With JR Kyushu’s timetable revision, the number of “Kasasagi” limited express trains connecting Hizen-Kashima and Hakata has decreased from 14 to 10 per day. The number of limited express trains, which was 45 before the opening of the West Kyushu Shinkansen, has decreased to less than a quarter in four years. We interviewed locals to hear their candid opinions.
[Kenyu Kimura, Reporter] “It’s around 11:30 a.m. at Hizen-Kashima Station. Until now, a limited express train would have been picking up passengers at this time, but now there is nothing on the platform.” [Man] “I just bought the wrong ticket for that limited express train, and it’s a little different from the time I wanted to go.” With the “spring timetable revision,” the number of “Kasasagi” limited express trains has been reduced by four in both directions. When we interviewed people at Hizen-Kashima Station on the day of the revision, we heard voices of confusion and disappointment regarding the new timetable.
[Man in his 50s, uses the train a few times a year] “It’s a bit of a shame that the number of trains is decreasing…there aren’t many late return trains.” [Woman in her 60s, doesn’t usually use the train] “My aunt is coming from Okayama next week, and there are no trains for her return trip at all. There aren’t any in the 10 AM hour, so I have to make sure she gets on a train by 9 AM, which will be hectic.” The main reason for the reduction in service was “low ridership.”
[JR Kyushu Managing Director and Executive Officer, Railway Business Division Manager, Michiya Sadakari] “Regarding the usage of the Kasasagi train, we have investigated various aspects and found that it is not being used very much.” While reducing service, JR Kyushu plans to maintain convenience by increasing the number of local trains and the number of limited express trains that stop at Kohoku Station. [Woman in her 70s, who doesn’t usually use the train] “I thought it would decrease again, but I thought they were considering changing it to make it easier to use.”
[Woman in her 50s, who doesn’t usually use the train] “It’s important that it departs from Kashima, but I think it would be good if there were connections from Kohoku and so on.” In order to prevent convenience from getting any worse, Nakamura of the city’s tourism association sees a way forward in “increasing the number of tourists.”
[Yuichiro Nakamura, Representative Director, Kashima City Tourism Association] “There is a limit to how many of us can take the express train in terms of population, so rather we are thinking about how we can get tourists to come.” The prefecture and Kashima City have invested more than 5.3 billion yen to develop Hizen-Kashima Station and its surroundings. A new station building that will also include accommodation facilities will be completed next year, and urban development including the area around the station is expected to be completed in three years. [Kashima City Tourism Association Representative Director Yuichiro Nakamura] “We must work together with the local people to spread the idea that this is the main gateway to the area and protect it together.”
[Kenyu Kimura Reporter] “This is Hizenhama Station, located between Hizen-Kashima Station and Tara Station. With this timetable revision, the number of trains from this station to Kohoku Station has been increased.” Hizenhama-juku has flourished since ancient times as a post town and port town, and traditional buildings and sake breweries still remain. Hizenhama Station, located close to the area where the old-fashioned townscape spreads out, was reborn in 2018 when the station building was restored to its original state.
[Kashima City Tourism Association Representative Director Yuichiro Nakamura] “Some parts had been renovated, but we restored them to their original state. I think people come here seeking a town with an old-fashioned atmosphere.” Tourist trains also visit this station, which has a bar where you can enjoy local sake, mainly on weekends, and local people welcome the passengers who disembark. [Male in his 20s (Nagasaki Prefecture)] “It’s a place where you can relax and enjoy a drink while looking at the beautiful ocean scenery.” [Male in his 20s (Fukuoka Prefecture)] “It was great to feel a warmth that you wouldn’t experience on a regular commuter train.”
[Yuichiro Nakamura, Representative Director, Kashima City Tourism Association] “It’s not just a station where you board a vehicle; everyone is working hard to use it as their own gateway.” While development around the station is progressing, there are also challenges. Around Yutoku Inari Shrine, a representative tourist spot in Kashima City, the use of public transportation is not widespread. [Souvenir shop owner] “There are few buses (to the station) and few trains, so people often say that it’s difficult to get around here without a rental car.” [From the Netherlands] “I didn’t use the train, I rented a car in Fukuoka for two weeks and plan to drive around Kyushu.” Tourism officials unanimously agree that in order for people to fully enjoy the charm of this region, transportation other than railways connecting each area is also necessary.
[Yutaka Nakayama, Chairman of the Yutoku Tourism and Shopping Association] “The bus from the station to Yutoku Inari, and then to Tara and other places, it’s inconvenient because you want to go around there, so I think it would be good if the transportation network in that area was improved a bit more.”
[Yuichiro Nakamura, Representative Director of the Kashima City Tourism Association] “It’s quite difficult to walk to Yutoku Inari Shrine, so we need to start thinking about running a sightseeing bus.” With the way public transportation is used being re-evaluated in order to attract tourists, a change in the voices of residents along the route has been felt with this timetable revision. Mr. Nakamura of the Tourism Association is not using the inconvenience caused by the reduction in service as an excuse, but is instead looking forward to the potential of this area.
[Yuichiro Nakamura, Representative Director of the Kashima City Tourism Association] “If we keep saying that it’s inconvenient, it’s like we’re telling tourists not to come, so we’re definitely going to stop doing that. If we do PR, I think this area can definitely go well.”
