Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Matsumoto Station 松本駅

Matsumoto Station 松本駅 is a train station on Shinonoi line 篠ノ井線 and the terminus station for Oito line 大糸線 and Alpico Kotsu Kamikochi line 上高地線.



Trains serving this train station include:
(1) Limited Express Azusa あずさ, commuting between Shinjuku 新宿駅 and Minami Otari 南小谷駅, stopping by stations such as Matsumoto 松本駅, Hotaka 穂高駅, Shinano Omachi 信濃大町駅 and Hakuba 白馬駅.
(2) Resort View Furusato リゾートビューふるさと, a seasonal train commuting between Nagano and Minami Otari, stopping by stations such as Matsumoto 松本駅, Hotaka 穂高駅, Shinano Omachi 信濃大町駅 and Hakuba 白馬駅.
Website: https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/resortfuru.html
(3) Limited Express Shinano しなの, commuting between Nagoya 名古屋駅 and Nagano 長野駅.
(4) Local trains operating between Matsumoto and Shinshimashima 新島々駅 via Alpico Kotsu Kamikochi line 上高地線.



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What's nearby?

(1) Bus stops, on both the east (Oshiro Guchi お城口) and west (Alps Guchi アルプス口) exit of the train station.





East Exit Platform 1:
- Town Sneaker North Course タウンスニーカー北コース (Bus No. 200), for Nawate dori 縄手通り, Matsumoto Castle 松本城, Matsumoto City Museum 松本市立博物館 and former Kaichi School 旧開智学校.
- Asama line 浅間線 (Bus No. 32) for Asama Onsen 浅間温泉.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/asama/

East Exit Platform 2:
- Town Sneaker East Course タウンスニーカー東コース (Bus No. 210), for Matsumoto Timepiece Museum 松本市時計博物館, Nakamachi 中町, AEON Mall and Matsumoto City Museum of Art 松本市美術館.
- Town Sneaker South Course タウンス南コース (Bus No. 220).

East Exit Platform 3:
- Kitashi Inner line 北市内線, comprised of east loop 東回り (Bus No. 100 / anticlockwise) and west loop 西回り (Bus No. 110 / clockwise). Kitashi Inner line east loop bus provides more direct accessibility to Matsumoto City Museum of Art, as compared to Town Sneaker East Course.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/kitashinai/



West Exit: Town Sneaker West Course - Long Course タウンスニーカー西コース ロングコース (Bus No. 230), for The Japan Ukiyo-e Museum 日本浮世絵博物館 and Matsumoto City Open Air Architectural Museum 松本市歴史の里.

For Town Sneaker North and East Course, the bus fare is 200 yen per ride.
For Town Sneaker South and West Course, the bus fare varies between 150 to 200 yen per ride.
Town Sneaker: https://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/kurasi/sumai/bus/town.html



(2) Matstumoto City Tourist Information Center 松本市観光案内所, within the train station.
Operating hours: 0900 - 1745 hrs



(3) Matsumoto Bus Terminal 松本バスタミナール, less than a minute walk from east exit of train station. Alpico Plaza アルピコプラザ, which has replaced the former Ario アリオ, is connected to the bus terminal.
Alpico Plaza: http://www.alpico-plaza.jp/

Matsumoto Bus Terminal 松本バスタミナール:
- Platform 2 for Shin Asama line 新浅間線 (Bus No. 21) to Matsumoto City Museum of Art 松本市美術館 and Asama Onsen 浅間温泉.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/shinasama/
- Platform 3 for Utsukushigahara Onsen line 美ヶ原温泉線 (Bus No. 31) to Utsukushigahara Onsen 美ヶ原温泉.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/utsukushigaharaonsen/
- Platform 5 for Kuko, Asahi line 空港・朝日線 to Shinshu Matsumoto Airport 信州まつもと空港.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/kuko_asahi/
- Platform 8 for direct Airport Shuttle エアポートシャトル to Shinshu Matsumoto Airport 信州まつもと空港.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/matsumoto/airport_shuttle/

