All Aboard
the Pikachu Train!
It's now been six years since the tsunami that swept across the coastal areas of the Tohoku region at 14:46 on March 11, 2011, as a result of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.
Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture is one of the cities that suffered direct damage from the tsunami. After the tsunami subsided, all that was left were fallen trees, remnants of houses, and broken train lines. This state of chaos remains in the consciousness of Kesennuma citizens as a period of unforgettable suffering.
I began to wonder to what extent this fishing city whose small population made a living off the bounties off the sea has recovered, and how it has changed, six years after its encounter with the tsunami.
With this curiosity in mind, I was fortunate enough to visit the scene, and had a chance to view the new scenery of Kesennuma; traveling there on a super cute train that is receiving a lot of attention online.
In order to encounter the popular train that is creating such a buzz, I first set off from Tokyo in the direction of Tohoku.
This year, the East Japan Rail Company updated its Pokémon with You train, featuring a Pikachu motif, and it has been widely talked about all over Japan. Pikachu fans from Japan and all around the world flock here for the chance to ride the Pikachu train.
I rode the shinkansen from Tokyo for about two hours before arriving at Ichinoseki Station, the starting point for the Pikachu train.
On exiting Ichinoseki Station, there is a big sign on which is written, "Ichinoseki Hot Spring Resort." That's right, there is also a hot spring here.
If you're tired on the way home, you can take a refreshing soak in the hot spring here.
Walking a little further, I came across a map that showed the route from Ichinoseki to various tourist destinations.
The Pikachu train will bring a smile of pure joy to your face
The Pikachu train was the highlight of this short trip. It runs on the Ofunato Line that connects Ichinoseki Station in Iwate Prefecture with Kesennuma Station in Miyagi Prefecture.
I wondered, slightly impatiently, what I would experience on the bright, cheerful, little train as it slowly pulled into the station.
If you have time before boarding, you should definitely get a photo together with the Pikachu train! The Pikachu peeping out of the window is so cute.
