EMU Tobu 500 series, "Revaty", travels on the Tobu line backed by Tokyo Skytree
It's late-February already. How quickly time flies! Spring is just around the corner. I recently visited an urban area for strolling. My destination was Sumida Ward. It's famous for Tokyo Skytree and its related sightseeing spots. Tokyo Skytree is a TV and radio broadcasting tower located on the Tobu line. At 634 meters high, the Skytree is known as the world's tallest freestanding broadcasting tower. I have already been to the observation deck, so, I enjoyed walking about the surrounding area this time.
When I was walking along Kita-Jikken River near the Skytree, Tobu's precious train, EMU 500 series, "Revaty", was approaching on schedule. "Revaty" is a limited express train connecting Tokyo Metropolis and the Nikko sightseeing area in Tochigi Prefecture. "Revaty" is a coined word, synthesized from "variety" and "liberty". This train is basically composed of 3 cars, and easy to couple and decouple each trainset. As a result, Tobu can make "variable" train operations "liberally".
After taking a photo of Revaty backed by Tokyo Skytree, I stopped by at a park nearby. A bird with blue and orange-colored plumage then approached me. That was a kingfisher. I was surprised that the precious wild bird inhabits in an urban area like this. I didn't have a telephoto lens at that time, but managed to take the kingfisher picture by a standard lens. Bird shooting was completely different from that of trains, which are operated in accordance with timetables. I definitely prefer shooting trains to shooting birds.
A kingfisher perches on a tree in a park near Tobu Skytree station
Official information about the Tobu limited express train "Revaty":