Continuing from my previous post, I would like to introduce one of the trains of the Ichibata Electric Railway. The EMU 5000 series is Ichibata’s high-end train (see the photo above). It has mainly been used as a limited express train connecting Dentetsu-Izumoshi and Izumotaisha-mae, transporting worshippers to the holy Izumotaisha Shrine. Each car is 18 meters long with a steel body, and one trainset consists of two motorcars. Unlike other trains, it has only four doors per unit.
As with the Ichibata 2100 series, which I introduced in an earlier post, the Ichibata 5000 series is also an ex-Keio 5000 series train. The Ichibata 2100 series still keeps the original design of the Keio 5000 series. On the other hand, the Ichibata 5000 series looks somewhat different. It was modified before moving from the Keio Line in 1998.
Many passengers take this “holy train” to visit Izumotaisha Shrine. Taking this opportunity, I would like to introduce a holy beach, “Inasanohama,” located near the shrine. According to a local legend, deities from all over Japan gather at Izumotaisha Shrine for an annual meeting held in October of the lunar calendar, and they are welcomed by local people here on this beach.
It is a beautiful bow-shaped sandy beach featuring a sacred rock named Benten-jima. It is said that the setting sun is especially stunning here, but the morning scenery was also beautiful (see the photo below).
I fully enjoyed both the holy beach and the train in Shimane Prefecture.
