I can't believe that it is late May already, as I feel as though I just celebrated the New Year a short while ago. It's no use making a fuss! Let’s stop and smell the roses! This year, I visited Odawara Flower Garden in Kanagawa Prefecture. As soon as I entered the rose garden, I could feel the lovely breeze, which was carrying the rose-scented air. I enjoyed red, pink, white and yellow-colored roses in bloom. It’s the height of spring, isn’t it?
To get to this attractive tourist spot, the nearest railway station is Iidaoka on the Daiyuzan line of Izu-Hakone Railway. On the way back home, I found a pink-colored unfamiliar train, set 5506 of the EMU 5000 series. Set 5506 was originally a blue colored train, but its body color was recently changed to pink to support in community revitalization along the Daiyuzan line. It's called “Harumeki-train”. As I posted before, “Harumeki-sakura” is an early blooming cherry developed by local people 25 years ago. Its pink-colored blossom is a symbol of this local area.
Incidentally, the 5000 series is the main fleet on the Daiyuzan line. It was commissioned in 1984 replacing deteriorated models. A total of 7 sets were built by Tokyu Sharyo. Only the 1st set (5501) is steel, while the other six sets, including set 5506, are stainless-steel. One set is composed of three cars. Car number 2 of set 5506 is my favorite, because it is equipped with comfortable cross seats.
