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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > The Secluded Tsubojiri Station
Experience a switchback at a remote station and spend a relaxing time on a luxury sightseeing train
TOURISM SHIKOKU
Tucked away in the mountains, Tsubojiri Station is an unmanned station on the JR Dosan Line, which runs through the Shikoku region. The station was opened in 1950, at the urging of locals and in the early days it used to be crowded with shopkeepers and students commuting to school. However, due to the spread of private cars, road maintenance, and depopulation of the region, from 1970 the station became unmanned. Today, there are no roads leading to the station, and it can only be reached by train or on foot.
As a typical “hikyo eki,” a secluded station of an unexplored area, Tsubojiri Station has been introduced in many TV programs, magazines, and the Internet and is particularly of interest to railroad fans and off-the-beaten-track enthusiasts. This station is one of the few in Japan with a “switchback" system, in which the train once backs up to the acceleration line to gain momentum before proceeding up a steep mountain pass. Nearby the station is an observatory where visitors can view the switchbacks from above.
To visit Tsubojiri Station and experience a switchback directly from the train, why not take a ride on the JR Shikoku sightseeing train Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari*? Based on the concept of a “Grown-Up Outing,” this luxury tourist train treats guests with wooden interiors, colorful dishes made with local ingredients, including local sake and snacks, and first-class hospitality. Enjoy a journey through the history and gorgeous sceneries of the Shikoku region and experience a switchback at a secluded, nature-rich station!
*Reservations are required to board the Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari sightseeing train. Please check the website for details.
How to get there
From Okayama Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen, take a train to Tadotsu Station (about 45 minutes). Change to the Dosan Line to reach Tsubojiri Station (about 50 minutes), or you can choose to ride JR Shikoku sightseeing train Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari.
Nishiyama Tateya, Ikeda-cho, Miyoshi-shi, Tokushima-ken
