Kani (Crab) Trip to Takeno

North Coast on Sea of Japan

November 16, 2003

Kani (Japanese word for crab) fishing season starts in early November. We took a day trip by train with friends to Takeno for a Kani lunch and visit to the Sea of Japan. The weather was warm but rainy on the Sea of Japan as is usual for November. Besides great food at a Japanese style restaurant/hotel, we visited the beach and a fishing and history exhibit in Takeno.
Train Facts: We took a special Kani-Kani Express train (4 car diesel powered) from Kobe West to Himeji, then North on the Bantan line to the North Coast of Japan. The trip was about 2.5-3 hours in each direction. The train equipment was diesel powered as the Bantan Line is not electrified. It was a single track line with passing tracks only at each depot. We met trains going the opposite direction at several depots, and sometimes waited a few minutes for them to arrive.