(4) Midori, a shopping mall connected seamlessly to the train station. Here, you are find MOS Burger (Level 1), Matsumoto Kiyoshi (Level 2) and Starbucks Coffee (Level 3). Restaurants are located on 4th floor of the shopping mall.
https://www.eki-midori.com/matsumoto/

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Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Niigata Station 新潟駅

Niigata Station 新潟駅 is a train station on Echigo line 越後線, Hakushin line 白新線 and Shin Etsu main line 信越本線, and the terminus station of Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線. Niigata city is the capital of Niigata Prefecture and the city is divided into two halves (north and south) by Shinano River 信濃川. The symbol of Niigata, Bandai Bridge 万代橋 is one of the bridges that span across the river. During our stay in Niigata city, we spent a day each to explore the north and south area. South area is where the main train station, Bandaicho-dori 万代町通り and Nuttari Terrace Shopping Arcade 沼垂テラス商店街 are located at, while Furumachi 古町 and Kamifurumachi 上古町 are two other shopping streets located in the north area.





Trains serving this train station include:
(1) Shinkansen Toki / Max Toki とき travels southwards to Tsubame Sanjo 燕三条駅,  Nagaoka 長岡駅, Urasa 浦佐駅, Takasaki 高崎駅 and Tokyo 東京駅, via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線.

(2) Genbi Shinkansen 現美新幹線, a special themed Shinkansen which commutes between Echigo Yuzawa 越後湯沢駅 and Niigata 新潟駅 via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線.

(3) Limited Express Inaho いなほ, commutes between Niigata 新潟駅 to Akita 秋田駅 via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Toyosaka 豊栄駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, Ugo Honjo 羽後本荘駅, Akita 秋田駅, etc.

(4) Kairi 海里, a special themed train introduced by JR East in Oct 2019, which commutes between Niigata and Sakata (in Yamagata Prefecture), via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, etc.

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What's nearby?

(1) Bus terminals on both Bandai Exit 万代口 and South Exit 南口 of train station.



Bandai Exit Platform 0 for Bandai Bashi line BRT 萬代橋ライン.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/brt/rosenjikoku.htm



Bandai Exit Platform 2 for Niigata City Kankou Loop Bus 新潟市観光循環バス. Bus fare = 210 yen/ride; One day pass = 500 yen
http://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/kanko/kanko/kankobus/kankobusnitsuite.html



Bandai Exit Platform 3 for Niigata Kotsu Bus Sado Kisen line 佐渡汽船線 heading for Sado Ferry Terminal.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/route-bus/sadoferry/

South Exit Platform 5 for Limousine Bus heading directly for Niigata Airport 新潟空港.
http://www.niigata-kotsu.co.jp/~noriai/route-bus/info/200427_limousine_bus.html

(2) Niigata Station Bandai Exit Tourist Information Center 新潟駅万代口観光案内センター, near Bandai Exit of train station.



(3) CoCoLo Niigata, within the train station building.
Ponshukan ぽんしゅ館 operates a smaller branch in CoCoLo Niigata West Building. Adopting the same concept as its main branch in Echigo Yuzawa Station, there is a sake tasting corner here where one can taste test an extensive collection of sake sourced from breweries in Niigata Prefecture.
CoCoLo Niigata: http://www.cocolo-station.jp/pc/?sc_name=niigata
Ponshukan: https://www.ponshukan-niigata.com/

Poshukan, situated in CoCoLo Niigata West Building.

Had dessert at Aunt Stella's Cookies Cafe, situated in CoCoLo Niigata East Building.

