2026 Cherry Blossom Season: Nambu Line

JR East E233-8000 series EMU near Bubaigawara Station

After sharing the cherry blossoms along the Keio Inokashira Line, I would now like to introduce this year’s cherry blossoms in Tokyo from other viewpoints.

Please take a look at the top photo. A train is passing by cherry trees in full bloom. Can you guess which railway line it belongs to?

If you are familiar with Japanese rolling stock, the answer might come easily. It is JR East’s Nambu Line. The stainless-steel body with yellow, orange, and black stripes is a distinctive feature of the trains on this line.

The Nambu Line is one of the main commuter lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It connects Tachikawa and Kawasaki, running approximately 45 km. The trains in operation include the E233-8000 and E233-8500 series EMUs.

Now, returning to the top photo: I took it from a road bridge near Bubaigawara Station. It was my first time visiting this location. Although a high safety net stood along the bridge, I was able to avoid it thanks to the stepladder I happened to bring with me. I had a good feeling that day, and the result was a beautiful scene. One interesting detail I captured was the roof of the leading car. You can see two digital-radio antennas. The reason for having two is to use a technique called diversity, which improves communication quality by automatically selecting the antenna with the stronger signal.

The photo below shows a train crossing a small bridge framed by cherry blossoms. I took this shot from the bank of a small stream near Shukugawara Station. The afternoon sunlight made both the blossoms and the train shine beautifully. It was also my first time visiting this spot. Although I thought it might be relatively unknown, I found several international rail fans photographing there. Their enthusiasm was impressive—railway fans truly share the same passion all over the world.

It was a delightful day, enjoying both the cherry blossoms and the trains.

JR East E233-8000 series EMU near Shukugawara Station

Afterglow of JNR on Shikoku Island

Set R12 of JR Shikoku’s 7200 series EMU (Photo: Nicolai Okkels)

I recently received exactly what I had been hoping for from a Danish railfan. During his travels around Shikoku Island in Japan, he photographed many trains, and today I would like to introduce one of his works. My sincere appreciation goes to Nicolai Okkels, who kindly shared this photograph with me.

Please take a look at the top photo. The train you see is a nostalgically styled two-car set—the 7200 series EMU operated by JR Shikoku.

JR Shikoku is one of the railway companies of the JR Group. It was established in 1987 when the Japanese National Railways (JNR) was divided into seven companies. JR Shikoku operates nine lines totaling 853.7 km on Shikoku Island, of which 235.4 km are electrified at 1,500 V DC.

The 7200 series EMU was originally introduced by JNR in 1986 as the 121 series. A total of 19 sets—38 cars—entered service, and they were transferred to JR Shikoku upon JNR’s privatization. All cars remain in service today, now known as the 7200 series after a series of modifications.

The 7200 series features stainless-steel bodies, and each trainset consists of one motor car and one trailer car (1M1T). Between 2016 and 2019, the trains were upgraded from rheostatic control to a variable-frequency drive (VFD) system equipped with four 140 kW induction motors.

As a railway enthusiast, I am especially fond of this JNR-era EMU. Its nostalgic design truly resonates with me. In particular, the round, protruding headlights are one of my favorite features. However, if you look closely, you will notice that they are no longer lightbulbs but LEDs. JR Shikoku has been modernizing its trains while preserving their traditional character.

To me, this represents the afterglow of JNR on Shikoku Island.

Finally, although it may sound unnecessary, I also photographed the 7200 series myself in 2022 (see the photo below). However, I have never captured its entire form in one shot, so I would very much like to add the top photo to my collection. It feels as though another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. I am truly delighted.

Set R17 of the EMU 7200 series at Kotohira Station (December 2022)

Related link:

• Official information from JR Shikoku (in Japanese)

The 15th Anniversary of Tokyo Railway Labyrinth

Front view of Unit 2011, Toyo Rapid Railway 2000 series EMU

Thanks for stopping by Tokyo Railway Labyrinth! The blog is about to turn 15.

I actually started this blog while I was stationed in Jakarta, Indonesia. Back then, Japan was going through a very difficult time, including the tsunami and nuclear disaster following the massive earthquake. Writing about Japanese railways was my small way of supporting my home country. Hard to believe it’s already been 15 years.

For this anniversary, I first thought about featuring trains with “15” in their names. But then I remembered—I’ve already covered the EF15 before. So… what else could I do?

Well, I came up with a slightly different idea: trains with “2011” in their numbers. As you probably know, 2011 is the year this blog started. A bit of a stretch? Maybe.

Anyway, let’s get to it. Take a look at the top photo—can you spot what this “2011” car is?

