Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Domannaka どまん中

Visited 16.11.2014 (Sun)

I want to eat Awaodori! Ramen comes to the mind of most people when Tokushima Prefecture is mentioned. Deep brown coloured tonkotsu shoyu soup, topped up with a raw egg are some of the unique features of Tokushima style ramen. Personally, I am not a fan of ramen therefore I decided to give this local specialty a miss. What caught my attention instead was Awaodori (otherwise known as Awa chicken 阿波尾鶏), a local breed of chicken well known for its firm texture, sweet taste and is less fat compared to an average chicken. Awa was actually the previous name for Tokushima (i.e. Sanuki for Kagawa, Iyo for Ehime and Tosa for Kochi). Had really good grilled chicken thigh on our first day in Takamatsu (in Yoridori Midori), therefore was looking forward to try this other version in Tokushima. Did a quick search and found one restaurant, Izakaya Tokusan 居酒屋とくさん, specialising in local cuisine located near Agnes Hotel Tokushima. Unfortunately, I later realised that it was closed on Sundays. Kept a lookout for other restaurant along the same street and noticed this isolated, new and modern looking shophouse, located a few blocks away. And yes, once I spotted the Kanji "阿波尾鶏" on the menu, I entered the restaurant without further ado. [Note: though it is stated that the restaurant is closed on Sundays, it happened to be opened for business on the particular day of our visit.]

Top left: Shiitake and Eryngii mushrooms grilled with soy sauce; Bottom left: Awaodori negima kushi; Top right: Egglant in robata style; Bottom right: Awaodori tebasaki kushi.

Blown away! Domannaka is a modern Japanese style restaurant owned by Grand Palace Hotel, the creator behind Agnes Hotel Tokushima as well. Warm lighting and large amount of wooden furnishing created this comfortable dining environment in the restaurant. Were seated at the counter which faced the open concept kitchen, allowing us to observe chefs' display of culinary skills. There is a decent selection of food available on the menu to choose from - skewers, robata, nabe, sashimi, tempura, etc. As Awaodori was the main focus of this dinner, I ordered a mixture of skewers and robata, and a nabe (hot pot) to share. Overall, the dining experience was extremely satisfying and would have been longer if not for the back-end constraint (because we were rushing off to watch the last Awa Odori performance at 8 pm). Cheers to Awaodori!

What we ordered:

• Awaodori negima kushi 阿波尾鶏ねぎま串 (skewer of Awaodori and leek): both lean and fatty portion of the meat was skewed together with leek. During the process of grilling over the flames, the cracking sound created when oil dripped out from the meat into the heat source was so appealing and intriguing to my senses. Meat was cooked to perfection; slight crispiness on the relatively fattier portion of meat and meat juices were fully retained. Crunchy leek complemented well with the meat and helped to remove some of the oiliness from the meat. [210 yen]
• Awaodori tebasaki kushi 阿波尾鶏手羽先串 (skewer of Awaodori wing): I am always wary of eating grilled/BBQ chicken wings because it is hard to make sure the meat is fully cooked to the bone. Lightly salted skin was grilled skilfully till crispy golden brown and sweetness of the meat can be felt as soon as the teeth pierced into it. When chicken wings are cooked well, it is hard to resist and many times I ended up eating more than I should. [320 yen]  
• Eggplant in robata style 茄子炉端焼き: Shikoku is where I had the most number of eggplants during any trip to Japan. Not sure why but eggplant tasted extremely delicious and juicy (like a fruit) here in Shikoku and I could not resist ordering one when I spotted it on the menu. A whole eggplant was roasted over the grill till the skin became slightly charred to impart a smoky flavour to the flesh. Chef peeled off the skin and cut the eggplant into manageable pieces before serving it together with bonito flakes. The taste did not disappoint again! [530 yen]
• Stewed dumplings in Awaodori soup 阿波尾鶏スープの炊き餃子: Soup was very delectable and flavourful, providing an alternative way to savour this locally breed chicken. [1,050 yen]
• Soy sauce grilled Tokushima produced shiitake and eryngii 徳島産椎茸とエリンギの醤油焼き [530 yen]
• Awaodori momo kushi 阿波尾鶏もも串 (skewer of Awaodori leg) [210 yen]
• Awaodori liver kushi 阿波尾鶏レバー串 [160 yen]

Top left: Awaodori momo kushi; Bottom left: Stewed dumplings in Awaodori soup.

