The Joy of Train Travel: Planning, Surprises, and the Quiet End

I love traveling by train. For me, the trip starts long before I get on the train. It starts at my iPad with a map and a timetable. When I look at the many colorful lines on the railway map, I feel so excited. I start to imagine: "What kind of view can I see from this window?" or "What should I eat for lunch at this station?"

Planning a trip is like a dream. I spend many hours checking the time of each train. I look for a small station near the sea or a quiet town in the mountains. This time is very happy because anything is possible in my head. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. My heart beats fast just thinking about the "start" of the journey.

In the past, I was very strict about my plans. If a train was five minutes late, I felt stressed. If a restaurant was closed, I felt my trip was a failure. I wanted everything to be perfect. But now, I am different. I have traveled many times, and I have learned a secret: small problems can be the best part of the trip.

Of course, big problems are bad. But small "happenings" are like spices for a meal. For example, one day, I missed my train. I had to wait for one hour at a very small station. There was nothing to do, so I walked around. Then, I found a beautiful old Shinto shrine, founded more than a millennium ago. If I didn't miss the train, I would never had such an experience.

Now, I have "resistance" to problems. When something goes wrong, I don't get angry. I think, "Oh, a surprise! Let's see what happens next." This makes me feel very free. I don't follow my plan strictly anymore. I leave some "empty space" in my schedule for these small accidents. This is the real way to enjoy traveling.

When I am finally on the train, I love the sound and the rhythm. "Clickety-clack, clickety-clack." This sound is very relaxing. I look out the window, and the scenery is always changing. I see green rice fields, blue rivers, and big mountains. Sometimes I see people waving from their gardens.

In a car, you have to drive and watch the road. On a plane, you are too high to see the ground. But on a train, you can just sit and relax. You can drink tea, read a book, or just look at the world. It feels like time is moving slowly. This is a very special luxury in our busy lives.

But every journey must end. When the train gets close to the final station, the atmosphere in the car changes. The sun starts to go down, and the sky turns orange and purple. The conductor says, "We will arrive at the terminal soon."

At this moment, I feel a deep sadness. It is a quiet, lonely feeling. A few days ago, I was so excited for the start. But now, I have to go back to my normal life. I have to go back to work and my busy schedule. When I walk out of the station and see the busy city, the quiet world on the train feels like a dream. I feel like I lost something.

However, this sadness is not a bad thing. Because I feel sad, I want to go on a trip again. When I get home, I put my bag on the floor and take a deep breath. I am tired, but I am also happy. I have many memories and stories about small "happenings."

After a few days, I find myself looking at the railway map again. I start to wonder, "Where should I go next?" The excitement comes back. The "sadness" at the end of the last trip becomes the "energy" for the next one. Train travel is a long, beautiful loop of planning, enjoying surprises, and dreaming about the next track. I will never stop this wonderful hobby.