【愛媛】松山発・絶景列車で行く伊予灘ものがたり／八幡浜編／海と空の絶景列車旅
We took a ride on the Iyonada Monogatari. We took a ride on the Iyonada Monogatari. JR Matsuyama Station underwent a complete renovation on September 24, 2024, for the first time in 71 years. The new station building is located beyond the old one, which you pass through to reach it. Parts of the former platform and tracks, once used by trains, have now been turned into a pathway leading to the new station building. The new station building incorporates locally sourced cedar and cypress from Ehime, Its design is inspired by the karahafu-style roof of the Dōgo Onsen Honkan. Automatic ticket gates, which didn’t exist before, have been newly installed, transforming the station into a more modern facility. Since we had a little time before the train departed, We stopped by the newly opened shopping area inside the station called “Matsuyama Dandan Street.” A must-visit stop to experience Ehime’s specialty foods and restaurants. As expected from Ehime! They offer a rich selection of orange juices. Local sake like Dogo Beer makes a perfect souvenir! And of course, when it comes to Ehime, you can’t forget Jakoten! I bought freshly fried Jakokatsu. Crispy coating on the outside, fluffy fish paste on the inside, The savory flavor spread in my mouth — it was delicious. This time, I’ll be boarding the 1:31 PM train bound for Yawatahama. The Iyonada Monogatari runs four times a day. Reservations can be made starting at 10 AM, one month before the departure date. Meals on the train also require a reservation, and— you need to purchase a meal ticket separately from the train ticket. As I stepped onto the platform, I spotted a cute train. The “Osanpo Nanyo” train features Mikyan and characters from the Nanyo region. On the platform, surrounded by an elegant melody, The Iyonada Monogatari train pulled into the station. The Iyonada Monogatari consists of three cars in total. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in July 2024. Car No. 3 is a private car available for groups of 2 to 8 people, and— It offers a completely private space. The seats in Car No. 2 are arranged for pairs, and— The car is designed with the fresh citrus fruits, a specialty of Ehime, in mind. On the side of Car No. 1, there was a wonderful message written. Now, let’s board Car No. 1. It’s a stylish space, just like a café restaurant. The two-person seats on the right side are raised by one step, so— It makes it easier to enjoy the view on the opposite side. And the train’s special meals are one of the highlights♪ You can enjoy a course meal prepared by Restaurant Kadota, a popular French restaurant in Matsuyama. If you take a closer look at the lighting, you’ll see it’s shaped like mandarins. The west exit area is also expected to undergo redevelopment going forward. The attendants and locals warmly saw us off. The approximately two-hour train journey is about to begin. What came into view outside the window was Matsuyama Central Park. There’s the Budokan and Bocchan Stadium. Official professional baseball games are held at Bocchan Stadium, and— It also serves as the autumn training camp site for the Yakult Swallows. This is the Shikoku Railway Company’s train depot located in Iyo City. The Matsuyama Depot, which was once attached to Matsuyama Station, was relocated near Minami-Iyo Station due to the elevation construction work. Minami-Iyo Station is a new station in Ehime Prefecture, opened for the first time in 29 years. The first dish to arrive was the soup — a creamy roasted eggplant soup. It’s fragrant, creamy, and delicious. People of all ages, from children to seniors, are waving their hands and flags to welcome us. They’re doing it voluntarily, not because they were told to by the railway company, It seems that the local residents started this on their own initiative. When you open the black box with a click… A beautifully plated cold dish appeared. The sea came into view outside the window. This sea is the Iyonada, the main scenery and star of this journey. A calm sea with hardly any waves. The coast here in Iyo City is selected as one of the 100 best sunset spots in Japan, and— In the evening, a breathtaking view unfolds. Partway through, a tart cake was served. And then the train stops at Shimonada Station, which is famous as a filming location for dramas and commercials. I was surprised to see so many people gathered at the station. The train stops at this station for about 10 minutes. Right in front of us are the sea and sky of the Iyonada. And the red train stands out beautifully against the scenery. Shimonada Station is an unmanned station. You can enter the platform without buying a ticket, so— you can take photos like the ones displayed at the station building, and— you can also see the sightseeing train up close. I couldn’t help but take multiple shots of this unique scenery that you can only find here. When I returned to the train, they had covered my unfinished tea with plastic wrap, and— That kindness warmed my heart. Leaving Shimonada Station behind, the train slowly crosses over the Motomura River Bridge. The sea suddenly spreads out ahead of the window — a perfect spot for snapping stunning photos. Waves crashing right below the window. Surrounded by the sea and sky, the train runs through the scenery. Even within the Iyonada Monogatari journey, it’s a special spot where you can feel like you’re riding right above the sea. When I went to the front section of Car No. 1, I saw the tracks stretching straight out in front, and the contrast unfolding before my eyes was absolutely stunning. A warm dish was served — consomme-braised autumn vegetables and Matsuyama chicken. It’s a comforting dish that gently warms the heart. At Kitanada Station, a white line on the platform marks the border between Ōzu City and Iyo City. The illustration on the signboard was drawn by an attendant and depicts legends related to the two cities. As a memento of the ride, I had my photo taken holding a commemorative panel. Near the Hiji River in Ōzu, coffee was served to conclude the meal. The word “Welcome” is written in the middle of the fields. Gorō Station is a platform-only station without a station building. Raccoon dogs, or tanuki, are said to appear around the station area. Children dressed as cute tanuki and Halloween characters welcome visitors. In the distance, Ōzu Castle came into view. It’s a wooden castle, restored and rare even nationwide. Though a bit far, people on the castle hill are waving flags to greet us. We stopped briefly at Iyohira Station. At this station, we were treated to a traditional lion dance performance. As we departed, children and local residents saw us off. There’s a restroom and a washbasin located between Cars No. 2 and No. 3. Near the washbasin, there were postcards and a stamp — I took one as a souvenir. The private Car No. 3 is located just beyond this curtain. It feels like something special awaits beyond this point. Those must be the children we saw earlier at Gorō Station. They’re holding a name plate—maybe it’s someone among the passengers? There’s someone waving from the second floor of a house along the railway line. Wow! There are even two adorable dogs 🐶🐶 Inside the train, everyone smiled and said, “So cute!” It was such an enjoyable train journey that it felt like it passed in no time. There aren’t any tourist spots around the station, so— I decided to wait inside the station until the return train’s departure time. There’s the very chair that appeared in the movie *Suzume no Tojimari*! I ended up doing a pilgrimage to the sacred site in an unexpected way. The Iyonada Monogatari from the Dogo section is departing. Now it’s our turn to see them off. We’re taking the Uwajima Line No. 22, the Anpanman Train, back to Matsuyama Station. Iyonada Monogatari isn’t just about the stunning scenery— it’s a heartwarming train journey with meaningful interactions with the local people.
ご視聴ありがとうございます。
2024年10月、愛媛の観光列車「伊予灘ものがたり」に乗った様子をお届けします。
列車から見える伊予灘のきらめき、下灘駅でのひととき、
そして沿線の人々の心温まるおもてなし——
この旅で出会った“ほんものの優しさ”を、ぜひ動画で感じてください☺️
【列車情報】
・伊予灘ものがたり（JR四国）
・運行区間：松山〜伊予大洲・八幡浜
・公式ページ：https://iyonadamonogatari.com/
【使用音源・ナレーション】
ナレーション：音読さん（https://ondoku3.com/）
#伊予灘ものがたり #観光列車 #絶景列車 #家族旅 #四国旅行#鉄道旅行 #癒し旅
#IyonadaMonogatari #SightseeingTrain #JapanTravel #FamilyTrip #ScenicTrain