Summary
This time, we went to Bingo-ochiai Station, an unexplored station in Hiroshima.
The station is unmanned, with only one train every 1,2 hours and no station staff, and is tucked away deep in the mountains.
It was a nice, quiet station with a sense of history, secretly popular among railroad enthusiasts.
I was very satisfied with the oden udon (Oden on top of udon)! Please go there!
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
1:00pm Niimi Station（新見駅）
Starting from Niimi Station!
Take the JR Geibi Line.
Geibi Line
There is only one car! We will take the train bound for Bingo-Ochiai.
It was a holiday and the place was crowded with train lovers.
timetable
It is about one every two hours.
I took the 1:02pm departure!
Spot Outline
Niimi Station, located in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West), where JR West’s Hakubi Line and Kishin Line stop and also provides tourist information mainly in Niimi City. Information on local specialties and products is also provided inside the station, making it a convenient place for tourists.
2:30pm Bingo-Ochiai Station（備後落合駅）
This unexplored station is located in the mountains of Hiroshima Prefecture.
They say it used to be busy with transit passengers and cargo handling!
A popular spot for railroad fans as a “railroad heritage” that tells the story of history.
Inside the train
It was a holiday and the place was so crowded that it was impossible to sit down!
No one on this train was looking at their phones, everyone was enjoying the view outside✨.
scenery
Since there was only one car, the tracks were visible!
The route goes deeper and deeper into the mountains, entering tunnels and continuing with peaceful scenery surrounded by greenery.
timetable
station
Everyone came with their cameras to take pictures of the Geibi Line!
Home
It was crowded with train lovers.
The trains are lined up like this and stopped for a while, so this is a good photo opportunity!
There was nothing in the vicinity, so it was quite difficult to kill time!
But it was a nice change of pace because the place is quiet and peaceful!
The longest local line in the Chugoku region
station building
There is no automatic ticket gate! No station staff either!
Payment is made when you get off the train.
There were many historical photos on the walls.
The station from the old prosperous days, the trains from those days, etc. have a nice retro feel to them.
After the return train goes…
It was so crowded when I arrived, but no one was there anymore.
This is an uninhabited, unexplored station.
Exterior
Inside the train
The train heading toward Miyoshi from Bingo-Ochiai Station is rattling with only about four passengers on board!
I was able to sit comfortably.
View from the car window
Cherry blossoms were seen!
Spot Outline
Bingo-Ochiai Station, located in Hattori, Saijocho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). With a history of being once crowded with transit passengers and freight handlers, it is known as a popular spot for railroad fans. Today, it is still loved by visitors as a “railroad heritage” that tells of its history.
3:00pm Drive-in Ochiai（ドライブインおちあい）
It takes about 15 minutes on foot to get there! This is the restaurant where you can eat the “oden udon” (Oden on top of udon) you are looking for.
Oden Udon is apparently a gourmet dish that was sold on the platform when Bingo-Ochiai Station was prosperous.
Oden udon noodles 650 yen
Oden udon noodles with a gentle taste of dashi (A soup made with bonito flakes, dried sardines, kelp, and shiitake mushrooms).
I am glad to see plenty of flavorful ingredients on it!
It looks like they do it from September to May. It would be great to eat it during the cold winter months.
Very tasty ✨I also put a dash of flavor to accentuate the taste.
Interior
There is plenty of seating and it is spacious!
Menu
Menu
There were also set menus, etc!
Spot Outline
Drive-In Ochiai is a restaurant located in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a 15 minute walk from Bingo-Ochiai Station, and one of its most popular items is “Oden Udon,” a specialty dish once sold at Bingo-Ochiai Station.
6:00pm Bingo Shobara Station（備後庄原駅）
We got off at Bingo Shobara and changed to a bus to return to Hiroshima.
Bye bye Geibi line✨I got a good photo in the setting sun!
Spot Outline
Bingo-Shobara Station, located at 2-13 Nakamoto-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is a station on the Geibi Line of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Many people get off at Bingo Shobara and transfer to a bus to return to Hiroshima. It is also known as a must-see spot for Carp fans and is popular among tourists because of the rows of objects depicting the players. It is also used as a starting point for sightseeing in Shobara.
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