Nikko: The Journey

Nikko is a small city which is about 100km north of Tokyo. It is about 2 to 3 hours away by local train.

On 13 June 2008, I woke up very early to catch a bus from Saitama University to the nearest train station, embarking on my journey to Nikko, one of the most beautiful places in Japan.

As I was trying to save on the travelling cost, I had to transit several times. I arrived at the first transit point in about half an hour. This station is called Minami-Kurihashi.

I took another train on the Tobu line bound for Shintochigi from here. In about 45 minutes time, I was already waiting at the platform of Shintochigi for my final stretch of train ride to Tobu-Nikko station.

Since this was my final stretch of the train ride, I already put off guard my attention to the announcement and I pulled out my camera snapping happily. The countryside of Japan is really beautiful and most of the lands along the railway tracks are covered with paddy fields.

The train came to a stop at a small train station and a lady train master came in to make an announcement which I didn't understand. I thought I was safe as this was the train bound for my destination. Not until I saw the first two train cars were detached and left the third car that I was in, I sensed something really wrong!

I quickly came out of the train car and checked the destination of these two train cars left behind and thank goodness that they were bound for the other destination that I had no clue at all. So, I needed to wait for the later train bound for Tobu-Nikko station. This time, I entered the first train car with the destination "Tobu-Nikko" clearly labeled on the car!

I was finally on the right train car for my destination.

So, if you are in Japan taking the local train to the countryside, make sure that you are on the correct car by checking the label on the outside of each train car.