Winter Travel to the Tohoku Region: Part 4

Tsugaru Railway diesel railcar, Unit 103 of the 21 series, “Run, Melos!”

Let’s pick up where we left off.

After watching the trains arrive at Aomori Station, we headed for the heart of the Tsugaru Plain. Our destination was Tsugaru-Nakasato, the northern terminus of the Tsugaru Railway.

I’ve been running this railway blog for nearly 15 years, but this is the first time I’ve introduced this local railway. I rarely have the chance to visit the Tsugaru area.

Tsugaru Railway is a private railway in Aomori Prefecture, about 760 km north of Tokyo. The line opened in 1930 between Tsugaru-Goshogawara and Tsugaru-Nakasato. It has 12 stations along its 20.7 km route. The track is a non-electrified 1,067-mm-gauge single line, and diesel railcars usually run once an hour.

In winter, the railway operates its famous Stove Train, a seasonal attraction. These special trains are equipped with traditional coal-burning heaters known as “daruma stoves.” Passengers can even grill Japanese flying squid on the stove during the journey. It’s a wonderfully nostalgic experience.

Unfortunately, the Stove Train was out of service that day due to a coupler failure. I was disappointed, but as an optimistic railfan, I quickly got back on track. Instead, we boarded a diesel railcar from the 21 series (see the top photo). This vehicle carries the nickname “Run, Melos!”, after the famous short story written in 1940 by the local author Dazai Osamu.

Technically speaking, the 21 series is an 18-meter hydraulic diesel railcar equipped with a 243 kW engine. Five cars were built in 1996 by Niigata Engineering. Visually, it resembles the diesel railcars of JR Central’s Series 11 and JR West’s Series 120.

I took my place at the rear of “Run, Melos!”. By then the sky had cleared completely. Outside the window stretched a deep blue sky and wide snow-covered fields (see the photo below). It was breathtaking. Of course, the weather here can be severe when the blizzards arrive. The windbreak fences along the track quietly spoke of the harsh winter conditions. But on that day, I was simply able to enjoy the peaceful beauty of the Tsugaru winter landscape.

To be continued…

Snowy fields along the Tsugaru Railway Line

Related links:

・Official website: Tsugaru Railway (Japanese; translation available)

・Official information on the Stove Train (Japanese; translation available)

Winter Travel to the Tohoku Region: Part 3

JR East E751 series arriving at snow-covered Aomori Station

Let’s pick up where we left off.

After enjoying our first lunch aboard the Shiki-shima cruise train, we got off at Mizusawa Station in Iwate Prefecture and visited the factory of a local foundry company, OIGEN. It was a fascinating visit—but since this is a railway blog, let’s get back to the trains.

On the second morning, we rolled into Aomori Station. Everything was covered in snow—it felt like we had stepped into a winter postcard.

Just after stepping off the train, I spotted a sleek-looking train gliding into the opposite platform. Of course, I had to take a photo. That’s the “Tsugaru” in the top picture!

The Tsugaru is a limited express service operated by JR East, running between Akita and Aomori—two prefectural capitals in Japan’s snowy north. It uses the E751 series AC EMU.

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you might be thinking, “Wait, haven’t I seen this train before?”

Good eye! The E751 series does look quite similar to the E653-1000 series that I wrote about 12 years ago. But look a little closer and you’ll notice the differences—especially in the headlights and the color scheme.

There’s also a technical distinction: the E751 is a single-system AC train, while the E653-1000 series is a dual-system AC/DC train.

The E751 series entered service in 2000, replacing the older 485-3000 series. A total of 18 cars were built, and today 12 of them remain in service, operating as 4-car sets.

E751 series—thanks for braving the northern winter!

Since this was a group tour, I couldn’t spend as much time observing the train as I would have liked.

Before wrapping up this post, let me share something special: a Suite Room on the Shiki-shima cruise train. The photo below shows the room after the beds had been made. I couldn’t find any pictures of this setup on JR East’s official website, so I hope this gives you a better idea of what it looks like at night.

More coming soon…

Suite Room on the Shiki-shima cruise train after the beds were prepared

Related link:

・Official video on the 5th anniversary of the Shiki-shima cruise train by JR East 

Winter Travel to the Tohoku Region: Part 2

JR East Series 701-100 AC EMU approaching

Let me pick up where I left off in my last post. And here’s a quick question for you:

When do you really feel like you’ve traveled far from home?

Is it when the scenery suddenly looks completely different? When you try a local dish you’ve never tasted before? Or when you hear a dialect that makes you think, “Wow, I’m not in my hometown anymore”?

For me—as a rail fan—it’s simple. It’s when I see a train I’ve never seen before.

Right after departing Kuroiso Station in Tochigi Prefecture at 11:48 a.m., something interesting happens. The Tohoku Main Line switches its power system from 1,500V DC to 20,000V 50Hz AC. From that point on, the trains are AC-powered. As a train enthusiast, that’s exciting enough already.

Before long, I spotted a train approaching. Take a look at the top photo. It’s a 701 series AC EMU—a type you won’t normally see in Tokyo. But wait… it wasn’t just any 701 series. It was the rarer 701-100 series!

