Train Viewing from Chiba Port Tower

EMU JR East E233-5000 series travels on the Keiyo line

There are many observation decks where we can view trains in the urban areas of Japan. They are, for example, Kitatopia and Carrot Tower in Tokyo Metropolis and AER Observation Terrace in Sendai City. Thankfully, they are free. Today, I’m going to introduce Chiba Port Tower today. You have to pay an admission fee, but it costs only 420 yen (3 USD), so you should go there. As the name suggests, Chiba Port Tower is located in Chiba Port, about 40 kilometers east of Tokyo. The nearest station is Chiba-minato (Chiba Port) on the JR East Keiyo and Chiba Urban Monorail lines. Visitors can enjoy gorgeous downtown, port and train views from the 113 meters high observation deck.

Please look at the top photo. You can see the EMU JR East E233-500 series travelling on the elevated track. The E233-5000 series is the major commuter fleet on the line. It was commissioned in 2010 to replace the old models such as the 209-500 series. One set is composed of 10 cars (6M4T). I enjoyed a view of the 200 meters long train from the side. Its bright and vivid colored body stripe is definitely my favorite.

Next, please look at the photo below. You can see a 2-car suspension monorail train, the EMU 0 series, travelling on the Line 1 of Chiba Urban Monorail. The 0 series is the latest model commissioned in 2012. Its nickname is Urban Flyer. I enjoyed watching that Urban Flyer was flying above Port Street.

EMU Chiba Urban Monorail 0 series travels on the Line 1

Official website, Chiba Port Tower (in Japanese): https://chiba-porttower.com/index.php

The 110th Anniversary of the Tojo Line

Set 9107 of the EMU Tobu 9000 series travels on the Tokyu-Toyoko line

On May 1st, 2024, Tobu Railway celebrated the 110th anniversary of their Tojo line. In commemoration, the company holds several events.

Let me review the Tojo line to start. The Tobu-Tojo line is one of the main transportation arteries in the northwestern part of the metropolitan area. Connecting Ikebukuro in Tokyo Metropolis and Kawagoe City in Saitama Prefecture, it was opened on May 1st in 1914. The route was, then, fully opened in 1925 between Ikebukuro and Yorii. The total line length is, currently, 75 kilometers. It carries about one million passengers per day.

One of the 110th anniversary events is displaying a special plate on the front of set 9107 of the EMU 9000 series. It will be exhibited until October 10th. The words "110th ANNIVERSARY TOBU TOJO LINE" were written in English on the plate. I don’t know why in English… never mind. For your information, the 9000 series was commissioned in 1981 as Tobu’s first stainless-steel train. 100 units in total were built by Tokyu-sharyo, Alna-koki and Fuji Heavy Industries. The 9000 series is directly operated onto the Tokyo Metro and Tokyu lines, so, I could shoot it on the Tokyu-Toyoko line, which is closer to my house. Thank you so much, the 9000 series.

Incidentally, I still remember the 100th anniversary events on the Tojo line in 2014. I saw the grand ceremony in the Ikebukuro station yard and the operation of memorial train. Ten years have passed since then. The time really flies.

The 110th anniversary plate of the Tobu-Tojo line

Tama Riverside Walking: Part 11, Kawasaki

EMU Keikyu 600 series crosses Tama River

I’m going to show you the view of Tama River for the first time in a long time. I enjoyed strolling in the downstream last winter. My destination was Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture, about 20 kilometers away from the city center of Tokyo.

Let me review Kawasaki City. Kawasaki is the second most populated city in the prefecture. The current population is about 1.55 million. The city is full of variety. There are large-scaled downtown, industrial, residential and resort areas. Tama River river flows on the dividing line between Tokyo Metropolis and Kawasaki City.

After getting off the train at Keikyu-Kawasaki station, I passed through the downtown area, and headed to Tama River. As soon as I reached the embankment, a train passed the river, and approached me. That was the EMU 600 series, Keikyu’s commuter train commissioned in 1994. The 600 series partly has comfortable cross seats to provide passengers with good services. The red-colored 600 series made a beautiful contrast with the winter blue sky. After passing under the railway bridge of the Keikyu line, I walked upstream. Five minutes later, a long train passed through the other railway bridge. That was the EMU JR East E231 series. The E231 series is one of the major group trains on the JR East lines, and widely operated in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It was commissioned in 2000. It’s composed of 15 units of 20-meter-long cars. That is to say, 300-meter-long train was passing by me. It was breathtaking!