(4) Lovela Bandai ラブラ万代 and Lovela 2 ラブラ２, two shopping malls located about 10 minutes walk from Bandai Exit of train station. The tenants of the shopping malls include Uniqlo, GU, Muji, LOFT, Kinokuniya and Can Do 100 yen shop.
https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/lovela-bandai/



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Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Yahiko Station 弥彦駅

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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Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Echigo Yuzawa Station 越後湯沢駅, Yuzawa Onsen 湯沢温泉

Echigo Yuzawa Station 越後湯沢駅 is a train station on the Joetsu line 上越線 and Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線. Echigo Yuzawa is a train station away from Gala Yuzawa ガーラ湯沢, a snow resort which has it own Shinkansen station (only operational during winter season) and popular place to enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. Right at the doorstep of the train station is Yuzawa Onsen 湯沢温泉, a well known hot spring spot in Niigata Prefecture, which is frequent by many tourists and skiers especially during the peak winter season. We came here during autumn - stayed in one of the ryokan in Yuzawa Onsen for a night and visited Yuzawa Kogen 湯沢高原 on the following day.

First time seeing lockers dedicated for ski!

Trains serving this train station include:
(1) Shinkansen Toki / Max Toki とき via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線:
- travels northwards to Urasa 浦佐駅, Nagaoka 長岡駅, Tsubame Sanjo 燕三条駅 and Niigata 新潟駅.
- travels southwards to Takasaki 高崎駅 and Tokyo 東京駅.
(2) Genbi Shinkansen 現美新幹線, a special themed Shinkansen which commutes between Echigo Yuzawa 越後湯沢駅 and Niigata 新潟駅 via Joetsu Shinkansen line 上越新幹線.
(3) Local trains via Joetsu line 上越線:
- travels northwards to Miyauchi 宮内駅.
- travels southwards to Takasaki 高崎駅.
(4) Local trains operated by Hokuetsu Express 北越急行 via Joetsu line 上越線, Hokuhoku line ほくほく線 and Shin Etsu main line 信越本線.

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What’s nearby?

(1) Echigo Yuzawa Onsen Tourist Association 越後湯沢温泉観光協会, turn right after exiting the train station from West Exit.

(2) CoCoLo Yuzawa Gangidoori / CoCoLo 湯沢．がんぎどおり, within the train station building.
http://www.cocolo-station.jp/pc?sc_name=yuzawa

- Ponshukan ぽんしゅ館 - Sake tasting
Operating hours: 0900 - 1900 hrs (last order at 1830 hrs)
- Sake spa Yunosawa  酒風呂湯の沢
Operating hours: 1030 - 1830 hrs (last entry at 1800 hrs)
Fee = 800 yen (Adult); 400 yen (Child)
https://www.ponshukan.com/

CoCoLo Yuzawa Gangidoori is a plaza comprised of shops and restaurants. Here, one can make last minute purchase of souvenirs before catching the train and/or try out local cuisine such as Hegi Soba へぎそば (a type of soba made by adding funori 布海苔, a type of seaweed, into buckwheat flour) and Tare Katsu don タレかつ丼 (instead of coating the fried pork cutlet with egg, Niigata's version is to dip the fried pork cutlet in a soy based sauce) without having to venture too far away from the train station. Fans of sake will be in for a treat at Ponshukan  ぽんしゅ館, part of CoCoLo Yuzawa Gangidoori. In Ponshukan, there is a sake tasting corner where one can try up to five different types of sake from an extensive collection of sake, sourced from all the breweries in Niigata Prefecture, for just 500 yen. In addition to that, Ponshukan also operates a communal hot spring bathhouse (Sake spa Yunosawa 酒風呂湯の沢) here. What makes the hot spring here different from other is sake with 15% alcohol content (which is used in sake bath) is added into the hot spring water pool and its therapeutic effects include making the skin more smooth and improving blood circulation. 







(3) Echigo Yuzawa Onsen Street 越後湯沢温泉通り, exit the train station from West Exit.
Many shops, restaurants, inns and hotels are situated along the 1.5 km long hot spring street. Keep a lookout for Kannakkuri かんなっくり, a complimentary footbath facility located just beside Yuzawa Museum of History and Folklore Yukiguni-kan 雪国館, to enjoy a quick foot spa.











