Focal point. Ichinoseki JR Station 一ノ関駅, is located on Tohoku main line 東北本線, Ofunato line 大船渡線 and Tohoku Shinkansen line 東北新幹線. Came to this train station on two separate occasions. First transited here in 2015 to board the adorable and eye-catching Pokémon with you train (at that point of time, Pokémon Go game was not released yet) which commutes between Ichinoseki and Kesennuma. During my solo trip to Tohoku region again on the following year, I stayed in Ichinoseki for two nights and made this a focal point because of its well connectivity by bus and trains to nearby regions. During my stay in Ichinoseki, I explored Genbikei 厳美渓, the mesmerising gorge with emerald green coloured river water flowing through it; Hiraizumi 平泉, the UNESCO World Heritage site and Hanamaki 花巻, the hometown of the late poet, Miyazawa Kenji 宮沢賢治.
Shinkansen and trains serving Ichinoseki JR Station include:
(1) Hayabusa はやぶさ / Komachi こまち commutes northwards to Shin Hanamaki 新花巻駅 and Morioka 盛岡駅, via Tohoku Shinkansen line. At Morioka, Hayabusa continues its journey northwards to Aomori 青森駅 and Shin Hakodate Hokuto 新函館北斗駅, while Komachi travels westwards to Tazawa-ko田沢湖駅, Kakunodate 角館駅 and Akita 秋田駅.
(2) Hayabusa はやぶさ / Komachi こまち commutes southwards to Sendai 仙台駅 and Tokyo 東京駅, via Tohoku Shinkansen line.
(3) Pokémon with you is a limited express themed train launched as part of recovery efforts after the Tohoku Earthquake in 2011 and commutes between Ichinoseki 一ノ関駅 and Kesennuma 気仙沼駅 (in Miyagi Prefecture) via Ofunato line. Normally in operation on weekends and public holidays, the train underwent a recent facelift in Jul 2017 and is now entirely Pikachu themed.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/pokemon.html
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| Overlooking the train station from elevated Shinkansen platform. |
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| Accompanied by Pikachu on a Pokemon themed train ride, departing from Ichinoseki JR Station. |
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| Overhead bridge for passengers to commute between Shinkansen and the local train lines within the train station. |
What's nearby?
(1) Ichinoseki Tourist Information Center 一ノ関観光案内所, the building on the left after exiting from the train station West Exit / Nishi guchi 西口.
(2) Ekimae bus terminal, located just in front of train station West Exit / Nishi guchi 西口.
Platform #7 for buses (31) departing for Geibikei 猊鼻渓.
* Look under Geibikei line げいび渓線 for bus schedule.
Platform #9 for buses (10, 11 and 12) departing for Genbikei 厳美渓.
* Look under Genbikei / Zuisen / Sukawa Onsen line 厳美渓線・瑞山線・須川温泉線 for bus schedule.
Bus schedule: http://www.iwatekenkotsu.co.jp/ichinoseki_hiraizumi.html
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| Waited at Platform #9 for the bus heading for Genbikei. |
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| Red building on the left is Ichinoseki Tourist Information Center. The center building with a yellow signboard is the bus center, where One Day Bus Passport can be purchased. |
Ichinoseki X Hiraizumi One Day Bus Passport 一関 X 平泉 ワンデーバスパスポート
Highly recommend this seasonal bus pass which is only available between Apr to Nov and is specially catered for tourists who intend to cover several attractions in the region within a day. Bus pass is priced at 1,000 yen and can be purchased at Iwate Ken Kotsu Bus Center 岩手県交通バスセンター located near Platform #9 and #10.
Following are some of the bus routes covered by the one day bus passport:
- Genbikei / Zuisen / Sukawa Onsen line 厳美渓線・瑞山線・須川温泉線.
Buses commute between Ichinoseki Ekimae Bus Terminal and Genbikei.
- Genbikei / Takkoku / Hirazumi line 厳美渓・達谷・平泉線.
Buses commute between Genbikei, Motsuji and Hiraizumi Ekimae.
- Hiraizumi Loop Bus Run Run 平泉巡回バス 「るんるん」.
This is a loop service operating from Hiraizumi JR Station, Motsuji, Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center, Chusonji, Muryoko-in ato 無量光院跡 and eventually returning to Hiraizumi Ekimae.
- Geibikei line げいび渓線.
Buses commute between Ichinoseki Ekimae Bus Terminal and Geibikei.
- Hiraizumi Geibikei line 平泉・げいび渓線.
Buses commute between Hiraizumi Ekimae and Geibikei.
For my trip, I utilised this pass to cover the following routes:
- Ichinoseki Bus Terminal to Genbikei via Genbikei line [490 yen]
- Genbikei to Motsuji via Genbikei / Takkoku / Hirazumi line 厳美渓・達谷・平泉線 [460 yen]
- Motsuji to Chusonji by Hiraizumi Loop Bus Run Run 平泉巡回バス 「るんるん」[150 yen]
- Chusonji to Hiraizumi JR Station by Hiraizumi Loop Bus Run Run 平泉巡回バス 「るんるん」[150 yen]
Total = 1,250 yen (250 yen savings)
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Commemorative stamps:
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