One of the Quaintest Train Stations in Japan
SoraNews24
For people living in crowded cities in Japan, nothing tugs at the heartstrings more than a picturesque image of a tiny train station in the middle of the countryside. Chiwa Station, which sits on the Inbi Line in Okayama Prefecture, has come to everyone’s attention in Japan recently, thanks to updates on social media.
久しぶりに感動した駅、因美線知和駅。あまりにも渋い、渋すぎる。こんなん確実に昭和のベッタベタな青春ラブストーリーに使われる奴じゃないですか。 pic.twitter.com/MtBiBNSNYB
— エヌビー (@enuenuenubi) December 26, 2017
One Twitter user, @enuenuenubi, captured Chiwa Station's beauty perfectly.
Surrounded by nature and wildlife, the station building itself is filled with remnants from yesteryear, charming everybody who lays eyes on it. Dating back to 1931, when the station first opened, the wooden building still stands as it did so many decades ago, like a museum dedicated to preserving a sense of travel during the Showa Period (1926-1989).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W57Lsl1qCEA
To see just how peaceful and beautiful the train station is, check out this relaxing video above.
In the video, the one-carriage train can be seen stopping quietly at the station, picking up local passengers with only five Tottori, Chizu-bound trains per day, and six services running to Tsuyama. Both services depart from the same platform, which is unmanned and has no automatic ticket vending machines. Stepping inside the station building is like stepping back in time to the Showa Period (1926-1989), with an old phone and wooden furniture adding to the nostalgic atmosphere.
因美線 知和駅 pic.twitter.com/VF03dmqtUc
— どーらく (@df5066) February 13, 2018
While the video was shot during the warmer months of the year, during winter the station looks equally beautiful under a blanket of snow.
People travel from all around Japan to spend some time here, discovering all the little details inside the station while soaking up the rural atmosphere.
While Japan’s bustling cities have a lot to offer, towns in the countryside—and their tranquil train stations—often have a magical quality of their own, which makes them look like they’ve jumped straight out of an anime movie. If you ever find yourself down Okayama way, be sure to hop on the train for a ride through the picturesque countryside.
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