There are several stations on the JR Iida Line that are called “secret stations” because they are difficult to reach and have few users. One of these is the station we will be visiting today.
When we left Iida on the first train in the morning and passed by this station on our way to another station, it was still shrouded in deep mountain mist. This is a rather careless shot taken from the train window, but I hope it conveys the atmosphere.
Two hours later, when I returned on the train, I was lucky enough to find that the mist had almost cleared, and the area around the station was this spectacular view.
The Tenryu River is dammed by the Hiraoka Dam in this area, so it looks like a lake, and the surface of the water is calm and shines like an emerald mirror. It’s beautiful.
It’s a 2-minute walk from the riverside station to the suspension bridge in the photo. Conversely, the station looks like this from the suspension bridge.
The forest around the suspension bridge is well into the autumn colors, with a complex pattern of reds and yellows, green from the evergreens, and some dead branches.
With no one around but me, I was surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, which was the climax of this short trip, and I was in a state of bliss as I kept snapping away like a possessed person.
While we were doing this, the fog cleared completely and the sun began to shine on the beach below the suspension bridge, and before long, we could see one or two fishermen.
It seems that if you are careful and know the way, you can drive to the other side of the suspension bridge, so I wonder if they came along that route?
The scenery was so beautiful that I almost forgot my main purpose as a traveler. It’s about time to head back to the Station.
When I arrived, there was no one else there, but in the hour or so since then, another person had come to wait for the train at the station, from the other side of the suspension bridge.
Shiteguri, yes it’s the name of this difficult-to-read station.
There are also lots of difficult-to-read stations around this area of the Iida Line. Ugusu, Nakai Samurai, Oozore, Misakubo, Mukaichiba… I doubt many people will be able to read these names on first glance.
Finally, the train bound for Toyohashi arrived.
It’s a shame to say goodbye to Shiteguri Station, but I’d love to visit again. I wonder if I’ll ever have such good conditions again.
Next time, I’ll be waiting for the express train at Hiraoka Station.
