After visiting Kurashiki City, I continued travelling to enjoy trains and cherry blossoms. My next destination was Kibitsu on the JR West Kibi line.
Kibitsu is located in the northern suburb of Okayama City, about 740 kilometers west of Tokyo. It's the place of origin of a famous folklore, "Momotaro (peach boy)". Momotaro was said to be born from a large peach in the Kibitsu area. He defeated the ogres, who were causing troubles in the area, and became a local hero. To acknowledge his achievements, Kibitsu Shrine was said to be constructed later at the ex-frontline base of Momotaro. When I visited the shrine, cherry trees along the corridor were in full bloom. It must be the best season of the Kibitsu area.
To get to this legendary place, the nearest station is Kibitsu on the JR West Kibi line. This local line was opened in 1904. Connecting Okayama and Soja, the route length is 20.4 kilometers. The track is unelectrified and single. Diesel railcars were operated every half an hour to one hour. My vehicle was the DMU JR West KiHa 47 series. The KiHa 47 series was commissioned by the Japanese National Railways in 1977. 370 units in total were built by Niigata Tekko and Fuji Heavy Industries. A 162kW diesel engine is carried on the unit. Different from their brothers, namely KiHa 40 and 48 series, it takes the appearance of a single cab car with double doors.
The train journey continues.
