From Sanriku Railway Miyako! Goat Milk Sweets Train Experience [Miyako, PÂTISSERIE LAIT DE CHÈVRE

  • Iwate
  • Eating
Goat Yvonne's Wrapping Train" (at Tanohata Station) made possible through crowdfunding.
The Sanriku Railway runs along the vast coast of Iwate Prefecture.
The trains, which are affectionately called "Santetsu," are the longest third-sector railroads in Japan in terms of total length of operating lines. It is a popular regional railroad that runs leisurely through the mountains with views of the sea and mountains in between.
Miyako Station, located right in the middle of the line, is a coastal station close to the inland area where both buses and trains come and go from Morioka.
Did you know that there is a cute, pop, and "delicious" train at Miyako Station?
The name of the train is "Yvonne the Goat Wrapping Train!
This train is a crystallization of love for the local community, and was funded through crowdfunding in October 2021 with the aim of revitalizing Miyako City and making Sanriku Railways profitable!
What is so "delicious" about this cute train? ...... is that you can enjoy "all-you-can-eat sweets"!

Sweets, too! And the train! And the scenery! A trip with a lot to offer!

Sweets only available on the train (photo courtesy of Lait de Chèvre)

Sweets are not just sweets. The attraction of this train is the only buffet in Japan that uses goat milk.
It is run by Miyako's popular pastry store "Patisserie Les De Chevres" (hereafter referred to as "Les De Chevres"). The sweets made with goat milk from the company's own dairy farm, Shiawase Dairy, are characterized by a rich texture that cannot be tasted normally.
The "Goat Milk Premium Cheesecake" sold at Les De Chevres stores won the Grand Prize, the first prize at the National Gastronomic Excellence Expo 2020.
The sweets offered on the train change with the seasons and events, and some are only available during certain times of the year. Of course, not all menu items change. You can also taste popular sweets♪
In particular, "Yvonne's Cream Puff" has a crunchy dough that, when you bite into it, fills your mouth with a thick, melt-in-your-mouth cream and a savory sesame aroma, with a refreshing aftertaste that is sure to become addictive!
In addition, you can enjoy a drink of goat's milk, the flavor of which changes with the seasons.

The comfortable atmosphere attracts many repeat customers (photo courtesy of Les de Chevre)

When you are so engrossed in the unique sweets on the Sanriku Railway, it is easy to forget about the scenery around you, but this is a sightseeing train.
However, this is a sightseeing train, after all. There is a brief guide that accompanies the scenery seen from the windows of the train and the stations it passes through, so no matter how glued you are to the sweets, by the time the train turns back at Tanohata Station, you will remember the guide and take in the scenery once more.
If you have never ridden the three railways, please imagine this. If you have never ridden the Sanriku Railway, please imagine the view of the sparkling blue Sanriku Sea melting into the sky as you pass through the tunnel, or the houses nestled in the valley with the sunlight shining through in places. Such a view can only be experienced here.

There is more to enjoy before boarding the bus!

Before boarding the train, visitors can also meet the goat stationmaster! (Photo courtesy of Les de Chevre)
Just looking at the goat-wrapped train is enough to make one's heart skip a beat, and the many goat milk sweets will make one's cheeks drop. But this is not the only thing you can do on this goat-filled trip.
Before boarding the train, you can even meet the goat station master!
You can even have your picture taken with the fluffy goat station chief and see him off at ...... with those dull eyes of his, you just have to enjoy the ride to the fullest!
The "Shiawase Ranch," where the goat station master works, is a goat farm, which is almost unheard of in Japan. The goats return to their barns at night, but the cows are allowed to graze completely in order to raise them in a stress-free environment. This story gives a sense of the ranch's philosophy.
The secret of the delicious milk is supported by the rich nature and ranches in Miyako.

After enjoying the sweets, you will even get a souvenir!

After riding the sweets train, you can get these souvenirs. (Taken in front of the Miyako-bound bus stop at the Morioka Station bus rotary)
The two-hour sweets train ride went by quickly. When you get off the train, you will be offered the souvenir shown in the photo, saying "I wish I could ride it longer.
The ticket commemorating the ride alone would have made me happy, but Yvonne-chan's original shopper contained a key chain, a can badge, and even a cookie tin (......)! It is hard to put into words the feeling of contentment that fills my heart when I leave with the shopper hanging in my hand.
You will definitely remember Miyako again and again when you see the souvenirs displayed in your room!

Where on earth is PÂTISSERIE LAIT DE CHÈVRE?

The stylish red Les de Chèvres store (photo courtesy of Les de Chèvres)
Now, isn't it about time you all started wondering where the Les Deux Chèvres store is located?
Whether you are new to Miyako or have been visiting for a while, don't worry.
If you see an eye-catching red store right in front of the bus rotary in front of the station, that is the Les De Chevres store that serves the sweets train.
The exotic appearance of the shop, reminiscent of France, in front of the long, quiet station without the hustle and bustle of the city. Combined with the feeling of having come a long way, the atmosphere is exciting just by peeking inside the store through the glass windows.
Cute goods that can only be bought here! (Photo courtesy of Les de Chèvres)
The French phrase "lait de chevre" translates to "goat's milk" in Japanese, and as the name implies, there are many goats in the store! But they are not real goats.
Once you step through the doorway, the walls are lined with goods featuring Yvonne, a cute goat. You may have intended to buy some sweets as souvenirs after your ride, but they are so cute that you may end up buying mainly goods.
In addition to cups and tote bags, there are also notebooks, magnets, acrylic key chains, stickers, and other small items that can be used as everyday accents.

Bakeries and cafes in the shopping street

POST BAKERY, a store offering freshly baked bread made with goat's milk (photo courtesy of Les de Chèvres)
Café Les De Chevres, where you can enjoy light meals (photo courtesy of Les De Chevres)
Turn right at the crossroads in front of Miyako Station and you will find a bustling shopping area.
While waiting for the train, take a stroll and you will see two somewhat stylish stores ....... Yes, there is a bakery and a cafe affiliated with Les de Chèvres. Of course, they use goat milk.
It makes strolling in front of the station more enjoyable if there is a store where you can stop by when you are a little hungry.

Enjoy a stroll in front of Miyako Station!

In front of Miyako Station, there are stores selling Sangetsu goods and a shopping street, and if you go off on a side street, you will find general stores, confectionary stores, and coffee shops, making the more you walk around the more fun you will have.
It is fun to wander around without a guidebook and stop by stores that interest you, just like a little adventure.
The Miyako City Hall, located right behind the station, has a wealth of information magazines about Miyako, so we recommend that you take one with you as you go around!
How about enjoying your own Miyako trip before or after the Sweets Train?
*For the Sweets Train schedule and reservations, please check the Les Deux Chevres website.
PÂTISSERIE LAIT DE CHÈVRE
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