku.html

Was curious to know what this mural will transform to when night falls...

Seeing is believing. Look at how stunning this wall painting is!

(2) Future City Galaxy Earth Railway Wall Painting / Mirai Toshi Ginga Chikyu Tetsudo Hekiga 未来都市銀河地球鉄道壁画, about 5 minutes walk from the train station East / Higashi Exit.
Upon exiting from the train station, turn left and follow the pedestrian footpath till you arrive at a 10 m tall and 80 m long concrete wall.
Operating hours: From sunset till 2200 hrs
https://www.kanko-hanamaki.ne.jp/spot/article.php?p=140

Surreal. This wall painting inspired by Miyazawa Kenji's popular novel named Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru 銀河鉄道の夜 (Night on the Galactic Railroad) was my main objective of coming to Hanamaki JR Station. As the entire picture was painted with glow-in-the-dark luminous ink, a magical transformation awaits at night. As the sun sets, the UV flood lights are shone onto the wall to bringing the entire picture to life! I was extremely fascinated by the beautiful pictorial representation of trains travelling along the milky way, just like how it was depicted in the novel, and I could not take my eyes off this surreal image. This was also an excellent prelude to SL Ginga (a sightseeing steam locomotive steam also inspired by the novel) which I took on the following day. 

(3) Marukan Building Daishokudo マルカンビル大食堂, a food court located on the 6th floor of the former Marukan Departmental Store. About 10 minutes walk from the train station East/Higashi Exit 東口.
Operating hours: 1000 - 1830 hrs (last order at 1800 hrs); Closed on Wednesdays
https://www.kanko-hanamaki.ne.jp/gourmet/article.php?p=384

Surprise combination. It was through a casual conversation with a local I met at Genbikei 厳美渓 that I got to know about Marukan マルカン, a local retailer which originated from Hanamaki city. When I was seeking his advice on food recommendation in Hiraizumi and Hanamaki (two other places I planned to explore for the rest of the day), he asked me whether I have eaten a soft serve using a pair of chopsticks. Was baffled by his question because I could not comprehend why do I need chopsticks to do so. After he showed me a photo of the soft serve on his smart phone, I could better visualise the need to do so. This particular soft serve sold in Marukan Building Daishokudo has a total of ten twirls, already making it taller than the conventional ones. Despite the greater volume of soft serve, each cone is unbelievably priced at 180 yen, which is way much cheaper than those I have eaten before in Japan (typically between 300 - 400 yen)! Due to its large size, the soft serve cone is placed in a cup when served and the locals have acquired a special skill of conquering this popular dessert, simply by using chopsticks. Regrettably, I was not able to pay Marukan a visit to try this legendary soft serve during my stay in Hanamaki that time. Hopefully I will get to fulfill this unfinished mission on subsequent trips to Japan!



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Commemorative stamps: