I’ve been introducing my favorite sakura (cherry blossom) viewing spots on this blog for many years. Following the Sakurayama Park in Zushi City the other day, today I’d like to show you the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Tachikawa City.
Please take a look at the photo below. Negawa Greenway is a hidden gem located about 40 kilometers west of central Tokyo. The walkway along the stream is lined with cherry trees bursting into full bloom. Local people are gathering under the blossoms, enjoying food and drinks together — couples, families, and close-knit groups of friends. The atmosphere feels so warm and cheerful.
To reach this beautiful spot, the nearest station is Shibasaki-Taiikukan Station on the Tama Monorail line. Taking this opportunity, let me also introduce the trains that run on this straddle-type monorail. The EMU 1000 series is the only model operated by Tama Intercity Monorail Co., Ltd. It was introduced in 1998 when part of the line first opened. A total of 16 sets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 1998 and 2005.
Each trainset consists of four 15-meter-long motorcars, though the first and last cars are somewhat unusual. One bogie is powered while the other is not, resulting in a formation equivalent to 3M1T. The electrical system uses 1,500 V DC, and traction control is managed by an IGBT-VVVF (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor variable frequency drive) system.
I fully enjoyed both the beautiful cherry blossoms and the graceful trains running along the Tama Monorail Line.
