Bird Watching on the Haneda Airport Line

Tokyo Monorail 1000 series EMU arriving at Ryutsu-center Station

I know you are a train enthusiast—but how about bird watching?

As for me, I feel a bit unsure about it. I basically like bird watching, but I’m not very good at photographing birds. Today, let me share one of my memorable experiences with you.

Recently, I had a chance to visit Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park. It’s a well-known place where visitors can encounter many kinds of wild birds. In fact, I saw quite a few of them from the observation room in the park. It was an exciting experience, but there was one problem: taking photos.

Unlike trains, birds don’t appear according to a timetable. They behave completely differently, and that made me feel a little frustrated. Perhaps I’m not suited to unpredictable phenomena.

Instead, I was deeply impressed by a simple, almost featureless landscape. Please take a look at the photo below. Here it is—a small island in a pond within the park. It was heart-shaped and quietly beautiful. Although there were no birds on it, I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

Of course, I can’t end this post without mentioning the railway side of things—after all, this is a railway blog. To reach Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, the nearest station is Ryutsu-center Station on the Haneda Airport Line of Tokyo Monorail. The Haneda Airport Line connects downtown Tokyo with Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). It opened in 1964, making it the second-oldest monorail line in Tokyo.

The 1000 series EMU (see the top photo) is the oldest active train on the line. It debuted in 1989 as the first six-car train on Tokyo Monorail. A total of 16 sets—96 cars—were built by Hitachi, and eight sets are still in service today. I sincerely hope that the 1000 series will continue to run on the Haneda Airport Line for many more years.

A heart-shaped island in a pond at Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

Related link:

・Official video about the retirement of Tokyo Monorail Set 1001 (1000 series EMU) in 2021 (in Japanese)

VSE: After That

Odakyu’s 50000 series EMU, Romancecar VSE, preserved on a shunting track

I recently happened to see Odakyu’s Romancecar VSE twice by coincidence. Today, let me share these memorable encounters with you.

Before that, here is just a small introduction to the Romancecar VSE. Odakyu’s 50000 series EMU, also known as the VSE (Vault Super Express), was the flagship model of the Romancecar fleet. It debuted in 2005 as a 10-car train with articulated bogies and quickly became very popular among tourists.

After 17 years of service, the VSE was retired from regular operation in 2022. So, what has it been doing since then?

In November this year, I saw it at Kitami Fureai Hiroba. This public park is built on an artificial deck constructed above Odakyu’s Kitami Railyard. While strolling through the park, I spotted the VSE from one of the viewing points. Please take a closer look at the photo above. You can see a white trainset with a red stripe — the VSE! It was being preserved on a shunting track.

More recently, I saw the VSE again at Odakyu’s Sagami-Ono Railyard when I went shopping. The trainset was on a dismantling siding. Please take a look at the photo below. It had already been separated into sections, and one of its articulated bogies was exposed. I was sad to see the VSE in that condition, but at the same time, I learned a lot from observing the bogie. For example, you can see a pneumatic spring just above the gray pillar. The pneumatic spring of the VSE was installed one meter higher than that of standard trains to enhance ride comfort.

Finally, here is some good news. One of the VSE’s leading cars will be exhibited at the Romancecar Museum in the near future. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it.

VSE on a dismantling siding at Sagami-Ono Railyard

Yamitetsu Part 3: Yukigaya Railyard

 Set 1507 of the Tokyu 1000 series EMU resting at Yukigaya Railyard

I recently visited Gotanda on the Tokyu Ikegami Line for a private matter. When I finished my meeting, it was already around 7 p.m., and the sun had completely set. Where should I go next?

Alright then—it’s time for yamitetsu! Do you remember the word yamitetsu? It refers to a railfan who loves photographing trains in the dark. The word is a blend of yami (“darkness”) and tetsu (“iron”). In Japanese, we call a railway tetsudō, which literally means “iron road.” I’m still a beginner yamitetsu myself, but I love it.