While observing trains, I enjoyed Tama riverside walking as usual.

EMU JR East E231 series crosses Tama River

Changing of the Seasons: Keio-Inokashira Line, Part 3

Set 1729 of the EMU Keio 1000 series and hydrangeas near Nishi-Eifuku station

Continuing with what I covered in June, I'm going to show you the change of the seasons on the Keio-Inokashira line today.

First, I’m going to show you hydrangeas again. Please look at the top photo. That’s the best hydrangea flowers for me this year. It was shot near Nishi-Eifuku station during a break in the rainy season in June. You can see beautiful blue and purple-colored flowers at the side of the tracks. The train is Set 1729 of the EMU 1000 series. This unique set has a white colored front mask with a rainbow-colored stripe on the side body of the train. Designed posters of several scenic spots on the Inokashira line, such as Inokashira Park and Kanda River, are displayed on the body of this train. It fits into the hydrangea flowers in full bloom.

Next, please look at the photo below. That’s a small rice field near Komaba-Todaimae station. It was shot in the end of August. You can see green-colored heads of rice were drooping. You may feel that it’s a sight you can find anywhere in Tokyo, but in fact, we seldom see rice fields in the central area (twenty-three special wards) of Tokyo. This rice field is known as “Kellner” Rice Fields. Oskar Johann Kellner was a German agricultural scientist. He was invited by the Japanese Government in 1881, and taught people how to improve on agricultural productivity. This rice field had been used for his research activities. Currently, local junior-high and high school pupils maintain this field.

Set 1714 and Kellner Rice Fields near Komaba-Todaimae station

Old Locomotives Used in a Steelworks

Steam locomotive NUS 5 is preserved in Chiba Park

Chiba City is located some 40 kilometers east of Tokyo, and the prefectural capital of Chiba Prefecture. The current population is about 1 million. This large city is famous for heavy industries such as the steel industry. Chiba Steelworks of Kawasaki Steel Company (present JFE Steel Company) is the representative steelwork in the city. This steelwork once had steam locomotives, named NUS 5, 6 and 7. I’m going to show you NUS 5 (the top photo) and 6 (the photo below) today.

NUS 5 and 6 are 0-6-0 (Whyte notation) type tank locomotives. They were built by Kawasaki Sharyo in 1948 for in-yard material transportation. Most notable point of these locomotives are their couplers. These locomotives have two kinds of couplers, namely automatic couplers and Willison couplers. After operating for 20 years, NUS 5 and 6 were retired from the track. Chiba City took over these locomotives in 1977. NUS 5 is currently exhibited in Chiba Park. On the other hand, NUS 6 is exhibited in Komoike Park. Two locomotives are both preserved in good condition. I would like to thank everyone involved in preserving these locomotives in Chiba City.

Incidentally, do you see any difference between the two locomotives? It might be difficult to find, but one of the answers is shape of smokestacks. NUS 5 has a smooth smokestack with a gold-colored ring. On the other hand, NUS 6 has a stepped smokestack. I hope that you will be happy to perceive this kind of fine difference among the locomotives as a trainspotter.

Steam locomotive NUS 6 is preserved in Komoike Park

Sunflower Festival on the Odakyu Line

EMU Odakyu 8000 series stands at Sobudaimae station

It's September already. Time really flies. Before introducing the topics of autumn, I'm going to keep on subjects of this summer a bit more.

Sunflower festivals are popular midsummer events in Japan. Many flower lovers flock to the festival venues. I’m also one of them. This year, I went to check out the sunflower festival of Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture with my family. In the festival ground, nearly 550,000 flowers were blooming along Sagami River. It was very vivid and gorgeous. Whenever I visited sunflower festivals, I feel strange mood while I walk in the field. To be exact, I feel many eyes watching me. It’s because all the flowers face me. A round shaped sunflower looks like someone's face. Probably, I’m spaced out.

To visit this beautiful sunflower field, we took the Odakyu line, and got off at Sobudaimae station. It took about 50 minutes from Shinjuku, a subcenter of Tokyo. Taking this opportunity, I’m going to show you the EMU 8000 series, the active oldest commuter train on the Odakyu line. The 8000 series is a fully painted steel body train. It was commissioned in 1982 to replace old commuter trains such as the 2600 series. Its clean and beautiful body hasn't faded despite 42 years having passed by. As I recently posted, 40 units of the 8000 series are being transferred to Seibu Railway, another major private railway in Tokyo starting this year. The history of this experienced Odakyu train will keep going on.

Zama Sunflower Festival