How could I tell?

Believe it or not, the giveaway was the gangway door. The standard 701 series in this area has a green door, while the older 701-100 series features a silver one. Such a tiny detail—but noticing it made my day. Moments like this remind me why I love being a rail fan.

By the way, both the driver of the Shiki-shima train and the driver of the 701-100 series raised their hands in greeting as they passed each other. I love those small, human moments on the rails.

Around 12:45 p.m., my stomach suddenly reminded me that it was lunchtime. So off we went to the dining car for our first meal aboard the Shiki-shima.

Today’s special? A Chinese-style seafood course lunch (see the photo below). Beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Travel really does taste better on a train like this.

To be continued…

Chinese-style seafood course lunch in the Shiki-shima dining car

Related link:

・Official video on the “Shiki-shima” cruise train by Prime Minister's Office of Japan

Winter Travel to the Tohoku Region: Part 1

JR East’s cruise train, Series E001 EDC “Shiki-shima,” at Ueno Station

The day had finally come. When I arrived at the exclusive lounge “Prologue Shiki-shima” inside Ueno Station in Tokyo, the Series E001 train, “Shiki-shima,” slowly pulled into Track 13 (see the top photo). My long-awaited winter journey was about to begin.

But first—what exactly is “Shiki-shima”?

Last year, I introduced JR East’s luxury cruise train “Shiki-shima” on this blog. At that time, I only visited the station to photograph it. However, this time, I finally had the opportunity to board it with my family.

Operated by JR East, one of Japan’s major railway operators, “Shiki-shima” is a high-end sightseeing train that offers multi-day journeys through eastern Japan. Its name means “Island of Four Seasons,” reflecting Japan’s strong appreciation for seasonal beauty.

Our destination was the Tohoku region, located in the northern part of Japan’s main island, Honshu. Tohoku is known for its hot springs, traditional culture, and breathtaking winter landscapes. While it is less visited than cities like Tokyo or Kyoto, it offers a more tranquil and authentic experience of Japan.

The train itself is officially designated as the Series E001 EDC (electric/diesel hybrid cars) and began operation in 2017. One train set consists of six motor cars and four trailer cars. Cars 1 and 10 are equipped with diesel engines for running on non-electrified railway lines, and they also function as observation cars. Car 5 serves as a lounge, Car 6 as a dining car, and the remaining cars are private sleeper suites. The train is designed to provide not only transportation, but a luxury hotel-like experience on rails.

At 9:25 a.m., Shiki-shima departed quietly from Ueno Station, one of Tokyo’s historic railway terminals, as the station master and staff waved us off.

After settling into the train, there was only one thing I had to do as a railway enthusiast: head straight to the observation car. Take a look at the photo below. This is “View Terrace Ibuki” in Car 10, the leading car. From here, you can see the tracks of the Tohoku Main Line stretching northward, guiding us toward snow-covered landscapes.

Are you ready to travel with me?

To be continued…

“View Terrace Ibuki” on the cruise train “Shiki-shima”

Related link:

・Official information on the “Shiki-shima” cruise train by JR East

The 12th Anniversary of Keio Rail-Land

Keio’s first-generation 5000 series EMU at Keio Rail-Land

On October 10, 2025, Keio Corporation quietly marked a happy milestone—the 12th anniversary of the grand opening of Keio Rail-Land. It felt like a good moment to revisit the museum, so I’d like to share a few impressions with you today.

To begin with, let me briefly look back at what Keio Rail-Land is all about. Operated by Keio Corporation (formerly Keio Electric Railway in English), the museum began life in 2000 as a modest model railway playground for children. Thirteen years later, it blossomed into the museum we know today, complete with a spacious exhibition hall showcasing Keio’s preserved rolling stock. You’ll find it right beside Tama-Dobutsukoen (Tama Zoological Park) Terminal on the Keio Dobutsuen Line—a fittingly peaceful spot for a museum devoted to precious trains.

I had thought that all the vehicles preserved at the museum had already been introduced in this blog, but there was one important omission—the first-generation 5000 series EMU. Please take a look at the top photo. Yes, this is KuHa 5723 from the first-generation 5000 series. The series made its debut in 1963 when the Keio Line’s voltage was upgraded to 1,500 V DC. A total of 155 cars were built by Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Sharyo, and Hitachi. Unlike earlier models such as the 2400 and 2000 series, both the design and the livery of this train were thoroughly modernized. In addition, the eighth-batch cars introduced in 1968 are known as Japan’s first air-conditioned commuter trains equipped with longitudinal seating. The first-generation 5000 series received the 1964 Laurel Prize from the Japan Railfan Club as the most outstanding new train of the previous year.

And one more small discovery: during my visit I also noticed a 12th-anniversary plate displayed on a 7000 series train running on the Dobutsuen Line (please see the photo below). It may look modest at first glance, but the birthday-cake motif is rather charming, isn’t it?

Happy 12th anniversary, Keio Rail-Land.

The 12th-anniversary plate on a 7000 series EMU

Related links:

・Official information from Keio Rail-Land (in Japanese)

・Official video from Keio Rail-Land (in Japanese)