We got up early to soak in hot spring which opens at 6:00 am.
after bathing, we ate breakfast.
Foreign visitors sitting next our table asked "What did you say?" to a staff.
Then, the staff said "Annin tofu". According to Wikipedia, it's real English name.
But, the visitors didn't seem to understand what the food was.
Anyway, we drove to Kiryu station, the terminus of Watarase Keikoku Railway.
We took a train bound for Mato.
IMG_9503 posted by (C)gozami
Kiryu Station
IMG_9508 posted by (C)gozami
Station nameplate
IMG_9509 posted by (C)gozami
Shimoshinden Station
The train runs parallel with Ryomo Line until Shimoshinden station.
after leaving the station, Tobu Kiryu Line approaches from left side and runs parallel with it until Aioi station, where we can change trains to Tobu Kiryu Line. But, we didn't.
IMG_9510 posted by (C)gozami
Just before Aioi Station
IMG_9511 posted by (C)gozami
Aioi Station on Tobu Kiryu Line
After Aioi station, Jomo Electric Railway passes over our rail, but no station to change trains for Jomo Line.
At Ohmama station, we changed trains for windowless train.
IMG_9516 posted by (C)gozami
Windowless train
Overtaken by ordinary train
IMG_9530 posted by (C)gozami
Interior of the train
IMG_9539 posted by (C)gozami
Watarase river
IMG_9540 posted by (C)gozami
Small waterfall, which can be seen only from train
The train took us to Ashio station. On our way to the station, lunch packs we reserved were served.
In addition to it, 3 or 4 vendors sold snacks for passengers on the windowless train at Godo station.
Then, I bought deep-fried chicken.
IMG_9544 posted by (C)gozami
Godo Station
IMG_9546 posted by (C)gozami
Roof of the train illuminates while running in the longest tunnel on the line.
IMG_9559 posted by (C)gozami
Abandoned copper refinery plants
IMG_9561 posted by (C)gozami
Abandoned power plant
IMG_9566 posted by (C)gozami
Tsudo Station, an intermediate one is the station for sightseeing abandoned copper refinery plants
At Ashio, we changed trains to get to Mato, the terminal station.
IMG_9567 posted by (C)gozami
Many tracks used to being used for freight trains carrying copper
IMG_9583 posted by (C)gozami
Ashio Station
JR East kiha35 series train was displayed on the siding track
Keikoku Railway DB064 was also
This was also connected with kiha35 series train
The locomotive pulled our windowless train
IMG_9598 posted by (C)gozami
We took train for Mato
IMG_9604 posted by (C)gozami
Left track near Mato station would have been used for switching locomotives
What arrival at Mato station means completion of all the railway lines in Japan for my friend.
To commemorate it, I took pictures of him with the flyer saying "Completion of all the railway lines in Japan".
IMG_9609 posted by (C)gozami
Terminus
IMG_9610 posted by (C)gozami
Nameplate
We went back to Kiryu station. And we drove to the bordering place, which faces Saitama prefecture, Tochigi prefecture, and Gumma Prefecture.
IMG_9657 posted by (C)gozami
It's the point enclosed by Saitama prefecture, Tochigi prefecture, and Gumma Prefecture
Then, his drive took us to the place we have to say goodbye.
It was Koga station. Though he continues his trip for a few days, I have to go back home.
