I took a trip to take full advantage of the limited express train on “Shikoku Green Travel” and ride all JR Shikoku lines – Day 4 – GIGAZINE

Using the JR Shikoku ticket “Shikoku Green Travel”, the purpose is to “ride all sections of all routes in JR Shikoku” by taking full advantage of the 4-day validity period and the ability to ride in green seats on limited express trains. It was the fourth day I decided to go on a train trip. The only remaining lines are the Tokushima Line between Awa-Ikeda and Sako, and the Naruto Line between Ikeya and Naruto.

Shikoku Green Travelogue | Shikoku Travel JR Shikoku Tour (Station Comment)
https://www.jr-eki.com/ticket/brand/2-3UW

The first day of the trip started in Takamatsu and moved to Sukumo via Matsuyama and Uwajima.

I took a trip to ride all JR Shikoku routes by making full use of limited express trains in “Shikoku Green Travel” – Day 1 – GIGAZINE

On the second day, we traveled by train from Sukumo to Nahari, then took a bus and DMV around Cape Muroto to enter Tokushima Prefecture, then headed north on the east side of Shikoku to Takamatsu again.

I took a trip to take full advantage of the limited express train on “Shikoku Green Travel” and ride all JR Shikoku lines – Day 2 – GIGAZINE

On the third day, we traveled from Takamatsu to Kochi, then took the Yodo line to Uwajima and then to Matsuyama.

I took a trip to ride all JR Shikoku routes by making full use of the limited express train in “Shikoku Green Travel” – 3rd day – GIGAZINE

The fourth and final day starts from Matsuyama.

The remaining unused sections on the fourth day were the Tokushima Line between Awa-Ikeda and Sako, and the Naruto Line between Ikeya and Naruto. From Matsuyama, the fastest way is to take the Shiokaze or Ishizuchi limited express to Tadotsu, then take the Minamifu or Shimanto limited express to Awa-Ikeda. If you use Shiokaze No. 4, the first train departing at 5:05, you will arrive at Naruto at 10:37 and your purpose will be over. It would be a waste if that were the case, so I had ridden all of the Iyo Railway’s suburban trains and some sections of the city tram (streetcar) the day before, so I decided to try riding the remaining sections before leaving Matsuyama on this day. I made it.

◆Walk: Inn → Dogo Onsen
I decided to go to Dogo Onsen first thing in the morning. However, the first train leaving Dogo Onsen leaves at 6:01, but the first train arriving at Dogo Onsen arrives at 6:38. I didn’t have time to wait for the train, so I decided to walk.

A road repurposed from an abandoned railway line heading northeast from behind the Ehime Bank head office at the corner of the Katsuyama intersection.

An article explaining the history of the line in this section has been published on the Iyotetsu official blog. What I’m walking on is the Gendogo Railway line that merged with Iyotetsu, and the current Iyotetsu line heading towards Dogo Onsen was the Matsuyama Electric Tramway.

Consideration of the route map – Evolution of Iyotetsu tramways – │ Iyotetsu official blog
https://iyotetsublog.com/2022/03/18/post-1833/

The Iyotetsu railway tracks are now visible. It is said that when Iyotetsu and Matsuyama Electric Railway were in conflict, there was a grade-separated intersection.

If you go straight ahead and follow the road, you will see that the abandoned railroad track has been turned into residential buildings.

Proceeding east along the road near the ruins of the abandoned railway, we arrived at the depot on the west side of Dogo Onsen Station.

At Dogo Onsen Station, a train bound for JR Matsuyama Station was waiting to depart.

“ which is kept near Dogo Onsen Station.bocchan train”.

You can also ride on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Arcade heading towards Dogo Onsen.

5 minutes walk from the stationDogo Onsen Main Buildingarrived at.

The bathing fee is 700 yen for adults. In addition, the inside was very busy from the morning, and the timing was just as people who entered the building at the start time were leaving.

◆Iyo Railway
We will leave Dogo Onsen on the 6:42 train.

The city tramway was undergoing track resurfacing work.

Matsuyama Castle.

Arrived at Matsuyama City Station. The city tram rotary is scheduled to be relocated by 2025.

I also rode the Honmachi Line, which is only available on weekdays since the coronavirus outbreak. The line connects Matsuyama City Station with National Route 196, which runs on the west side of Matsuyama Castle, north to Honmachi 6-chome Station, and since you can take the Loop Line from Honmachi 6-chome to Matsuyama City Station, the decrease in passengers is understandable. Because the Loop Line is so crowded, some people seem to be choosing the Honmachi Line, where they can sit and ride.

To the north of Otemachi Station, suburban trains and city trains intersect at grade. This is the only at-grade intersection between railways and tracks (trams) in Japan.

It is one stop on the city train from Otemachi Station to JR Matsuyama Station. It’s just a 5 minute walk.

◆Shiokaze No. 12: Matsuyama → Tadotsu
A message from the Ehime Prefecture Shinkansen Promotion Alliance on the wall of JR Matsuyama Station reads, “Bring the Shinkansen to Shikoku! To Ehime!”

From Matsuyama, take Limited Express Shiokaze No. 12 to Tadotsu, the transfer station for the Dosan Line.

The limited express trains Shiokaze and Ishizuchi, which connect Okayama/Takamatsu and Matsuyama, and the limited express Uwakai, which connects Matsuyama and Uwajima, stopped before and after the platform to facilitate transfers.

An express train came to the next platform and beyond, and 5 trains assembled.

Ride the green car to Tadotsu.8600 seriesThe green car is very luxurious.