======

Domannaka どまん中
〒770-0831　徳島市寺島本町西 1-47
Contact No: 088-623-3293
Operating hours: 1130 - 1400 hrs (Mon - Thu); 1700 - 2200 hrs; closed on Sundays.
http://wa-domannaka.jp/

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Naruto JR Station 鳴門駅

Naruto JR Station (N10), is the terminus station on Naruto line.

Local trains leave Naruto for Tokushima at approx hourly intervals. Naruto JR Station is a relatively small train station, with no shops or tourist information center found within the same 1 storey building. After visiting Naruto Koen, I took the bus heading for Tokushima and alighted at the bus stop in front of Naruto JR Station. Transferred to the local train here to return to Tokushima.

What's nearby?

Naruto Koen bus stop

(1) Bus stop
Take the bus in front of Naruto JR Station and alight at the last stop Naruto Koen. Bus journey takes about 20 mins. 
At Naruto Koen, most of the attractions are within walking distance:
- Uzunomichi (渦の道): located beneath the road on Onaruto bridge, witness the famous whirlpools just beneath your foot. 
- Eddy Musuem (エデイ): Exhibition featured how Onaruto bridge was constructed and the mechanics of whirlpools in the strait of Naruto. Onaruto bridge can be seen on its rooftop observation deck. However, its elevation is not high enough to capture a aerial/complete view of Onaruto bridge.  
- Eska Hill (エスカヒル): Take a 68 m long escalator to the observatory deck. The view of Onaruto bridge here is much more magnificent as compared to Eddy Museum.

Bus schedule: http://www.tokubus.co.jp/?page_id=4805

======

Commemorative stamp:

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Uzunomichi 大鳴門橋遊歩道 渦の道, Eddy 大鳴門橋架橋記念館 エディ

Visited 16.11.2014 (Sun)

Whirlpools! When I first heard that it is possible to see and experience whirlpools in the open waters, it felt exciting yet terrifying somehow. Is it safe to be so close to the whirlpools? Will the boat get sucked into a whirlpool? These are some of the questions that ran through my mind at that point of time. Naruto Straits 鳴門海峡, alongside Italy's Strait of Messina and Canada's Seymour Narrows, are known to generate the world's biggest tidal whirpools. Under the right conditions, the whirlpools in Naruto Straits can measure up to twenty meters in diameter, recording a speed of 20 km/hr, making them the fastest whirlpools in Japan. The best viewing seasons are spring and autumn; however, it is recommended that visitors check the schedule online (on Uzunomichi's homepage) to increase the probability to see these whirlpools in action.

The entrance to Uzunomichi.

There are two ways to come close to these whirlpools. One popular option is to board a cruise ship to transverse through and come closer to these swirling tidal waves. I chose to see it from Onaruto Bridge, the suspension bridge which connects Awaji island of Hyogo Prefecture to Naruto city of Tokushima Prefecture and spans across the Naruto Straits. Uzunomichi (渦の道) is a 450 m long floating promenade constructed on the girders of Onaruto Bridge. There are glass panels on the floor where visitors can look through to see the whirlpools from directly above. Unfortunately, on the day of my visit, the whirlpools generated were small and less impactful, visually. Therefore, my photos may not be truly representative of what can be seen on a good day...

How do they form? Seto Naikai 瀬戸内海 and Kiisuido 紀伊水道 is connected by Naruto Straits. At the narrow Naruto Straits, the tidal range (the difference between high and low tides) can reach as high as 1.5 m. A combination of the huge tidal currents and unique underwater terrain give rise to these spinning water bodies in Naruto Straits.

After visiting Uzunomichi and Eska Hill, we made our way to Eddy since we bought the discounted bundled ticket which covered the entrance fees for both Uzunomichi and Eddy. Eddy is a museum dedicated to whirlpools and Onaruto Bridge, where interactive exhibits explained how whirlpools are created and models dissecting the architectural structure of Onaruto Bridg were put on display. There is an observation platform on the rooftop of the building where an unobstructed view of Onaruto Bridge and Naruto Straits can be seen. Personally, I felt that the view from Eska Hill was much better than that from Eddy because of its elevation.

