Photographing Subway Trains: The Marunouchi Line

Tokyo Metro’s 2000 Series EMU approaching Myogadani Station

Are you good at photographing subway trains?

Me? No, I’m not. As I’ve mentioned in several previous posts, subway trains can be a real challenge for railfans.

The biggest problem is the dark and narrow environment in which they run. So, many railfans look for opportunities to photograph subway trains in the following situations:

1. Surface sections during the daytime (e.g. near Ochanomizu Station): But such above-ground sections of subway lines are limited in Tokyo.

2. Surface sections of lines that connect with subway lines (e.g. the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, which connects with the Hanzomon Line): But again, such lines are limited in Tokyo.

3. Underground stations with separate platforms and no pillars between the two tracks (e.g. Shintomicho Station): But such stations are quite rare.

4. Yami-tetsu—photographing trains in the dark (e.g. the end of Daimon Station): But it’s technically difficult.

In conclusion, I still think there’s no easy solution.

Well, sorry for all the excuses. But I’ve started taking photos of subway trains again. Let me share a few of them with you today.

They are Tokyo Metro’s 2000 Series EMUs running on the Marunouchi Line. I’ve already posted several photos of the Marunouchi Line, but this time, I took them from different locations. They may look like ordinary photos, but each one required a little ingenuity.

First, the top photo was taken from a road bridge near Myogadani Station. At first glance, it seemed like an ideal photo spot, but there was a challenge—a fine-mesh safety fence. Using a large-aperture lens was virtually impossible. So I pulled out my smartphone and concentrated on getting the timing right. I just managed to get the shot—and I was delighted with the result.

Next, the bottom photo was taken at Korakuen Station. It also looked like a good spot for photographing trains, but the track curved away from me. So I couldn’t capture the whole train. Instead, I tried shooting from a little farther away. Although several trackside facilities were blocking my view, I managed to capture the front four cars. Not bad.

I’m running out of space here, so I’ll save the other subway train photos for a future post. Railfanning is a very particular hobby, isn’t it?

Tokyo Metro’s 2000 Series EMU arriving at Korakuen Station

The 150th Anniversary of Ōmori Station

Series E233-1000 Set "150" with a “150th Anniversary of Ōmori Station” headmark

Do you remember my post about Kamata Station two years ago? Today, I’d like to share a similar anniversary celebration at its neighboring station.

Ōmori is a station on the Keihin-Tōhoku Line. It is about 10 kilometers from Tokyo Station, and one stop closer to Tokyo than Kamata Station. Ōmori and Kamata are both located in convenient commercial and residential areas, so I think of them as something like brothers.

Two years after Kamata Station celebrated its 120th anniversary, Ōmori Station recently celebrated its 150th. In commemoration, JR East and local residents organized a variety of events.

Hold on, that’s weird. I still remember that Kamata Station celebrated its 120th anniversary two years ago, but why was its neighboring station, Ōmori, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year?

After looking into it, I realized for the first time just how different the histories of the two stations are. Kamata was opened near a famous plum-viewing spot in 1904. Ōmori, on the other hand, was inaugurated on the site of a former railway employees’ office in 1876—28 years before Kamata. I didn’t know that until now. I still have a lot to learn.

Let’s move on. One of the events marking the 150th anniversary is a commemorative headmark on Set “150” of the E233-1000 series EMU (see the photo above and the related links below). Take a close look at the shell illustration at the bottom of the headmark.

In fact, Ōmori is famous for its shell mound (see the photo below). It is a shell midden left by our ancestors roughly 6,000 to 4,500 years ago. It was discovered by American zoologist Edward Sylvester Morse in 1877 and was later designated a National Historic Site of Japan. He spotted it from a train as it passed by the site. What an amazing eye he had!

The railway also played an important role in the early days of Japanese archaeology.

Congratulations on the 150th anniversary of Ōmori Station!

Ōmori Shell Mound near Ōmori Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line

Related link:

・Official information from JR East (in Japanese)

・Official information from Ōta Tourism Association (in Japanese)

Reunion with Class EF81

Class EF81 No. 138 EL preserved at Yumenoba

Today, I’d like to return to my recent visit to Yumenoba (also known as THE HIROSAWA CITY), a vehicle-themed park in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I’d like to share one of its highlights with you.

The Class EF81 was an electric locomotive (EL) operated by JR Group companies. It was developed in 1968 by the former Japanese National Railways for use on both DC (1,500 V) and AC (20,000 V, 50 Hz and 60 Hz) railway lines. A total of 164 units were built by Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric–Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The EF81 was a Bo-Bo-Bo (UIC notation) type EL equipped with six 425 kW DC series motors and a rheostatic control system. It was used to haul both passenger and freight trains.

I still remember seeing two different EF81s at Tabata Rail Yard in 2022 and spending quite some time looking them over.

By the way, you may be wondering why I’m talking about the EF81 in the past tense. I'm glad you noticed.