(4) Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway 湯沢高原ロープウェイ, 8 minutes walk from train station West Exit. 

https://www.yuzawakogen.com/yuzawakogen_charm/ropeway/

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Chubu 2016 中部の旅 - Shibata Station 新発田駅

Shibata Station 新発田駅 is a train station along Uetsu main line 羽越本線 and Hakushin line 白新線. Shibata city once prospered as castle town during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) and Shibata Castle 新発田城 is the main historical symbol of the city today. Another pride of Shibata city is Tsukioka Onsen 月岡温泉, a hot spring district located 6 km south of the main city center. Even though the nearest train station to Tsukioka Onsen is Tsukioka Station 月岡駅 (an unmanned station situated about 3.5 km away from the hot spring district), regular shuttle bus service operates between Tsukioka Onsen and Toyosaka Station 豊栄駅 instead. For our trip, we arrived at Shibata Station in the afternoon and visited Shimizu-en 清水園. After that, we headed for Tsukioka Onsen, where we stayed in one of the ryokan overnight.

Trains serving this train station include:
(1) Limited Express Inaho いなほ, commutes between Niigata 新潟駅 to Akita 秋田駅 via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Toyosaka 豊栄駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, Ugo Honjo 羽後本荘駅, Akita 秋田駅, etc.

(2) Kairi 海里, a special themed train introduced by JR East in Oct 2019, which commutes between Niigata and Sakata (in Yamagata Prefecture), via Hakushin line 白新線 and Uetsu main line 羽越本線. Train stations served by this train include Niigata 新潟駅, Shibata 新発田駅, Murakami 村上駅, Atsumi Onsen あつみ温泉駅, Tsuruoka 鶴岡駅, Sakata 酒田駅, etc.
Website: https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/kairi.html



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What's nearby?

(1) Bus stop, in front of the train station.

Shibata city Loop Bus - Ayame Bus あやめバス covers two routes and it costs 100 yen per ride. 

(a) Outer loop (clockwise direction) or Issunboshi-go いっすんぼうし号.

(b) Inner loop (anti clockwise direction) or Oyayubihime-go おやゆびひめ号. Though both buses go to Shibata Castle Site 新発田城跡 from the train station, take the inner loop bus / Oyayubihime-go to cut down on travelling time. 

http://www.city.shibata.lg.jp/kurashi/kotsu/bus/ayame/1001436.html

(2) Shibata City Tourist Information Center 新発田市観光情報センター, about 2 minutes walk from train station.
Operating hours: 0900 - 1800 hrs

(3) Ichishima Shuzo 市島酒造, about 5 minutes walk from the train station.
〒957-0055 新潟県新発田市諏訪町3丁目1-17
Sake brewery tour: 0900 - 1600 hrs
Founded in 1790, Ichishima Shuzo / Sake Brewery was the first brewery in Japan that allowed females to take Shuzoginoshi 酒造技能士 (Sake Brewer) examination. The first female brewer to be certified a first class during the examination was also from Ichishima Shuzo as well. The brewery welcomes visitors to attend their sake brewery guided tour, which is free-of-charge and held daily in its facilities. The guided tour takes about 20 minutes and does not require prior reservation to be made. 

https://www.ichishima.jp/



(4) Shimizu-en 清水園, about 7 minutes walk from the train station.

(5) Shibata Castle 新発田城, about 25 minutes walk from the train station.
Operating hours: 0900 - 1700 hrs (Apr - Oct); 0900 - 1630 hrs (Nov)

https://shibata-info.jp/archives/sightseeing/%E6%96%B0%E7%99%BA%E7%94%B0%E5%9F%8E%EF%BC%88%E5%9B%BD%E6%8C%87%E5%AE%9A%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%81%E6%96%87%E5%8C%96%E8%B2%A1%EF%BC%89

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