After visiting Okayama, I continued traveling to feel the spring. My next destination was Kurashiki City. It's the second largest city in Okayama Prefecture, about 750 kilometers west of Tokyo. The population is about 470,000. Kurashiki is famous for its heavy industries, but that isn't everything. There's a famous sightseeing area, "Kurashiki Bikan historical quarter". This area stands out for its townscape of white walls and has been recognized as an Important Preservation District of Historical Buildings, which can be enjoyed for its Edo Era (1603 - 1867) scenery. A small river flows in the center, and its scenery is also very popular among tourists. When I walked along the river, newly-weds were enjoying a boat tour wearing a kimono (traditional Japanese cloth). Congratulations on your wedding! Best wishes for a happy marriage.
Now, let's get down to the main topic. When I arrived at Kurashiki station on the JR West Sanyo main line, I came across a nostalgic yellow train, the EMU 115 series. It's a direct current standard commuter train, commissioned in 1963 by the Japanese National Railways (JNR), so, it's a train that has had a very long life. Nearly 2,000 units were built by Kisha seizo, Nippon sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and others. After the breakup and privatization of JNR, the 115 series was transferred to five companies, but they have been retired one after another due to deterioration. For example, they eventually disappeared from the JR East lines in 2022.
I could enjoy the historical quarter and the train on that day.