So I made a detour to Yukigaya Railyard on the Ikegami Line, located near Yukigaya-Ōtsuka Station. When I arrived at the southern end of the yard, I found Set 1507 of the 1000 (1000-1500) series EMU resting beside the vehicle inspection building (see the top photo). The train was gleaming brightly under the yard lights and signal lamps. The inspection building was empty, but the lights were still on as if it were alive. Beautiful.

In contrast, the northern part of the yard was quiet. A total of six train sets—1000 (1000-1500) series and 7000 series—were resting there (see the photo below). I was impressed to see the trains lined up alternately: 1000, 7000, 1000, 7000... It was as if the two series were good friends. Am I the only one who gets excited about things like this?

I fully enjoyed yamitetsu at Yukigaya Railyard. If I had to say what was missing that evening, it would be the Iketama Happy Train. That special wrapped train still seemed to be running on the line somewhere. Maybe I’ll see it next time.

1000 and 7000 series EMU sets resting at Yukigaya Railyard

Related link:

・Official information about Tokyu’s railway vehicles (in Japanese)

2025 Merry Christmas from the Arakawa Line

Interior of Christmas Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series

I recently had a chance to visit the Toei Arakawa Line for the first time in a year. Like the Keio Inokashira Line, which I introduced in my previous post, I found that one of the trams on the Arakawa Line was also decorated for Christmas. Please take a look at the top photo. Isn’t it charming?

This year, the well-known florist Hibiya-Kadan designed the Christmas decorations for the tram. You can see wreath-like stickers on the tram windows. The smiling character you see is Toaran, the mascot of the Arakawa Line, chosen in a public contest. Toaran usually wears a single-arm pantograph on its head, but for this Christmas season it has been playfully topped with a red and white Santa hat. I’m very observant, aren’t I? Though I know I shouldn’t toot my own horn.

Incidentally, the tram with the Christmas decorations is Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series (see the photo below). The 9000 series is a retro-inspired model commissioned in 2007. Only two cars were built by Alna Sharyo. Each unit has a different color scheme: brownish red (Tramcar 9001) and indigo blue (Tramcar 9002). The 9000 series is mid-sized (13 meters long) and mounted on two bogies with double axles. The trams are equipped with an IGBT variable-frequency control system and two 60 kW induction motors. Although the technical specifications of the 9000 series are modernized, the exterior design and interior atmosphere remain nostalgic.

I will continue sharing my encounters with railway vehicles.

Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series displaying a “Merry Christmas” plate

Related link:

・ Official information about the Christmas Tramcar by Toei (in Japanese)

2025 Merry Christmas from the Inokashira Line

Set 1761 running along the Inokashira Line with its special “Merry Christmas” plate

It’s already mid-December — time really flies. Stores and streets around Tokyo are decorated for the Christmas season. You may find it curious that a Buddhist-majority country celebrates Christmas. That’s understandable, as only about 1% of Japan’s population is Christian. But please don’t take it too seriously. For us, it’s less a religious event and more a seasonal custom. Does that answer your question?

Railway companies join the celebration as well. I recently found that a train on the Keio Inokashira Line is again decorated with a Christmas plate this year, just like in previous seasons. Please take a look at the photos. Set 1761 of the Keio 1000 series EMU carries a special round plate on the front of the train. Its design features a Christmas tree, snowflakes, Santa’s reindeer, and a sleigh. Isn’t it charming?

Incidentally, the Inokashira Line is a short 12.7-kilometer commuter route connecting Shibuya and Kichijoji. The 1000 series EMU is the only model operated on this line. It entered commercial service in 1996 as the first 20-meter-long, 5-car train type introduced to the route.

A hot topic right now is the preparation for ATO (Automatic Train Operation). Modifications to the trains are underway, and I have confirmed with my own eyes that five sets of the 1000 series have already been completed. Keio aims for GoA2-level operation and is conducting verification tests. Under GoA2, only one crew member is required on board, mainly for train starting and safety monitoring.

“Merry Christmas, Inokashira” plate on the front of Set 1761