Pretty easy, right? It’s Unit 2011 from Toyo Rapid Railway’s 2000 series EMU. Toyo Rapid Railway runs a 16.2 km commuter line in western Chiba, called the Toyo Rapid Line. Most trains continue directly onto the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. The 2000 series is currently the only type belonging to Toyo Rapid Railway, and it’s similar in specifications to the Tokyo Metro 05N series.

Now, let’s move on to the next photo. Please take a look at the photo below. What about this “2011” vehicle?

This one might be a bit trickier. It’s Unit 2011 from Tokyo Monorail’s 2000 series EMU. Tokyo Monorail operates the 17.8 km Haneda Airport Line in central Tokyo. This series was the company’s first to use a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) system. Inside, you’ll find a mix of transverse and longitudinal seating, and the trains run at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

So… was this post a bit boring? I hope not.

Either way, I hope you enjoyed seeing these two “Unit 2011” vehicles in Tokyo, even just a little.

Front view of Unit 2011, Tokyo Monorail 2000 series EMU

Keisei Dream Train: The Heartwarming Vehicle

Set 3006 of Keisei's 3000 series EMU, "Keisei Dream Train" 

This may sound a little sudden, but what was your childhood dream? What did you want to become when you were a kid?

On February 28, Keisei Electric Railway Company began operating the “Keisei Dream Train,” using two sets of its trains.

The Keisei Dream Train really lives up to its name. Both the outside and inside of the train are decorated with drawings of children’s dreams for the future. These drawings were made by children and chosen by lottery.

Please take a look at the top photo—that is one of the Keisei Dream Trains, Set 3006 of the 3000 series EMU. You can see a special sticker on the front of the train. It was drawn by a 10-year-old boy whose dream is to become "a train driver of the Keisei 3400 series". What a specific dream! I can completely understand his feelings—please check my previous post about the EMU 3400 series if you have time.

Next, please look at the photo below. This is Car 6, where drawings by boys and girls aged around 10 to 12 are displayed. For example, on the right, there is a drawing of a train and a conductor. It was drawn by another 10-year-old boy, and its title is “A Train Conductor Who Watches Over Safety.” What a responsible child! As proof that he is paying attention, he even drew the yellow warning blocks on the platform—these are tactile paving blocks that guide people with visual impairments. He has very good observation skills.

Finally, there is one more drawing—on the left side of the photo below, you can see a drawing of fashionable women. It was drawn by a 10-year-old girl whose dream is to become both a baker and a YouTuber. How modern! In her drawing, white bread, melon-shaped buns, and coronets are on sale. She imagines that she will introduce her bakery on her YouTube channel. I hope her dreams come true someday.

The Keisei Dream Train is truly a heartwarming vehicle for all passengers.

Interior of Keisei Dream Train

Related link:

• Official information from Keisei Electric Railway (in Japanese)

2026 Cherry Blossom Season: Keio-Inokashira Line

Set 1762 of Keio’s 1000 series EMU passing by cherry blossoms in full bloom

On March 19th, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms had begun blooming in Tokyo. They later reported that the trees reached full bloom on March 28th.

You might wonder, “Japan has so many kinds of flowers—why does a government agency make a special announcement about just one species?”

It’s a fair question. Cherry blossoms signal the arrival of spring, and Japanese people have a deep emotional connection to them. Their beauty lasts only about a week after full bloom, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life. Perhaps that transience is what makes the season so meaningful. Hanami—cherry blossom viewing—is a cherished part of Japanese culture.

With that long introduction out of the way, I visited Inokashira Park along the Keio–Inokashira Line this year to enjoy the blossoms. As a train enthusiast, I’d like to share some scenes where trains and cherry blossoms come together.

In the top photo, Set 1762 of the 1000 series EMU is passing by cherry trees in full bloom. It had been cloudy since morning, but the sky cleared up just for this moment. What perfect timing.

As I’ve mentioned before, each 1000 series set has a different color on its front mask and side stripes. Set 1762 features a lilac front—I really like its soft, calming tone.

In the photo below, Set 1738 of the same series is approaching Inokashira-koen Station, framed by cherry blossoms and Red Robin shrubs. It’s a beautiful scene.

This set also has a lilac-colored front, but it looks a bit different from the previous one. Why is that?

The answer is its ATO (Automatic Train Operation) modification. As I wrote earlier, Keio Electric Railway is aiming for GoA2-level ATO and is conducting trials. Six sets of the 1000 series, including Set 1738, have already been modified. The darker lilac stripe on the front indicates an ATO-equipped train.

I had a wonderful time enjoying both the cherry blossoms and the trains on the Keio–Inokashira Line.

Set 1783 of Keio’s 1000 series EMU arriving at Inokashira-koen Station