Bird Watching on the Haneda Airport Line

Tokyo Monorail 1000 series EMU arriving at Ryutsu-center Station

I know you are a train enthusiast—but how about bird watching?

As for me, I feel a bit unsure about it. I basically like bird watching, but I’m not very good at photographing birds. Today, let me share one of my memorable experiences with you.

Recently, I had a chance to visit Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park. It’s a well-known place where visitors can encounter many kinds of wild birds. In fact, I saw quite a few of them from the observation room in the park. It was an exciting experience, but there was one problem: taking photos.

Unlike trains, birds don’t appear according to a timetable. They behave completely differently, and that made me feel a little frustrated. Perhaps I’m not suited to unpredictable phenomena.

Instead, I was deeply impressed by a simple, almost featureless landscape. Please take a look at the photo below. Here it is—a small island in a pond within the park. It was heart-shaped and quietly beautiful. Although there were no birds on it, I couldn’t stop taking pictures.

Of course, I can’t end this post without mentioning the railway side of things—after all, this is a railway blog. To reach Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, the nearest station is Ryutsu-center Station on the Haneda Airport Line of Tokyo Monorail. The Haneda Airport Line connects downtown Tokyo with Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). It opened in 1964, making it the second-oldest monorail line in Tokyo.

The 1000 series EMU (see the top photo) is the oldest active train on the line. It debuted in 1989 as the first six-car train on Tokyo Monorail. A total of 16 sets—96 cars—were built by Hitachi, and eight sets are still in service today. I sincerely hope that the 1000 series will continue to run on the Haneda Airport Line for many more years.

A heart-shaped island in a pond at Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park

Related link:

・Official video about the retirement of Tokyo Monorail Set 1001 (1000 series EMU) in 2021 (in Japanese)

VSE: After That

Odakyu’s 50000 series EMU, Romancecar VSE, preserved on a shunting track

I recently happened to see Odakyu’s Romancecar VSE twice by coincidence. Today, let me share these memorable encounters with you.

Before that, here is just a small introduction to the Romancecar VSE. Odakyu’s 50000 series EMU, also known as the VSE (Vault Super Express), was the flagship model of the Romancecar fleet. It debuted in 2005 as a 10-car train with articulated bogies and quickly became very popular among tourists.

After 17 years of service, the VSE was retired from regular operation in 2022. So, what has it been doing since then?

In November this year, I saw it at Kitami Fureai Hiroba. This public park is built on an artificial deck constructed above Odakyu’s Kitami Railyard. While strolling through the park, I spotted the VSE from one of the viewing points. Please take a closer look at the photo above. You can see a white trainset with a red stripe — the VSE! It was being preserved on a shunting track.

More recently, I saw the VSE again at Odakyu’s Sagami-Ono Railyard when I went shopping. The trainset was on a dismantling siding. Please take a look at the photo below. It had already been separated into sections, and one of its articulated bogies was exposed. I was sad to see the VSE in that condition, but at the same time, I learned a lot from observing the bogie. For example, you can see a pneumatic spring just above the gray pillar. The pneumatic spring of the VSE was installed one meter higher than that of standard trains to enhance ride comfort.

Finally, here is some good news. One of the VSE’s leading cars will be exhibited at the Romancecar Museum in the near future. I’m very much looking forward to seeing it.

VSE on a dismantling siding at Sagami-Ono Railyard

Yamitetsu Part 3: Yukigaya Railyard

 Set 1507 of the Tokyu 1000 series EMU resting at Yukigaya Railyard

I recently visited Gotanda on the Tokyu Ikegami Line for a private matter. When I finished my meeting, it was already around 7 p.m., and the sun had completely set. Where should I go next?

Alright then—it’s time for yamitetsu! Do you remember the word yamitetsu? It refers to a railfan who loves photographing trains in the dark. The word is a blend of yami (“darkness”) and tetsu (“iron”). In Japanese, we call a railway tetsudō, which literally means “iron road.” I’m still a beginner yamitetsu myself, but I love it.

So I made a detour to Yukigaya Railyard on the Ikegami Line, located near Yukigaya-Ōtsuka Station. When I arrived at the southern end of the yard, I found Set 1507 of the 1000 (1000-1500) series EMU resting beside the vehicle inspection building (see the top photo). The train was gleaming brightly under the yard lights and signal lamps. The inspection building was empty, but the lights were still on as if it were alive. Beautiful.

In contrast, the northern part of the yard was quiet. A total of six train sets—1000 (1000-1500) series and 7000 series—were resting there (see the photo below). I was impressed to see the trains lined up alternately: 1000, 7000, 1000, 7000... It was as if the two series were good friends. Am I the only one who gets excited about things like this?

