[Ibaraki Prefecture] Introducing the highlights around each station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway “Minato Line”

Katsuta Station

The gateway to Hitachinaka City. A transfer station from the JR Joban Line and a departure/arrival station for the Minato Line. JR stations where Platform 1 is the company line are rare in Japan. water used to be

The Minato Line runs to To Station, and there are remnant points on the premises. It is also famous for the Katsuta National Marathon, which boasts a large number of participants every year.

Kokimae Station

Approximately 700m from Katsuta Station. It opened in 1962. It is the third newest station on the Minato Line. The station name was changed from "Nikko-mae" in October 2019.

became. It is convenient to the Katsuta Omotemachi Dori shopping street, the Cultural Center, and the Takeda Clan Museum, which displays materials related to the birthplace of the Kai Takeda clan.

Kanakami Station

The nearest station to the Ground Self-Defense Force Katsuta Garrison and Chojagayazu Onsen, which has a history dating back to the Edo period. After the establishment of the Seaside Railway, train exchange equipment

was created. Katsuta-Kanagami Station is sold at Nakaminato Station as an ``auspicious ticket,'' which translates to ``win and raise money.''

Nakane Station

Although the station is small, it is a historical area that developed through rice cultivation from the Yayoi period to the Kofun period. There are many historical sites such as shell mounds and ancient tombs in the surrounding area, and there are many things to see.

Takada Tetsubashi Station

The official name of the iron bridge that spans the Nakamaru River that runs by the station is ``Nakamarugawa Bridge,'' but it has long been affectionately known by the locals as ``Takada Iron Bridge.'' "Takada" was the former name of the area near the station, and although it no longer remains as a place name, the name Takada remained as a nickname for the iron bridge. For the new opening, we chose the name of the station with the hope that it will become familiar to the locals and take root.

Nakaminato Station

The quaint wooden station building is a great photo spot and has been used as a filming location for many movies, dramas, and commercials, and is also one of Nakaminato's tourist spots. In addition, a morning market is held at the platform on the first Sunday of every month (around 9:00 to 11:00), and fresh vegetables and dried seafood directly sold by JA and JF are sold at unbeatable prices, making it popular.

Tonoyama Station

The station is decorated with an owl commemorating the former Nakaminato Second High School.

Hiraiso Station

Hiraiso Beach is a beach surrounded by a breakwater. The waves are very calm and you can safely enjoy swimming in the sea, making it popular with families with small children. Big Whale, who is very popular with children, turned 30 years old in 2013.

Minohama Gakuen Station

The newest station opened on March 13, 2021 (Reiwa 3) as an access station for Hitachinaka City integrated elementary and junior high school "Minohama Gakuen", which was created by integrating elementary and junior high schools in the Hiraiso, Isozaki, and Ajigaura areas along the line. It's a station. The name ``Minohama'' comes from the phrase ``Konuminohama,'' which is derived from a waka poem about the coast of this area that was included in the Manyoshu. The name of the school, which will open in the new era of Reiwa, was named after the beautiful sea (beach) common to the three Ura districts. Furthermore, the ``mi'' in ``Minohama'' not only means a beautiful sea (beach), but also ``mi'', which represents the fusion of the three areas of Hiraiso, Isozaki, and Ajigaura. )” and also has the meaning of “mi”, which represents a big leap into the future.

Isozaki Station

Ibaraki Prefecture ranks first in Japan in the production of dried sweet potatoes. Among them, Hitachinaka City is the main production area. In winter, you can see lots of potatoes being dried in nearby houses.

Ajigaura Station

Ajigaura Beach is a beach with a beautiful shallow shore. The approximately 1.5 km long sandy beach is crowded with beachgoers from within and outside the prefecture in the summer. In the past, there was an express train called ``Ajigaura'' that ran directly from Ueno.

What is the illustration on the station name sign?

Hitachinaka Seaside Railway station name sign