Electric reclining seat with power outlet.

After leaving Matsuyama Station, there is a section where the Iyo Railway Takahama Line runs parallel to the train.

On the left side in the direction of travel, on the seaTsushima Shrine.

We arrived at Tadotsu Station.

There is a monument in front of the station that says “The Birthplace of Shikoku Railway.”

◆Dosan Line Local: Tadotsu → Awa-Ikeda
If you take Minamikaze No. 7, which leaves Tadotsu at 11:56, you will arrive at Awa-Ikeda at 12:33, but since this will be the second day in a row that you will be riding this section, this time you will arrive at 11:39. I decided to take the local train leaving. Arrived at Awa Ikeda at 12:48. The train will depart after the freight train parked next to it departs.

To the west of Tadotsu Station, the Dosan Line splits to the left.

I was overtaken by the Anpanman train.

At the border between Kagawa and Tokushima prefectures, you will have to pass through a long tunnel.

At the end of the tunnel is the unexplored station, Tsubojiri.

The local train enters the left track and then switches back to the right track before stopping at Tsubojiri Station.

The train has arrived at Tsubojiri Station.

The express train runs through without making any switchbacks.

Descend along the Yoshino River and cross the Yoshino River Bridge.

It merges with the Tokushima Line at Tsukuda Station.

A local train bound for Tokushima just arrived from the other side. If you transfer, you will arrive in Tokushima at 14:49, but this time we skipped it.

I arrived at Awa-Ikeda Station.

The previous train was a local train that departed at 12:37, and the next train was the limited express Tsurugiyama No. 8 that departed at 14:30. Since we have about 2 hours to go, we will have lunch at Awa Ikeda and relax.

◆Awa Ikeda
Exterior of Awa-Ikeda Station.

There is Hesokko Park on the east side of the station. The name comes from the fact that Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture, where it is located, is the “belly button of Shikoku.”

There are several restaurants in the station arcade. This timeheso salonTo a cafe called.

Recommended lunches are the “Iya Gibier Deer Roast Bowl” and the “Uwajima Taimeshi-style Seafood Bowl Directly Delivered from Mugi Town.” I had already eaten sea bream rice on this trip, so I opted for the deer roast bowl.

1200 yen (tax included) with soup, salad, and drink. It’s very voluminous.

The bus terminal, where buses from all directions arrive and depart, is located a little far from the station.

You can also head towards Kazurabashi in Iya.

On some routes, Onsen MusumeIya touris in charge of in-car announcements.

Speaking of Miyoshi City, “Shikoku Sake Festival” is also famous for being held, so it is a local sake brewery.Chuwa Shoten LLCVisit.

The building is a nationally registered tangible cultural property.

It is possible to buy alcohol inside.

It has a tasteStreetscape of Udatsu Street.

I returned to the station. The departure of express trains heading in various directions is approaching.

◆Tsurugiyama No. 8: Awa Ikeda → Tokushima
The limited express Tsurugi will cover the Tokushima Line in one go.

Three limited express trains were stopping at the same time: the limited express Tsurugiyama bound for Tokushima, the limited express Minamikaze bound for Kochi, and the limited express Minamikaze bound for Okayama.

The Yoshinogawa River is on the left in the direction of travel.

There were mountains approaching to the right in the direction of travel, and residential areas further away.

As I entered Tokushima City, I could see Mt. Bizan on the right side in front of me. The antennas on the left are near the top of the mountain, and the building on the right isSky View Hotel Bizan Kaigetsu”.

Arrived at Tokushima Station at 15:51. A regular train bound for Awa-Ikeda departed immediately.

◆Kotoku Line/Naruto Line Local: Tokushima → Naruto
Finally, we board the local train bound for Naruto for the last unused section.

Birds were gathered in what appeared to be a lotus root field in front of Ikeya Station, where the Naruto Line branches off.

Many people were using the train in the evening to commute to school.

Arrived at Naruto Station at 16:37. Completed riding all sections of all JR Shikoku routes.

◆Naruto Line, Uzushio No. 24, Marine Liner No. 56: Tokushima → Takamatsu → Okayama
The goal has been achieved, but the journey continues until we return home. From Naruto Station, you could take a route bus to Konarutobashi Bridge and then head towards Osaka from the express bus Naruto Inter stop, but since you can still make the most of your “Shikoku Green Travelogue”, you can turn around and take the Marine Liner from Takamatsu. So I decided to head to Okayama.

Return to Ikeya on the train you just boarded.

Ikeya Station has a Y-shaped platform, with branches on the left to the Kotoku Line towards Takamatsu and to the right to the Naruto Line towards Naruto.

A view of Naruto Line trains passing each other as seen from the platform bound for Takamatsu.

Wait 20 minutes and board Uzushio 24 bound for Takamatsu. Please note that if you take the Naruto Line train to Tokushima, you will not be able to ride Uzushio 24.

At Takamatsu Station, I transferred to Rapid Marine Liner No. 61 with 8 minutes to spare.

The “Shikoku Green Travelogue” is a JR Shikoku ticket, so it is valid until Kojima Station, which is where you enter Honshu. This time, I was using the “Shikoku Green Travelogue” to get a green seat on the Marine Liner, so I purchased a separate green ticket for the same seat from Kojima to Okayama in addition to the ticket. We arrived at Okayama Station at 19:33.

The total transportation cost from leaving Takamatsu on the first day to arriving in Okayama on the fourth day was 31,660 yen, including 23,000 yen for the “Shikoku Green Journey.”