I fully enjoyed yamitetsu at Yukigaya Railyard. If I had to say what was missing that evening, it would be the Iketama Happy Train. That special wrapped train still seemed to be running on the line somewhere. Maybe I’ll see it next time.

1000 and 7000 series EMU sets resting at Yukigaya Railyard

Related link:

・Official information about Tokyu’s railway vehicles (in Japanese)

2025 Merry Christmas from the Arakawa Line

Interior of Christmas Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series

I recently had a chance to visit the Toei Arakawa Line for the first time in a year. Like the Keio Inokashira Line, which I introduced in my previous post, I found that one of the trams on the Arakawa Line was also decorated for Christmas. Please take a look at the top photo. Isn’t it charming?

This year, the well-known florist Hibiya-Kadan designed the Christmas decorations for the tram. You can see wreath-like stickers on the tram windows. The smiling character you see is Toaran, the mascot of the Arakawa Line, chosen in a public contest. Toaran usually wears a single-arm pantograph on its head, but for this Christmas season it has been playfully topped with a red and white Santa hat. I’m very observant, aren’t I? Though I know I shouldn’t toot my own horn.

Incidentally, the tram with the Christmas decorations is Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series (see the photo below). The 9000 series is a retro-inspired model commissioned in 2007. Only two cars were built by Alna Sharyo. Each unit has a different color scheme: brownish red (Tramcar 9001) and indigo blue (Tramcar 9002). The 9000 series is mid-sized (13 meters long) and mounted on two bogies with double axles. The trams are equipped with an IGBT variable-frequency control system and two 60 kW induction motors. Although the technical specifications of the 9000 series are modernized, the exterior design and interior atmosphere remain nostalgic.

I will continue sharing my encounters with railway vehicles.

Tramcar 9002 of the Toei 9000 series displaying a “Merry Christmas” plate

Related link:

・ Official information about the Christmas Tramcar by Toei (in Japanese)

2025 Merry Christmas from the Inokashira Line

Set 1761 running along the Inokashira Line with its special “Merry Christmas” plate

It’s already mid-December — time really flies. Stores and streets around Tokyo are decorated for the Christmas season. You may find it curious that a Buddhist-majority country celebrates Christmas. That’s understandable, as only about 1% of Japan’s population is Christian. But please don’t take it too seriously. For us, it’s less a religious event and more a seasonal custom. Does that answer your question?

Railway companies join the celebration as well. I recently found that a train on the Keio Inokashira Line is again decorated with a Christmas plate this year, just like in previous seasons. Please take a look at the photos. Set 1761 of the Keio 1000 series EMU carries a special round plate on the front of the train. Its design features a Christmas tree, snowflakes, Santa’s reindeer, and a sleigh. Isn’t it charming?

Incidentally, the Inokashira Line is a short 12.7-kilometer commuter route connecting Shibuya and Kichijoji. The 1000 series EMU is the only model operated on this line. It entered commercial service in 1996 as the first 20-meter-long, 5-car train type introduced to the route.

A hot topic right now is the preparation for ATO (Automatic Train Operation). Modifications to the trains are underway, and I have confirmed with my own eyes that five sets of the 1000 series have already been completed. Keio aims for GoA2-level operation and is conducting verification tests. Under GoA2, only one crew member is required on board, mainly for train starting and safety monitoring.

“Merry Christmas, Inokashira” plate on the front of Set 1761

Sotetsu Line History Train

Set 9703 of the Sotetsu EMU 9000 series, Sotetsu Line History Train

Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Sotetsu Line in 2026. As you know, Sotetsu is one of the major private railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area (see my blog from March 20, 2025). To commemorate this milestone, the company launched several special events in September. One highlight was the introduction of the “Sotetsu Line History Train,” using Set 9703 of the EMU 9000 series. Set 9703 is decorated with stickers featuring historical rolling stock from Sotetsu’s past. For example, steam locomotive Unit 3, which debuted in 1926, and the EMU 13000 series, which will enter service next year, are both depicted on a commemorative sticker mounted on the front of the train (see the photos). The excitement for the 100th anniversary is really building, isn’t it? If you have time, please check the URL at the bottom of this post to see the design of the Sotetsu Line History Train. Congratulations to the Sotetsu Line on its 100th anniversary!

This is off-topic, but please look at the top photo again. It was taken at Izumi-chuo Station, my regular photo spot on the Sotetsu Line. The weather was clear and the lighting was from the front, so photographing should have been a piece of cake. But I pressed the shutter too early, and the electrification poles got in the way. I was careless at that moment. In Japan, there is a saying: “Even monkeys fall from trees.” In English, you would say, “Even Homer sometimes nods.” I was the monkey that time (I’m certainly not a great person like Homer).