The thing is, all the EF81s, my longtime friends, had quietly disappeared from service by last year. I hadn't even realized it.

But don't worry. Rail fans are optimistic. So I turned the page and headed to Yumenoba to meet the EF81 again.

Please look at the photo above. That’s Class EF81 No. 138, formerly operated by JR East. It has been beautifully preserved and was gleaming in the sunlight. What a wonderful sight! Class EF81, long time no see. I'm sorry I couldn't see you off, but I'm so happy to see you again. 

Even better, I found a steam locomotive (SL), Class D51 No. 1116, right next to it (see the photo below).

Class EF81, enjoy reminiscing about the old days with your neighbor, D51 No. 1116. I'll come back to visit you from time to time. See you again soon.

Class D51 No. 1116 SL (left) and Class EF81 No. 138 EL (right)

Related link:

・Official information from Yumenoba (in Japanese)

Fireworks Festival on the Joetsu Shinkansen

JR East Series E7 EMU at Takasaki Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen

Sorry for jumping from one topic to another, but today I’d like to return to my recent family trip to Niigata Prefecture and share one of its highlights with you.

I think there are many fireworks festivals in your country. There are also many in Japan, especially in summer. Watching fireworks in the evening breeze is one of the pleasures of summer in Japan.

Nagaoka, the second-largest city in Niigata Prefecture, is famous for its large fireworks festival. The festival began as a way to commemorate the victims of World War II and pray for peace. Just look at the photo below. You can see the beautiful round shapes and brilliant blue and pink colors. How wonderful it is to live in peace!

Of course, I can’t end this post without mentioning the railway side of things—after all, this is a railway blog.

To enjoy the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival, the nearest station is Nagaoka Station on JR East’s Joetsu Shinkansen. It’s about 270 km from Tokyo, and the journey takes only about an hour and a half.

What’s new with the Joetsu Shinkansen?

I found that the Joetsu Shinkansen fleet now consists entirely of Series E7 EMUs (see the photo above). The older models—Series 200, E1, E2 and E4—have already been retired from service on the Joetsu Shinkansen. Furthermore, the special-liveried Series E7 EMUs (Sets F21 and F22), which had an additional pink stripe, have returned to the standard livery.

Operating a single train model on the Joetsu Shinkansen certainly looks efficient and cost-effective. But for a train enthusiast like me, it feels like something is missing. You know how train enthusiasts are.

2026 Nagaoka Fireworks Festival

Related Links:

・Official information from JR East

・Official information from Nagaoka Fireworks Foundation (in Japanese) 

A Double-Purpose Trip on the “Tokyo Panorama Line”

Monchhichi Wrapped Train leaving Ōi-keibajō-mae Station

Today, I'd like to share something about the Tokyo Panorama Line with you.

Even if you are familiar with Japanese railways, you may be thinking, “Tokyo Panorama Line? I've never heard of such a line!” You are absolutely right. It is the brand-new nickname for the Tokyo Monorail's Haneda Airport Line. On November 1, 2025, the company adopted “Tokyo Panorama Line” as a nickname for the Haneda Airport Line to enhance the line's appeal.

As I mentioned before, we've recently seen several existing railway lines in Japan being given new nicknames. The Tobu Urban Park Line and the Tokyo Sakura Tram are typical examples, but something didn't feel right, to be honest. Compared with those, “the Tokyo Panorama Line” isn't so bad, since passengers can actually enjoy panoramic views of the Tokyo Bay area from the trains.

To promote the Tokyo Panorama Line, the company appointed Monchhichi as its Panorama Ambassador and introduced the Monchhichi Wrapped Train on February 20 this year. For your information, Monchhichi is a famous mascot character that was born in 1973. It is said to be a monkey-like fairy.

Now, please look at the photo above. That is the Monchhichi Wrapped Train, Set 10051 of the Series 10000 EMU. I was pleased to see Monchhichi featured prominently on the exterior—so cute!

Stick with me just a bit more.

After taking photos of the Monchhichi Wrapped Train, I got off at Ōi-keibajō-mae Station to take a stroll. My destination was the Keihin Canal, constructed on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. It was a hot and humid summer day, but the breeze blowing across the canal was very soothing.

When I glanced down at my feet, I spotted a rounded, pale-brown stone on the ground. As soon as I noticed it, I couldn't help mumbling, “That's a fossil!”

In fact, it was a six-million-year-old fossil of “Yoshihara-manju-uni” (Echinolampas yoshiwarai), a kind of sea urchin (6cm long). I think it was brought there as part of the fill material used for the reclamation project, probably from the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. What a lucky day it was!

By happy coincidence, I was able to enjoy two of my hobbies during a single trip on the Tokyo Panorama Line.

A sea urchin fossil (Echinolampas yoshiwarai) found near Ōi-keibajō-mae Station

Related Link:

・Official information from Tokyo Monorail (in Japanese)