Yahiko Station 弥彦駅 is the terminus station on Yahiko line 弥彦線 and the train station nearest to Yahiko Jinja 彌彦神社. The 17.7 km long railway line connects Yahiko Station 弥彦駅 to Higashi Sanjo Station 東三条駅, passing by Yoshida Station 吉田駅 (which connects to Niigata Station 新潟駅 via Echigo line 越後線) and Tsubame Sanjo Station 燕三条駅 (Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線). The design of the train station building was inspired Yahiko Jinja and I am amazed by the level of details showcased by it. To mimic a shrine, there is even a temizuya 手水舎 where worshippers will cleanse their hands with water from the basin before entering a shrine, set up near the entrance of the train station. The vermilion pillars and beams make the building looked particularly stunning in the day; do keep a lookout for cute rabbits depicted on the onigawara 鬼瓦 of the roof as well.
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What's nearby?
(1) Bus stop, just beside the train station.
Yahiko, Tsubame Area Loop Bus Yahiko-go 弥彦．燕広域循環バス 「やひこ号」:
- For Yahiko Jinja 彌彦神社, board Yahiko-go bus heading for Yoshida Station 吉田駅 and Vision Yoshida ビジョンよしだ and alight at the next stop.
- For Yahiko Onsen 弥彦温泉, board Yahiko-go bus heading for Temari no yu てまりの湯.
Yahiko-go bus only operates on weekdays and the fare is 100 yen per ride.
http://www.city.tsubame.niigata.jp/life/013001000.html
(2) Yahiko Koen 弥彦公園, about 1 minute walk from the train station.
(3) Yahiko Tourist Information Center 弥彦観光案内所, 2 minutes walk from the train station.
(4) Yahiko Jinja 彌彦神社, about 10 minutes walk from the train station.
(5) Yahiko Ropeway 弥彦ロープウェイ, about 20 minutes walk from the train station.
The 1 km long ropeway ferries visitors from the base to the summit of Yahikoyama 彌彦山. A panoramic view of Echigo Plain (Echigo Heiya 越後平野) and the Sea of Japan can be captured at the summit of this 634 m tall mountain. Regular shuttle bus service operates between the base ropeway station and Yahiko Jinja as well.
https://www.hotel-juraku.co.jp/yahiko/
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Commemorative stamp:
