Early Blooming Cherry Blossoms on the Minato Line

Big Catch Cherry and a diesel railcar at Nakane Station on the Minato Line

It has already been ten years since my last visit to the Minato Line. A full decade has gone by in the blink of an eye, and I felt it was finally time to revisit this beloved local line. Here, I’d like to share some observations from this latest trip.

■ What is the Minato Line?

The Minato Line is a local railway operated by the Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway Company in Ibaraki Prefecture, about 120 km northeast of Tokyo. Running between Katsuta and Ajigaura, the line covers 14.3 km with 11 stations. Katsuta provides an important connection to the JR East Jōban Line.

As many railway fans know, the entire line is a non-electrified single track, giving it that distinctive rural local-line charm.

■ A Glimpse of Spring Along the Line

Before diving into rolling stock updates, let me first share a seasonal highlight. The photos show a train arriving at Nakane Station, framed by early-blooming cherry blossoms. The combination of a diesel railcar and soft pink petals is enough to lift any railway enthusiast’s spirits.

These blossoms are known locally as Tairyo-zakura (“Big Catch Cherry”). Since the line passes through Nakaminato, a well-known fishing port, the name reflects the community’s wish for a bountiful catch. Their vivid pink hue reminds me of a sea bream—a fitting symbol for the coastal region.

■ Rolling Stock Notes: KiHa 3710 Series

Naturally, a proper railway post wouldn’t be complete without a look at the trains themselves.

The railcar pictured at Nakane Station is Unit 2 of the KiHa 3710 series. This diesel railcar features an 18.5-meter-long body with longitudinal seating, powered by a 243 kW diesel engine.

The KiHa 3710 series consists of two units: Unit 1 introduced in 1995 and Unit 2 in 1998. Currently, Unit 2 sports a full-body advertisement wrap for Komatsu, known worldwide for its construction, mining and forestry-related heavy equipment.

To be continued…

Unit 2 of the KiHa 3710-series diesel railcar departing Nakane Station

Related link:

・Official website: Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway (in Japanese)

Final Chapter of Dr. Yellow

Set T-5 of the 923 series EMU, Dr. Yellow, arriving at Tokyo Station

Do you remember when I first introduced the Dr. Yellow train running on the Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen back in 2017? Well, I finally had the chance to photograph it again—so today, I’d love to share that moment with you.

But first—what exactly is Dr. Yellow?

Dr. Yellow is a high-speed inspection train whose official designation is the 923 series EMU. It entered service in 2000, replacing its predecessor, the 922 series. Only two sets were ever built—14 cars in total—manufactured by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo. One set (T-4) belonged to JR Central, and the other (T-5) is owned by JR West.

Its job? To inspect tracks, signals, telecommunications, and power systems—all while speeding down the Shinkansen lines. Its body is based on the 700 series design, and the bright yellow color helps distinguish it from passenger trains.

So… what’s the latest on Dr. Yellow?

Recently, I learned that JR Central’s T-4 set has already been retired. That means only one Dr. Yellow remains in operation today: the T-5 set.

Take a look at the photo above—that’s the last surviving Dr. Yellow, arriving at Tokyo Station. When I was there, more than twenty rail fans had already gathered, cameras poised and ready. And it wasn’t just the usual adult male rail enthusiasts—there were women, kids, and even international fans. Dr. Yellow really brings people together.

Even though JR Central and JR West never publish Dr. Yellow’s schedule, sightings spread instantly on social media, drawing crowds to stations like a modern-day treasure hunt.

So, what’s next for Dr. Yellow?

According to JR West, the remaining T-5 set will be retired in 2027 or later. After that, inspection duties will be carried out by standard Shinkansen—specifically the N700S series—equipped with advanced measuring devices, image-processing systems, and AI technologies.

Technology moves quickly. It’s impressive… and a little bittersweet.

Dr. Yellow’s final chapter has already begun.

Dr. Yellow (left) and the N700A series EMU (right) at Tokyo Station

Related link:

・Official information: JR West’s railway maintenance vehicles (in Japanese)

Winter Travel to the Tohoku Region: Part 5

Abukuma Express AB900 series EMU (Set AB-7) approaching

Let’s pick up where we left off.

After enjoying the snow-covered landscape along the Tsugaru Railway Line, we went to Hirosaki Station in Aomori Prefecture, where the Train Suite Shiki-shima cruise train was waiting for us. This winter journey was full of unforgettable moments—beautiful scenery, local culture, and regional cuisine—but I’ll save those stories for another time. For now, let’s get back to the railway highlights.

On the return run to Tokyo, I spent quite a bit of time enjoying the forward view. The observation car was nearly empty, so I practically had the place to myself. For railfans, this spot is pure heaven.

One particularly memorable moment occurred near Tsukinoki Station in Miyagi Prefecture. Take a look at the top photo first. A green train was approaching in the distance. Any guesses?

It turned out to be a train of the Abukuma Express. As mentioned in my post from 2024, Abukuma Express is a regional railway operating between Fukushima and Tsukinoki, with a total route length of 54.9 km.

Interestingly, the tracks of Abukuma Express and JR East’s Tohoku Main Line run parallel for only about one kilometer near Tsukinoki Station. Despite that short shared stretch, Shiki-shima happened to meet an Abukuma Express train right there. Even better, it was the green AB900 series trainset (Set AB-7), which I had never seen before. What a lucky encounter!

Before wrapping up this post, let me share one more highlight from the journey. After departing Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi Prefecture, passengers were treated to a live jazz performance in the lounge car (see the photo below).

Utsunomiya is known in Japan as a “city of jazz,” and the musicians actually boarded the train at Utsunomiya Station. Their performance created a wonderful atmosphere on board. It was a refreshing and memorable way to end the day’s journey.

Live jazz performance in the lounge car of the Train Suite Shiki-shima

Related link:

・JR East official video: Making movie of the Shiki-shima theme music

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 (in Japanese)

・Official information on the Stove Train (in Japanese)

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