======

Uzunomichi 大鳴門橋遊歩道 渦の道

〒772-0053 徳島県鳴門市鳴門町（鳴門公園内）
Operating hours:
- Mar to Sep: 0900 - 1800 hrs (last admission at 1730 hrs);
- Oct to Feb: 0900 - 1700 hrs (last admission at 1630 hrs)

Admission fee = 510 yen

Eddy 大鳴門橋架橋記念館 エディ

〒772-0053 徳島県鳴門市鳴門町（鳴門公園内）
Operating hours: 0900 - 1700 hrs (last admission at 1630 hrs)

Admission fee = 610 yen

Note: Purchase the discounted package ticket if you plan to visit both attractions: 1,120 900 yen
Website: http://www.uzunomichi.jp/

How to get there?

(1) By bus.
- At Tokushima Ekimae Bus Terminal Bus Stop #1, board Naruto line (鳴門線) bus heading for Naruto Koen 鳴門公園. Bus journey takes approx 1 hr 15 mins; fee = 710 yen.
- At Naruto JR Station, board Naruto line (鳴門線) bus heading for Naruto Koen 鳴門公園. Bus journey takes approx. 30 mins; fee = 310 yen.
Approx 5 minutes walk from bus stop. There are clear signage at the bus stop and in the vicinity providing clear directions to the main attractions in Naruto Koen: Uzunomichi, Eddy and Eska Hill.
Bus schedule (in Japanese): http://tokubus.co.jp/wptbc/routebus/#tbc

======

Video: Fast forward to 3:17 for Go Go Japan's feature on Uzunomichi.

======

Commemorative stamps:

Uzunomichi

Uzunomichi

Eddy

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Eska Hill エスカヒル

Visited 16.11.2014 (Sun)

Panoramic view of Onaruto Bridge.

Facts and figures. Onaruto bashi (Onaruto Bridge 大鳴門橋) is a suspension bridge which connects Awaji island of Hyogo Prefecture to Naruto city of Tokushima Prefecture. Construction of this 876 m long bridge started in 1976 and it was eventually opened to public in 1985. There are a few ways to admire this architectural masterpiece; from the roof top at Eddy, the Onaruto Bridge crossing memorial hall or at the viewing platform located at summit of Eska Hill. I have been to both and personally, I prefer the latter because of its higher elevation.

A three storey building at the top of Eska Hill; the glass enclosure leading to the building is the 68 m long escalator.

Magnificent view. One of the feature of Eska Hill is its 68 m long escalator which brings visitors from the base to the summit where the observatory is located. Standing on the roof top, a 360 degree panoramic view of the surroundings awaits, especially on a good clear weather day - Naruto Koen, Awaji island on the other end of Onaruto bashi, even a glimpse of Shodoshima on the left and Wakayama on the right. Was fully engrossed by the magnificent view of Onaruto bashi, the sea and island for quite a fair bit of time. Though there is a restaurant located in the same building, do note that it is only opened for business if there are reservations (but I guess it is mainly catered for tour group). A souvenir shop is located at the base of the hill. Despite being the better viewing spot out of the two, it appeared to be less well received (I felt that there were more tourists at Eddy in comparison). During my visit, I also felt that place needed some form of renewal as it showed some signs of lackluster and lack of maintenance. Hopefully things have changed by now... 

About 3 minutes escalator ride; the longest I have taken in my life.

Looking back at Naruto city; cylindrical building on the left is Eddy Museum.

Can you see the windmills on Awaji island?

======

Eska Hill エスカヒル
 鳴門市鳴門町土佐泊浦福池65
Operating hours: 0830 - 1700 hrs
Admission fee = 400 yen
http://www.narutokanko.co.jp/eskahill/index.html

How to get there?

(1) By bus.
- At Tokushima Ekimae Bus Terminal Bus Stop #1, board Naruto line (鳴門線) bus heading for Naruto Koen 鳴門公園. Bus journey takes approx 1 hr 15 mins; fee = 710 yen.
- At Naruto JR Station, board Naruto line (鳴門線) bus heading for Naruto Koen 鳴門公園. Bus journey takes approx. 30 mins; fee = 310 yen.
Approx 5 minutes walk from bus stop. There are clear signage at the bus stop and in the vicinity providing clear directions to the main attractions in Naruto Koen: Uzunomichi, Eddy and Eska Hill.
Bus schedule (in Japanese): http://tokubus.co.jp/wptbc/routebus/#tbc

Video: Scroll to 1:00 for Go Go Japan's feature of Eska Hill.

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Agnes Hotel Tokushima アグネスホテル徳島

Stayed 16.11.2014 (Sun)
Booked thru' Jalan.net
- Single room = 6,000 yen
- Twin room = 13,000 yen

Left: Agnes Hotel; Right:Agnes Hotel Plus

Chose Agnes Hotel as it was recommended in Shikoku co-Trip guide. Was expecting this hotel to exceed my budget solely based on first impression (from the pictures I see from the hotel website) but prices were quite affordable and competitive. Agnes Hotel actually takes on a similar concept to other business budget hotel chains such as Toyoko Inn. This modern hotel has a cafe and pastry boutique, located on the first level. Simple buffet style breakfast was served in the cafe, such as freshly made bread by their in house bakery, fruits and Washouku (rice, miso soup and side dishes). Room wise - clean, relatively spacious room (15 m2) with all basic amenities well taken care of. 

Later found out that Agnes Hotel, together with several other hotels in Tokushima are managed by the same company. Agnes Hotel Plus, which is located just opposite Agnes Hotel, is equipped with a communal bathhouse. Was given a voucher to try out the bathhouse during check in but did not get to utilize it. Spotted Four Season Hotel just around the corner, which is also managed by the same group, and was attracted to their petite sized, cosy looking coffee house. Overall, I am very satisfied with my stay and will recommend Agnes Hotel for sightseeing purposes in Tokushima city. 

=====

What's nearby?

(1) Tokushima JR Station and Bus Terminal, about 5 mins walk away.
Directions: Turn right upon exit from the train station. Turn left on the first corner, continue to walk straight until you see a slip road on the right. Turn into the road and walk straight down - you will first see Four Season Hotel, followed by Domannaka restaurant and Agnes Hotel last. 

(2) Domannaka どまん中, a Wafu dining restaurant owned by Agnes Hotel group, located about 1 min walk away. Had a good dinner here, savoring Awa Odori chicken reared in Tokushima Prefecture, which is well known for its firm texture, sweet taste and has less fat than average chicken.

======

Agnes Hotel Tokushima アグネスホテル徳島

〒770-0831 徳島県徳島市寺島本町西1-28

http://www.agneshotel.jp/

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Tokushima JR Station 徳島駅

Hotel Clement and Clement Plaza in Tokushima JR Station. 

Tokushima JR Station (M00, T00) is an interchange train station for Kotoku, Mugi and Tokushima lines.

Some limited express, themed and local trains that serve Tokushima JR Station: 

(1) Yu Yu Anpanman train
- departs from Takamatsu for Tokushima, once a day.
- makes two round trips between Tokushima and Awa Ikeda, along Tokushima line.
Anpanman train: http://www.jr-eki.com/aptrain/index.html
Train is operated on specific dates, typically on weekends and public holidays.
(2) Limted Express Uzushio (うずしお), commutes between Takamatsu and Tokushima, along Kotoku line. 

(3) Limited Express Tsurugisan (剣山), commutes between Tokushima and Awa Ikeda, along Tokushima line.
(4) Limited Express Muroto (むろと), commutes between Awa Ikeda, Tokushima and Mugi, along Mugi line.
(5) Local train to Naruto, via Naruto line.

Bottom: Limited Express Tsurugisan departing from Tokushima for Awa Ikeda.

======

What's nearby?

(1) JR Clement Hotel Tokushima, Clement Plaza, Tourist Information Center
JR Clement Hotel is connected seamlessly to the train station, in fact it is literally just above it. Clement Plaza, is the connecting mall comprises of a wide range of shops and restaurants. Tourist information center is located on the 6th floor of Clement Plaza. This was my first destination I headed for because I needed help to reserve seats for Oboke Iya Sightseeing Tour two days later. Both English and Mandarin speaking staff were stationed here and they were patient and helpful in attending to my requests.
- Clement Plaza: http://www.clementplaza.com/
- Tokushima Tourism Website: http://www.awanavi.jp/

Left: Bus terminal for buses to Naruto and Tokushima Awa Odori Airport.

