Iida Line Limited Express

When we were looking up things to do in Japan, and how best to get from Nagano to Nagoya we saw a little squigly railroad along a river called the Iida Line. This led us to a review on TripAdvisor. We thought it sounded really good and looked gorgeous.
Having now rode it ourselves there are numerous places we would like to stop and walk or hike along the river.
The Iida Line Limited Express was quite comfortable and we were able to get seats on the 373 Series that allowed us to see both out the front and side. This was important because there are a lot of tunnels which made some of the photography tricky. During our trip we crossed between Nagano Prefecture into Aichi Prefecture.

Iida - JR Iida Station

We took the Iida Line from JR Tatsuno Station, Tatsuno to JR Iida Station, Iida so that we could ride the Iida Line Limited Express to Toyohashi. Around Iida Station, it being a Sunday (and Easter Sunday) there was not a whole lot open in the way of food. Holly was able to get a snack though.

Iida Line

At JR Tatsuno Station, Tatsuno we boarded the Iida Line. This was our end goal in taking all these local trains and transfers. But this is only the first and northern half. We went through a ton of smaller cities, villages, and towns on our way down the Iida Line. We saw local soccer teams and so on. It was a different crowd, a lot fewer business suits, than we had seen in Tokyo and so on.
Also, this was not the most comfortable train to be on for over two hours. We were on a 115 Series.

Tatsuno - JR Tatsuno Station

Our stop over at JR Tatsuno Station, Tatsuno was relatively brief. From here we finally got on the Iida Line, or at least, the northern part of it.

Chuo Line - Okaya – Shiojiri Branch

The next leg of our journey took us on the Chuo Line - Okaya – Shiojiri Branch. We were riding in a E127-100 Series. This was a properly small line. A lot of the stations were merely concrete platforms with stairs and railings. A lot of it was single tracked. Also there were some fun little tunnels.

Shiojiri - JR Shiojiri Station

Since we caught an earlier train then we needed to we ended up with a bit of a layover at JR Shiojiri Station, Shiojiri. We were waiting for a train on the Chuo Line, Okaya – Shiojiri Branch. All of these transfer were so that we could eventually get to the Iida Line.

Shinano Line Limited Express

We took the Shinano Line Limited Express from JR Shinonoi Station, Nagano to JR Shiojiri Station, Shiojiri. This was in a 383 Series Ordinary Car. The seats were comfortable enough.

Nagano - JR Shinonoi Station

We rode the Shinano-Tetsudo Line from Togura Station, Chikuma City to JR Shinonoi Station, Nagano so that we could board the Shinano Line Limited Express.

Chikuma City - Togura Station

We started our trip to get to the Iida Line at Togura Station in Chikuma City. This is on the Shinano-Tetsudo Line. These lines are much more local with many stops servicing small towns and villages compared to the main lines.

Chikuma City - Kamesei Ryokan

Holly wanted some pictures of herself in the ryokan provided yukata.

Chikuma City - Chikuma River

We finished our day (or at least our day before dinner and finally using the Onsen) by taking a walk along the Chikuma River and taking some photographs in the late afternoon.

Chikuma City - Chishikigi Buddhist Temple

We went for a bike tour of Chikuma City, at least the area rather near Kamesei Ryokan with one of the proprietors of the ryokan, Tyler. He runs Zukudashi Eco Tours. It was a fun ride and tour.

There are a few temples in the town, we visited the  Chishikigi Buddhist Temple and took some pictures.

Chikuma City - Mountain Road (to Arato Castle)

Anyone who has watched the anime or read the manga Initial D will understand why I took a picture of a gutter on the curve of a mountain road in Japan; even if it is on the wrong side of the curve.

I saw this on our way back down the mountain and had to take a picture even though I had previously put the camera away.

Chikuma City - Arato Castle Park

Arato Castle Park is an old castle / fort sitting above Chikuma City and was the fortification of a local warlord. The castle was reconstructed per the old techniques.

Chikuma City - Mountain Road (to Arato Castle)

We walked from Kamesei Ryokan to the Arato Castle. This involved a walk up a rather steep mountain road. We got a nice hill workout in. There was a shrine and Buddhist temple on our way up.

Chikuma City - Kamesei Ryokan

We took a shinkansen from Omiya to Nagano and then the Shinonoi Line line, maybe, to the Shinano Tetsudo Line to get to Togura Station in Chikum. We then walked from the station to the Kamesei Ryokan. This is a traditional onsen inn and we really enjoyed both it and the food. Also, temperatures in Nagano Prefecture were notably lower than anywhere we had been so far. We really liked this place and would likely go again. I did not take pictures of the onsen and public bath, but you can find images online.