JR East Obasute Station

[WideRanger]

A bit late posting this, but in my trip across Japan over the last winter, I experienced one of the best railway moments I have had. It was at Obasute station on the Shinonoi line, near to Nagano. I was snowing heavily, so at many stations in the area, the snow was around half a meter on the platform (and presented something of a wall if you opened the door where the platform hadn't been cleared.

But the best bit was at Obasute, where the station is on a switchback (normally only used by the local stopping trains or premium tourist trains - the express trains don't enter the switchback). I was sat behind the driver (as I always try to be on Japanese local trains). Once the driver came to a stop, and open and closed the doors, she didn't bother changing ends. Just reversed out of the switchback at full speed, observing by sticking her head out of the window. Once clear of the switchback, the train reversed direction in about 5 seconds after coming to a standstill.

It's clearly the normal mode of operation, but the casual confidence with which it was done was both impressive and a little 'exciting'.

I definitely recommend riding this bit of line (for the amazing views) and taking a local train into this station (for the experience) if you can. It's what the Seishun-18 ticket was made for.

 

[KK2109]

Obasute station is regarded as one of the top three views from trains in Japan!
Along with sections around Yatake station on the Hisatsu Line in Kyushu and Niinai Station on the Nemuro Main Line. (The latter was replaced by a new bypass tunnel in 1966)