NAGOYA -- "There is no Wi-Fi access on the train, and there are some sections where your mobile phones won't receive a signal," goes a rather funny announcement, drawing laughter from passengers.
The announcement can be heard on a train for tourists named Hikyo-Eki Go (Secluded stations train) that Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) runs on its Iida Line section between Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, and Iida Station in Iida, Nagano Prefecture.
Hikyo means unexplored areas in Japanese, but in this context, hikyo-eki refers to train stations located in communities with small (or completely vanished) populations in mostly mountainous areas.
The Iida Line is a treasure trove where passengers can enjoy the atmosphere of such stations and their surroundings, as well as the spectacular Tenryu River scenery.
Since spring of 2010, JR Tokai has been operating the train mainly in spring and autumn on a limited basis. For its four days of service in November 2019, with each day consisting of a single round trip, reserved seat tickets sold out on the day they went on sale. It was a first to see all tickets sold out -- for all days -- on the very day they went on sale.
"In addition to railway fans, families and women's groups are increasing," said Naoya Otani of JR Tokai's transportation and marketing department. "Foreign tourists are increasing, as well."
In May last year, the train won the Cool Japan Award for 2019, an award whose winners are selected by foreigners from an international viewpoint.
Judges remarked that the scene of a train stopping at an unmanned station where no one gets off is like something from a movie.
Last year, JR Tokai produced an English map of highlights and delivered handheld interpretation devices to crew members.
The train that left Toyohashi Station in the morning headed for Iida Station over an approximate six-hour trip. It stops at the 13 selected stations on the way to Iida.
"The red and yellow leaves were so beautiful," said Megumi Matsumoto, 63, who came from Nagoya with a friend. "I never got bored."
JR Tokai is planning to come up with new programs this year to mark the 10th anniversary of the train service.
"We want to create ways to meet the needs of fans and vitalize areas along the Iida Line," JR Tokai President Shin Kaneko said.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of tourists traveling by car with their own itineraries are visiting restaurants and other secluded tourist spots located away from communities.
Such phrases as hikyo gourmet or driving for spectacular scenery have become trendy on social media networks.
Postings of instagrammable isolated spots on social media have increasingly lured tourists to such locations.
Toyota Motor Corp. has introduced secluded tourist spots across the nation on the internet since several years ago.
Amid the current mounting trend of consumers refraining from owning cars, a Toyota spokesperson said, "We want to appeal to consumers that there are things people can experience only through driving."
The times have probably changed from "which car should you buy?" to "what would you do with a car?"
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