I would like to introduce more information to people who have interest in the Tadami line.
Aizu-Wakamatsu station has an unique main entrance in imitation of a typical Japanese roof.
A statue of child solders called “Byakko tai (白虎隊)” is in the front of the entrance.
If you learned about Japanese history, you will probably have heard about their tragedy.
I'd like you to visit their grave when you come to Aizu.
In addition, you’ll surely notice a big red ornament too.
This is “Akabeko (赤べこ)” and it can be said as a mascot of Aizu.
About Akabeko, I will explain later.
It is not some kind of a mechanical ride at a amusement park, so please don’t ride on.
If you press the button beside it, it will start talking to you and suddenly sing a song praising Aizu.
Unfortunately, the song is a little cheap quality so you may feel embarrassed to listen it.
Be careful, you can’t stop the song in the middle.
Anyway, I hope you will make good memories with other things in Aizu.
This is in the station.
A lot of tourists visit there on holidays.
This is the fare table of the station.
The fare from Aizu-Wakamatsu station (会津若松) to Aizu-Kawaguchi station (会津川口） which is the current final station is 1140 yen.
I think that it is a reasonable price to see a wonderful view.
You can see an English sightseeing map written by hand at the tourist information center in the station.
It seems to be made with loving care, so please refer to it.
In addition, the station has shops which sell souvenirs such as food, sake and crafts in Aizu.
An old established Japanese cake store in Aizu called “Nagato-ya (長門屋)” placed their shop in the station.
Their products were also often featured by the mass media and earned high praise by many people.
A unique and beautiful product of them was introduced on websites oversea.
Please check these sites.
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/this-magical-candy-reveals-a-new-scene-with-every-slice-and-its-beautiful/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=share
and
https://www.thisisinsider.com/theres-a-magical-japanese-candy-that-reveals-new-scenes-as-you-eat-it-2018-3?utm_source=facebook&utm_content=top-bar&utm_term=desktop
The soba (buckwheat) shop called “Ichie-an (一會庵) “ is in the station.
They offers genuine hand-made soba dishes and have a lot of Aizu sake too.
If you like soba, I’d like you to try it by all means.
Aizu is an area which produces soba, so you will be able to see a lot of soba-fields that are full of white flowers from the train window in September.
Anyway, Platform 4 is for the Tadami line.
As you can see, the Tadami line has only seven services in a day currently.
The engines for passengers of the Tadami line are diesel cars called Kiha (キハ) type in Japan.
Though the type of the vehicle is used especially in the countryside all over Japan, I think the colors of green and white used for the Tadami line is in harmony with the scenery along the line.
They were made about 40 years ago.
The driver’s seat of the train looks retro.
You have to operate buttons of the entrance door when you get in and out of the vehicle at your station.
Its seat for passengers can not be said to be comfortable to sit on, compared to those of modern vehicles running within cities, but the landscape seen from the train window means that you won’t notice it.
Currently, a train with a special design is running.
Plants and animal life living in the town of Tadami which was designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO are drawn on it.
The train is to run until March 2020.
The operating times depends on the day, so it would be lucky if you can take the train.
I hope you enjoy the train journey！
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