(2) Bus Terminal バスターミナル
- Bus Stop #1 for Bus 27 to Naruto Koen 鳴門公園 to witness Naruto whirlpools at Uzunomichi.
Bus journey takes approx 1 hr 15 mins; Fee = 710 yen.
The other way to get to Naruto Koen is via a combination of train and bus. Take the local train from Tokushima JR Station and transfer to a bus in front of Naruto JR Station. Though the duration of train journey is shorter, there is a long transit time during the changeover from train to bus (can be as long as an hour). For my trip, I took the bus directly from the bus terminal to Naruto Koen and used a combination of bus and train on my return trip because I wanted to visit Naruto JR Station.
Bus schedule: http://www.tokubus.co.jp/?page_id=4805

- Bus Stop #2 for Airport Limousine Bus to Tokushima Awa Odori Airport.
Bus journey takes approx 28 mins; Fee = 440 yen.
Bus schedule: http://www.tokubus.co.jp/?page_id=49

Right: SOGO to meet your shopping needs.

(3) SOGO
Conveniently located about 3 mins walk from the train station. Apart from SOGO being the anchor tenant, familiar brands such as Kinokuniya, Uniqlo, MUJI and Loft are also found in the same building. Do note that shops close pretty early at 1930 hrs and restaurants on the 9th storey close at 2100 hrs.

Awa Odori Kaikan & Mt Bizan in the background.

(4) Awa Odori Kaikan 阿波踊り会館 & Mt Bizan 眉山

Located about 10 - 15 mins walk away from the train station. Awa Odori is an important cultural dance in Tokushima city and has a rich history of over 400 years. The annual dance festival is held between 12 - 15 August and attracts more than a million of visitors to this small city which only has a population of 260,000! If you visit Tokushima city outside of the festival period, Awa Odori Kaikan is definitely a place to head down to experience a snippet of the dynamic and joyous dance performance. Attended the night session (held at 2000 hrs) and I enjoyed myself throughout the 50 minutes duration performance!
From the 5th storey of Awa Odori Kaikan, one can also take the ropeway to get to the summit of Mt Bizan. Stands at 290 m tall, a good aerial view of Tokushima city can be seen from the observatory on a clear day. Unfortunately, I did not get to visit Mt Bizan due to insufficient time.
- Awa Odori Kaikan 阿波踊り会館: http://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/
- Mt Bizan 眉山: http://www.awaodori-kaikan.jp/bizan-ropeway/

======

Commemorative stamp:

Shikoku Autumn 2014 四国秋季之旅 - Yu Yu Anpanman Car ゆうゆうアンパンマ ンカー

Travelled on 16.11.2014 (Sun)

Anpanman (アンパンマ ン) is almost analogous to Shikoku. This is because Takashi Yanase (柳瀬 嵩), the artist who created this popular bread hero anime, spent his childhood in Kami (香美郡), a district in Kochi Prefecture. In Shikoku, you can find Anpanman very easily - numerous merchandises featuring this adorable character and his friends; bakeries selling Anpanman bread; in Kami district, you can take an Anpanman themed bus to visit Anpanman Museum; even Anpanman themed trains operate on this island! Goes to show how well loved he is by locals - both adults and children! 

It is always a challenge to slot in special themed train rides into any itinerary especially when these trains only operate on specific dates. Fortunately, I was able to coincide the train journey from Takamatsu to Tokushima with Yu Yu Anpanman car timing on a Sunday, as this train normally operates on weekends and public holidays. In fact, Yu Yu Anpanman car is not a train by itself. Instead it is a single train carriage connected to two other limited express trains: 

- Limited Express Uzushio, which commutes from Takamatsu to Tokushima via Takamatsu line.
- Limited Express Tsurugisan, which commutes between Tokushima and Awa Ikeda via Tokushima line.
For my trip, I boarded Limited Express Uzushio at Takamatsu Station at 1011 hrs and alighted at Tokushima Station at 1125 hrs. Fares are covered by All Shikoku Pass without additional fare top up. Do visit JR Shikoku website to confirm the train operating schedule.

======

Highlights

Was delighted to see this blue train carriage, beautifully wrapped with pictures of Anpanman and his friends, waiting for the arrival of its passengers at Takamatsu JR Station. Yu Yu Anpanman car is divided into two sections; 20 reserved seats in one section and the other one is a children playground. 

