Come winter, I like to see snow-capped summits in the countryside of the Tokyo metropolitan area. I recently visited Yamanashi Prefecture, and enjoyed viewing the beautiful mountain scenery surrounding the Kofu basin while soaking in a superb hot spring. Yatsugatake (Eight Peaks, 2,899m at the highest) was specifically beautiful to the north.
To get to this viewing spot with the hot spring, the nearest station was Kai-Ueno on the JR Central Minobu line. I took the JR East Chuo line from Tokyo, and got off at Kofu Station. From Kofu, a local train brought me to Kai-Ueno. It took about a total of two hours and a half from Tokyo to Kai-Ueno station.
The EMU 313 series is the main force for the local trains on the Minobu line. It was launched in 1999 to replace the old ex-JNR (Japanese National Railways) models. The stainless body with a white "face" and orange stripes is cool. Single armed pantographs on the roof are cute. One set is composed of two cars with four 185 kW induction motors per unit. The electric control system is IGBT-VVVF inverter (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor - variable frequency drive).
Along with the viewing of the winter mountains, the local trains on the Minobu line was also my attraction there as a rail fan. It was operated without conductors. The driver had to operate passenger doors, and check tickets at unmanned stations as well. He always looked very busy. It's hard work. Thank you for the good job.
To get to this viewing spot with the hot spring, the nearest station was Kai-Ueno on the JR Central Minobu line. I took the JR East Chuo line from Tokyo, and got off at Kofu Station. From Kofu, a local train brought me to Kai-Ueno. It took about a total of two hours and a half from Tokyo to Kai-Ueno station.
The EMU 313 series is the main force for the local trains on the Minobu line. It was launched in 1999 to replace the old ex-JNR (Japanese National Railways) models. The stainless body with a white "face" and orange stripes is cool. Single armed pantographs on the roof are cute. One set is composed of two cars with four 185 kW induction motors per unit. The electric control system is IGBT-VVVF inverter (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor - variable frequency drive).
Along with the viewing of the winter mountains, the local trains on the Minobu line was also my attraction there as a rail fan. It was operated without conductors. The driver had to operate passenger doors, and check tickets at unmanned stations as well. He always looked very busy. It's hard work. Thank you for the good job.
Official information about the EMU JR Central 313 series (in Japanese):