（４８３） Ｓｔｅａｍ ｌｏｃｏｍｏｔｉｖｅ ａｔ Ｍｏｔｅｇｉ Ｒ．Ｓ．
文字数 2,981文字
At the "Motegi" rest stop, you can see a steam locomotive running up close. A steam locomotive only operates here on weekends and national holidays, so we have to be prepared for crowds. But we took the plunge and went there.
The Motegi rest stop opened on 4 hectares of land created by river improvement in July 1996 as Tochigi Prefecture's first rest stop.
In January 2015, it was selected as one of the three model rest stops nationwide as a “gateway-type rest stop that brings in vitality from outside the area'' by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
By the way, the other two rest stops are "Kawaba Denen Plaza" (I introduced it in chapter 221) and "Tomiura" (I introduced it in chapter 158 & 159).
In November 2020, a hotel named “Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi”, which can accommodate a total of 52 rooms, opened next to the Motegi rest stop.
The Motegi rest stop aims to celebrate its 30th anniversary in July 2026, and plans to expand the area of the buildings by approximately 2.3 times by rebuilding restaurants, product stores including a vegetable store, and restrooms.
Here, in addition to restaurants and shops, you can also enjoy a "SUKIDAPPE" statue (すきだっぺ像) and the former Kodato Gado residence (旧古田土雅堂邸).
.
The SUKIDAPPE statue was created by world-famous sculptor, Nagare Masayuki (流政之) in time for the opening of the facility in 1996 and is modeled after parents holding a child in their arms.
The former Kodato Gado residence is a house which used the balloon frame construction method and imported materials, and was built in Utsunomiya City in 1924 by Mr. Kodato (古田土). He was a Japanese painter and was active in the United States from the early Meiji period to the Taisho period. In 2001, this house was relocated to the Motegi rest stop because he was from Motegi Town.
Steam locomotives run between Shimodate Station and Motegi Station on weekends and national holidays.
① We’ve arrived at the Motegi rest stop. Carp streamers are waving in the wind.
② You can see some restaurants and shops.
③ This is the “SUKIDAPPE” statue.
④ You can see the Moka(真岡) Railway tracks.
⑤ The yellow building is the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑥ This is a close-up photo.
⑦ We are heading for the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑧ A Moka Railway train is running next to the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑨ We’re approaching the residence.
⑩ This is the former Kodato Gado residence up close.
⑪ This is the residence.
⑫ This is the interior of the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑬ I have some time till a steam locomotive comes, so I'll take a break in the shade.
⑭ You can see the entire rest stop clearly from here.
⑮ I'm waiting for a steam locomotive.
⑯ Oh! Here it comes!
⑰ The steam locomotive is approaching.
⑱ This is the steam locomotive you can see up close.
⑲ It is passing by.
⑳ The conductor is in the last car of the train.
㉑ Since the steam locomotive has gone, we’ll also go home.
The Motegi rest stop opened on 4 hectares of land created by river improvement in July 1996 as Tochigi Prefecture's first rest stop.
In January 2015, it was selected as one of the three model rest stops nationwide as a “gateway-type rest stop that brings in vitality from outside the area'' by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
By the way, the other two rest stops are "Kawaba Denen Plaza" (I introduced it in chapter 221) and "Tomiura" (I introduced it in chapter 158 & 159).
In November 2020, a hotel named “Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi”, which can accommodate a total of 52 rooms, opened next to the Motegi rest stop.
The Motegi rest stop aims to celebrate its 30th anniversary in July 2026, and plans to expand the area of the buildings by approximately 2.3 times by rebuilding restaurants, product stores including a vegetable store, and restrooms.
Here, in addition to restaurants and shops, you can also enjoy a "SUKIDAPPE" statue (すきだっぺ像) and the former Kodato Gado residence (旧古田土雅堂邸).
.
The SUKIDAPPE statue was created by world-famous sculptor, Nagare Masayuki (流政之) in time for the opening of the facility in 1996 and is modeled after parents holding a child in their arms.
The former Kodato Gado residence is a house which used the balloon frame construction method and imported materials, and was built in Utsunomiya City in 1924 by Mr. Kodato (古田土). He was a Japanese painter and was active in the United States from the early Meiji period to the Taisho period. In 2001, this house was relocated to the Motegi rest stop because he was from Motegi Town.
Steam locomotives run between Shimodate Station and Motegi Station on weekends and national holidays.
① We’ve arrived at the Motegi rest stop. Carp streamers are waving in the wind.
② You can see some restaurants and shops.
③ This is the “SUKIDAPPE” statue.
④ You can see the Moka(真岡) Railway tracks.
⑤ The yellow building is the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑥ This is a close-up photo.
⑦ We are heading for the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑧ A Moka Railway train is running next to the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑨ We’re approaching the residence.
⑩ This is the former Kodato Gado residence up close.
⑪ This is the residence.
⑫ This is the interior of the former Kodato Gado residence.
⑬ I have some time till a steam locomotive comes, so I'll take a break in the shade.
⑭ You can see the entire rest stop clearly from here.
⑮ I'm waiting for a steam locomotive.
⑯ Oh! Here it comes!
⑰ The steam locomotive is approaching.
⑱ This is the steam locomotive you can see up close.
⑲ It is passing by.
⑳ The conductor is in the last car of the train.
㉑ Since the steam locomotive has gone, we’ll also go home.
