Nishitetsu has announced it will begin a new bus service from Tenjin to the former residence of Ito Denemon, a Meiji and Taisho Era coal mining tycoon, in Iizuka when it revamps its bus schedules on the 21st. The company will operate three round-trips a day on the limited express bus, which will be dubbed the “Denemon”. To get to the old residence currently requires a change of buses in central Iizuka, but Nishitetsu hopes the new service will make the trip more convenient for tourists. The residence’s popularity soared after it was featured in last year’s NHK morning drama, Hanako and Anne. A record 284,930 people visited the old home in fiscal 2014 (as of Feb. 28), and the nearby Kaho Theater, a national tangible cultural property that was built in 1931, also saw a spike in visitors. The new bus will go into operation on Mar. 21, with buses leaving the Tenjin Bus Center at 9:25, 10:25 and 11:25. (Fare: ¥930). Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 3/10
