Mr. Ishihara and Mr. Yoshida
JR West Crew Members
Mr. Ishihara
He has been a crew member for 6 years and 4 months. He is fascinated by the scenery along the Geibi Line, where beautiful Japanese countryside scenery remains.
Mr. Yoshida
He has been a crew member for 1 year and 4 months. His hobby is mountain climbing.
The Geibi Line is the longest local line in the Chugoku Region. This line runs east to west through the center of the Chugoku Mountains. As you travel north from Hiroshima Station, you will see peaceful mountain villages and countryside scenery from the train windows. For this edition, we asked two crew members from JR West who are familiar with the Geibi Line to show us the highlights of this route.
Mr. Yoshida recommends Shirakiyama Station. It is near the trailhead to Mt. Shirakiyama, the highest peak in Hiroshima City. Ishihara-san's recommendation is Bingo-Shobara Station. It was recently renovated and has a retro Taisho era atmosphere. Enjoy an exceptional, relaxing trip on the Geibi Line diesel train, taking in the blue sky and seasonally changing mountains.
“If a JR West crew member were to guide you on a special train trip in Hiroshima, it would be...”
Travel time : Approx. 3 hours
Shirakiyama Station
Travel time : 5 minutes
1/3
Visit an unmanned station overlooking Mt. Shirakiyama, the second highest mountain in Hiroshima City.
Come take pictures of the distinct four seasons.
5568 Oaza Mita, Shiraki-cho, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima 739-1521
A location nestled in the countryside. It’s only a 10-minute walk to the Mt. Shirakiyama trailhead!
As you get off at Shirakiyama Station, rice paddies and the majestic Mt.Shirakiyama will stretch out before you. At 889.3 meters above sea level, the summit offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view, and the Geibi Line can also be seen from the summit. I enjoy mountain climbing, so I use Shirakiyama Station, which is only a 10-minute walk from the trailhead. Shirakiyama Station is quaint with its long, curved platform along the single-track railroad. It also offers a great, seasonally changing view of nature: the fresh greenery and lush rice fields of Shirakiyama, the autumn leaves in the mountains and golden ears of rice in fall, and the snowy landscape in winter. It is recommended for strolling and photographing the surrounding area. It takes about 4 hours to climb Mt. Shirakiyama, but we encourage everyone to experience the view from the top of the mountain.
Mr. YoshidaJR West Crew MembersShirakiyama Station is picturesque no matter where you take photos from, but I recommend taking pictures of the station platform with Mt. Shirakiyama in the background, including the trail and rice paddies. The station perched alone in the rice paddies is a nice touch. On the other side of the station, there is a line of mountains such as Mt. Takahachiyama. It is also nice to take photos near the mountains from the Hiroshima direction. The combination of the orange train and the cozy waiting room with only three benches is also charming. Between the neighboring Karuga and Shirakiyama stations, near Hiroshima, the train crosses a newly constructed railway bridge that was washed away by the torrential rain in western Japan. There is an old temple called "Miyahara Kannon" (Goddess of Mercy) on the cliff on the left as seen from the train heading for Shirakiyama Station, so be sure to look out the window as you cross.
5568 Oaza Mita, Shiraki-cho, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima 739-1521
Approximately 90 minutes by train
Bingoshobara Station
Travel time : 180 minutes
2/3
The photogenic station building has been renovated with a retro Taisho era atmosphere.
2-13-1 Nakamoto-cho, Shobara-shi, Hiroshima 727-0012
A bus terminal has been built in front of the station for convenience.
For some reason, there are life-size figures of a Carp player on the station platform!
Bingoshobara Station was renovated in 2020 with a stylish retro Taisho era atmosphere. I use this station often, as it is the closest station to my hometown. But I feel like it’s a waste since it is not well known yet, so I recommend it! Every part of the station building is picturesque. I especially like the station name sign at the entrance and the waiting room. It is spacious, air-conditioned, and comfortable. The waiting room is now used for express and local buses that now stop at the bus rotary in front of the station building. Inside the station building there is a panel showing the faces of Geibi Line trains, and on the platform there are three life-size figures of Carp players, so be sure to take some pictures.
Mr. IshiharaJR West Crew MembersTo get anywhere from the station, the orange city circulation bus called the Himawari Bus is inexpensive and convenient. The bus stops at Ueno Park,Yume Sakura, and, from spring, at Ouka-no-sato Laforet Shobara. In terms of the best time of day to take pictures at the station building, frankly it is usually always empty, but I like it at night. It is lit up and the atmosphere becomes even more magical when there is snow on the ground. The bus rotary in front of the station is the station square, so you can get a good view of the entire building from there.
2-13-1 Nakamoto-cho, Shobara-shi, Hiroshima 727-0012
Approximately 150 minutes by train
Three consecutive tunnels
Travel time : 5 seconds
3/3
It's like stepping into a movie through three consecutive tunnels!
Magame, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, 739-1741
A series of three tunnels that look like something out of "Spirited Away”.
Beyond that is a city of wonders?!
Between Shimofukawa and Kumura stations, there is a series of three short tunnels in a straight line. It is commonly called "Kumura's three tunnels" and is a famous point for photographing trains on the Geibi Line. It is very beautiful when viewed from inside the train. It looks like a tunnel from the animated film "Spirited Away," and the scenery is so fantastic that you feel as if you are suddenly entering a different world. When I ride through the tunnel in the summer morning haze, the rising sun shone through from above, and I am moved beyond words. I hope you will take a ride and experience it for yourself.
- Mr. IshiharaJR West Crew Members
To get the full experience of the three consecutive tunnels, it is best to view them from directly behind the train on a type of train that does not have doors to the crew cabins. Of the three tunnels, the most beautiful is when the train is going through the third tunnel (closer to Hiroshima Station) on a train heading from Shimofukagawa Station to Kumura Station.
Magame, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, 739-1741
Editor's Note
The Geibi Line is not only a great place to enjoy nature in the mountains, but also to experience the alluring sound of the one-man trains and diesel cars. I hope you will spend a relaxing time on the Geibi Line, taking in the clear blue sky and the mountains with their various seasonal expressions from the windows of the train.
(Mr. Yoshida)
In addition to the mountain-side lines introduced here, the sea side is also attractive, offering views of the Seto Inland Sea's many islands, such as the Kure Line and the Sanyo Main Line. I hope you will also enjoy the spectacular views from trains running along the coastline. Hiroshima has many sightseeing spots, so I hope you will enjoy the scenery from the train windows and stop to enjoy the sights and food along the way.
(Mr.Ishihara)
Mr. Ishihara and Mr. Yoshida
JR West Crew Members
Mr. Ishihara
He has been a crew member for 6 years and 4 months. He is fascinated by the scenery along the Geibi Line, where beautiful Japanese countryside scenery remains.
Mr. Yoshida
He has been a crew member for 1 year and 4 months. His hobby is mountain climbing.