Sunday 8 September 2013

Sulfur Cosmos Field on the Kanto Railway

DMU Kantetsu 2100 series (new color) approaches Mitsukaido Station
 
It is still hot in Tokyo. I took a stroll in the suburban area to look for the advent of autumn. My destination was Ibaraki Prefecture, which is located north of downtown Tokyo.

I visited Kokaigawa Fureai Park, since Sulfur Cosmos are at their best in this season. Together with Bush Clover, it is an early autumn flower that represents Japan. Kokaigawa Fureai Park is one of the prestigious fields of Sulfur Cosmos in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This park commands you a total of three million Sulfur Cosmos flowers during the height of the season. The large field along the Kokai River was filled with a carpet of dark yellow-colored flowers backed by Tsukuba Mountain.

To visit this vast Sulfur Cosmos field, take the Kanto Railway (Kantetsu) and get off at Shimotsuma Station. Kantetsu penetrates Ibaraki Prefecture from south to north. Connecting Toride and Shimodate cities, the total operating length is 51.1km. The whole route is un-electrified.

The DMU KiHa 2100 series is one of the main fleets of Kantetsu. It was launched in 1993. A total of 6 sets, 12 units were manufactured by Niigata Tekko. It is the Kantetsu's first DMU model, which has bolsterless bogies. Recently, a new coloring design was applied on their bodies (The old coloring design is here).

By enjoying the beautiful Sulfur Cosmos flowers and the new colored DMU, I spent a great weekend again.

 
Sulfur Cosmos field backed by Mt. Tsukuba in Kokaigawa Fureai Park near Shimotsuma Station