Bottom left: Hand drawn Anpanman on the wall by Takashi Yanase; Bottom right: Parents can secure their strollers here. 

Family oriented train. Most passengers on board this train were families with small kids. Apart from the playground, there were other features catered to their needs such as designating a baby room and allocating a small area at the back of the car for strollers to be placed and secured. The playground is a heaven for kids and this was the first place most families headed for as soon as they boarded the train. A very child friendly design: the floor of the play area were laid with cushion mats such that it is more gentle to touch or any slips and falls and there are some dividers within the play area with small tunnels for kids to crawl through. After kids have played enough to return to their seats, parents can also retrieved books placed on a stand at the back of the cabin to read to their kids. 

Right: Kids' heaven!

He is eveywhere! All the seats in this car have comfortable green colored cushions with the lovable Anpanman, striking different poses, on them. You can spot the characters almost every corner of the train carriage - Anpanman flying above your head on the ceiling, checked floor carpet with their adorable faces and Anpanman and his friends to surprise you as you pull down the table in front of your seat. There is even a picture of Anpanman, Baikinman and Dokin-chan hand drawn on the wall at the back of the cabin by Takashi Yanase in Oct 2002, when this themed car was first introduced. Throughout this joyful train ride, the atmosphere here is brightened up by both the infectious laughter of kids and the contented smiles on the faces of all parents.  

Ekiben. Bought two Anpanman bento meals from Takamatsu JR Station to complete the full Anpanman experience on board this themed train. These bento boxes or "ekiben" are specially designed for kids, therefore the servings are much lesser than the conventional ones. Based on what I read from JR Shikoku website, these Anpanman ekiben are only on sale at ekiben sale counters located in Takamatsu and Kochi stations.

- Anpanman bento (アンパンマン弁当), priced at 1,140 yen.
Comes with a small plastic Anpanman bottle (but not filled with any drinks), tomato sauce rice shaped and decorated to Anpanman's face, yakisoba, chicken kaarage, pork sausage, edamame and jelly.

- Genki 100 bai! (げんき１００ばい！), priced at 1,240 yen.
Translates as "full of energy", the lid of the round container is Anpanman's face with his signature red cheeks and nose. This is slightly more expensive than Anpanman bento because it uses a greater variety of ingredients. The center, round compartment was stuffed with chicken rice and decorated with black bean (eyes), carrot (nose), sausage (cheeks) and sauces (eyebrows and mouth) to depict Anpanman's face. The circumferential compartments were filled with chicken nugget, steamed pumpkin and sweet potato slices, plain omelette, siew mai, mini beef patty. mini tomato and jelly. A too-cute-to-be-eaten ekiben which will make any kid sit down quietly to enjoy his/her exclusive meal.

======

Other Anpanman themed trains:

Took Limited Express Nanpu from Awa Ikeda to Kochi. Bottom left: Stone figurine of Anpanman at Gomen Station.

(1) Anpanman trains on Dosan line. Operate everyday.

- Limted Express Nanpu, which commutes between Okayama, Kochi and Nakamura.
- Limited Express Ashizuri, which commute between Kochi, Nakamura and Sukumo. 

Managed to hop onto an Anpanman train while we were travelling from Awa Ikeda to Kochi. Only a portion of the seats in the 1st cabin has red Anpanman seat covers and the walls and curtains are decorated with Anpanman. Normal seats in the rest of the train carriages with Anpanamn and his friends appearing only on the ceilings.

Spotted Baikinman train at Matsuyama Station.

(2) Trains featuring other characters such as Dokin-chan (ドキンちゃん), Baikinman (ばいきんまん), Creampanda (クリームパンダ) and Melonpanna (メロンパンナ). Operate everyday.
- Limited Express Shiokaze, which commutes between Okayama. Matsuyama and Uwajima.
- Limited Express Ishizuchi, which commutes between Takamatsu, Matsuyama and Uwajima.
- Limited Express Uwakai, which commutes between Matsuyama and Uwajima. 

(3) Anpanman Torokko train, usually in operation on weekends and public holidays.
- Route 1: commutes between Okayama and Kotohira
- Route 2: commutes between Okayama and Takamatsu

Website: http://www.jr-eki.com/aptrain/