The Japan Meteorological Agency made an announcement that this year's rainy season ended on July 18th in the metropolitan area. It means that 2025 mid-summer has begun. The maximum daytime temperature is often over 35 degrees Celsius. I want to evacuate from the urban "heat island" and enjoy railways on the cool plateau, but I’m a bit busy this summer. Instead, I visited an underground track for trainspotting. As you know, it’s a little cooler than the surface track because we can avoid direct sunlight underground. What’s more, many underground stations in the metropolitan area are airconditioned. I have no choice but to go.
My destination was Mitsuzawa-shimocho station on the Blue line of Yokohama Municipal Subway. Why? Trainspotters like me wish to shoot the whole train including the bogies. For that purpose, I have to find a suitable underground station. Firstly, a station having two separate platforms serving two tracks is an idealized condition, because I can shoot the whole train including bogies from the opposite platform. “Every exit is an entry to somewhere else.” Next, I have to carefully choose a station without pillars between the two tracks, because pillars block the view. In conclusion, Mitsuzawa-shimocho is an idealized spot.
Please look at the top photo. The EMU 4000 series stands at Mitsuzawa-shimocho station. What’ new with this train? I found a large, rounded sticker on the front. Yokohama City is preparing for a major event, “GREEN×EXPO 2027”. This sticker will generate enthusiasm for the EXPO (see the photo below).
