The Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi train guide. Easy rail excursion along Nichinan coast in Miyazaki

Limited Express train Umisachi-Yamasachi is operated by refurbished KIHA125 series.Cruising train
Limited Express train Umisachi-Yamasachi runs southern Kyushu along Nichina coast.
Limited Express train Umisachi-Yamasachi is operated by refurbished KIHA125 series.
Limited Express train Umisachi-Yamasachi is operated by refurbished KIHA125 series.

Umisachi-Yamasachi (海幸山幸) is limited express train that is operated between Miyazaki (宮崎) and Nango (南郷). This train is named from Yamasachihiko (山幸彦) and Umisachihiko (海幸彦) in Japanese mythology.

This is not a real express train and is a kind of cruising train for sightseeing along Nichinan line (日南線). This train is suitable for the tourists who go to Aoshima (青島) and Udo Jingu shrine (鵜戸神宮) at Nichinan coastline (日南海岸). This train makes your trip more memorable.

If you use Japan Rail Pass, you can take this train with no extra cost. I will show you some images of this train and tell you the details.

*I got on this train in mid March, 2012. Please refer My trip to Udo Jingu shrine by local bus and limited express train Umisachi-Yamasachi..

Route and schedule

This train connects Miyazaki with Nango in 1 hour and 40 minutes. There is one or two crews on the train. They guide about the scenery and sell drinks, snacks and souvenirs. All trains stop at Obi (飫肥) station for 10 minutes. You can buy some local products.

There is only one round trip between Miyazaki and Nango. And also this train is a seasonal train. This is not operated everyday.

Timetable and operation dates

Please see the link below to find the timetable:

JR Kyushu official site – The route map and the timetable of JR Kyushu trains


View Limted Express Umisachi-Yamasachi in a larger map

Accommodation and train formations

Obi cedar (飫肥杉) is used for the exterior of this train. (C) Sonic Rail Garden
The entrance door of Umisachi Yamasachi

Umisachi-Yamasachi is operated by specialized KIHA 125 series. There are only two cars that are owned by JR Kyushu. These cars were owned by Takachiho Railways. When this railway stopped operating due to the huge damage by typhoon. JR Kyushu purchased these cars. They completely renovated these cars. Eiji Mitooka who designed most of JR Kyushu trains designed these cars as well. The lots of wood material are used for both interior and exterior of the car. You may find lots of Japanese atmosphere. The crew attendant guide about the scenery (in Japanese) and they sell some local foods, drinks and souvenirs.

The seat configuration is 1+2 and the seat pitch on Car#1 is about 1000mm. The seat pitch on Car#2 is a bit shorter than Car#1. Because Car#2 used to be all non reserved seat. But this train was too popular to get a reserved seat. JR Kyushu changed most of seat on Car#2 to the reserved seat. Anyway even the seat on Car#2 gives you same comfortableness as Green seat.

Images

Ordinary seat on car#1

Common space, service counter and washroom on car#1

Ordinary seat on car#2

Common space and non reserved seat

Train formation

12
RR/NR

R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
*This train has 51 seats. There are only 9 non reserved seats. I strongly recommend to reserve your seat.

Comments

  1. Harjanti Buntoro says:

    Hi,

    I am thinking of taking the umisachi-yamasachi train from Miyazaki on feb 17. I understand that Nichinan Line on which umisachi and yamasachi run go from miyazaki to nango. I am thinking to stop over at aoshima and nichinan (to try the skipjack tuna). Anywhere else worth visiting on Nichinan Line and what is special on the suggested place that I should not miss? Also, do you have a schedule for umisachi and yamasachi train?

  2. kamal says:

    HI Takeshi,
    do you have any idea or planning what to do if i take this Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi. what can i do at Nango, if we refer to that train schedule, at there i have 3 hour to spend at nango before return back to Miyazaki.

    • Hi Kamal,

      Actually I don’t recommend you to stay in Nango for 3 hours. There is no tourist spots. It is actually just a small town.

      I recommend you to drop by Obi on the way to Nango and take a local train from Obi to Nango. Obi has castle ruin and many stores. Local train depart 13:29 at Obi and arrive Nango at 13:51. You still need to wait for more than 1 hour. But it’s much better than staying in Nagoya for more than 3 hours.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. virat says:

    Can JR pass be used this Train?

  4. koy says:

    Can JR Kyushu pass be used to get on LImited express Umisahsi Yamasashi?
    Thank you

  5. Henry says:

    Hi there! Any idea where I could get a poster of the Umisachi-Yamasachi rail line in Kyushu that was produced by JR Kyushu? It looks like the brochure photo you have above.
    Many thanks!

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Henry,
      JR Kyushu published many posters. But this kind of material is used for media purpose only. It is not sold for consumers.
      Sometimes JR Group have a public exhibition. If you can be there, you may be able to get it. But it is very rare and very difficult to get the information about an exhibition because of language barrier.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Geoffrey says:

    There is a short clip of this train and some of the scenery at the link below. Japan is so lucky to have such beautiful trains, especially those designed by Eiji Mitooka. Next life I want to come back a Japanese rail fan!

    • JPRail says:

      Hello Geoffrey,
      Thank for sharing the useful link.
      I agree with you. Eiji Motooka is one of the best designer in the rail world. Do you know he has a plan to operate an overnight train in Kyushu. It will be a kind of cruising train. It will take a couple of days to go around Kyushu. It must be very attractive train too!
      Takeshi / JP Rail

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