Commemorative sticker displayed on the front of Set 9703

Related link:

・Official information about the Sotetsu Line History Train (in Japanese)

Dual-Gauge Tracks on the Hakone-Tozan Railway

Odakyu 60000 series EMU on the dual-gauge track

Do you have any dual-gauge tracks in your country? Here in Japan, we actually have a few, and every time I come across one, I feel a little spark of curiosity. Today, let me share one such spot with you — a charming dual-gauge section on the Hakone-Tozan Railway in Kanagawa Prefecture.

First, just a small introduction. The Hakone-Tozan Railway is a dependable mountain climber that makes its way up the slopes of Hakone Volcano. It connects Odawara on the Odakyu Line to the terminal at Gōra, covering about 15 kilometers. The entire line is a single electrified track, but what makes it interesting is that the lower half uses narrow gauge (1,067 mm), while the upper half switches to standard gauge (1,435 mm).

And that’s where the dual-gauge section comes in — connecting the lower and upper parts of the line.

If you look at the photo above, you’ll find a three-rail dual-gauge track — quite a sight if you enjoy the technical side of railways. Running on it is a narrow-gauge Odakyu Romancecar, the 60000-series EMU. This train travels directly from the Odakyu Line onto the Hakone-Tozan Line, following the left rail and the inner right rail as it climbs toward Hakone-Yumoto.

Then, in the next photo below, the view becomes even more fascinating. At Iryuda Station’s yard, you can see three types of tracks lined up together: a narrow-gauge track (right), a dual-gauge track (center), and a standard-gauge track (left). There’s also a red, standard-gauge Hakone-Tozan 2000-series EMU resting quietly in the shed.

So the purpose of this dual-gauge stretch is quite simple:

1. to let the narrow-gauge commercial trains pass through, and

2. to give standard-gauge trains a path in and out of the yard when they’re not in service.

For a rail fan like me, small scenes like these always feel like hidden treasures. I can’t help but stop and watch for a moment. Perhaps you feel a little of that excitement too?

Left: standard-gauge, Center: dual-gauge, Right: narrow-gauge

Tracing the Fate of an “Urban Secluded Station”

The special poster train, Yumegaoka SORATOS, arriving at Yumegaoka Station

Do you remember my post from three years ago about the urban secluded station, Yumegaoka? Today, I’d like to share a little update on how things have changed since then.

Let’s start with a quick look at Yumegaoka Station. It is located in Yokohama City on the Sotetsu (Sagami Railway) Izumino Line. When I visited in 2022, there were no shops or houses around the station at all. The daily ridership was only about 1,000 passengers. It really lived up to the name “urban secluded station.”

So, what does it look like three years later? Please take a look at the photo below. Yes — that’s a giant shopping mall, SORATOS, standing right in front of Yumegaoka Station. It was opened by the Sotetsu Group in July 2024. With more than 130 shops, restaurants, a theater, and much more, Yumegaoka now sees over 8,500 passengers per day.

Sotetsu is actively promoting shopping at SORATOS. In the top photo, you can see a special poster train called the Yumegaoka SORATOS, using Set 10707 of the EMU 10000 series. It commemorates the cumulative 3 million riders at Yumegaoka Station since SORATOS opened. The train features Sotetsu’s mascot character, Sounyan, on both the front and the sides — and it looks absolutely adorable!

I really enjoyed seeing the Yumegaoka SORATOS train and exploring the new mall. But at the same time, I felt a touch of sadness, because the once quiet, secluded station has transformed into a lively hub you might find anywhere in the city. Being a rail fan is a mixed bag, isn’t it?

Interior of the SORATOS shopping mall in front of Yumegaoka Station

Related link:

・Official information about the Yumegaoka SORATOS train by Sotetsu (in Japanese)

Autumn Visit to the Silent Tracks of the Ahina Line

An abandoned track of the former Seibu-Ahina Line

Are there any ruin enthusiasts in your country? In Japan, there are quite a few. They love exploring deserted towns, mines, factories, and things like that. I’m not exactly a ruin enthusiast, but I’m at least fond of abandoned railway tracks. Let me share one of my memorable abandoned tracks with you today. My thanks go to the Chairperson of the KuHa 703 Preservation Society, who kindly told me about this heartfelt ruin.

The Ahina Line was opened in 1925 as a branch line of what is now the Seibu-Shinjuku Line. The route originally functioned to transport gravel from the Iruma River riverbed to large cities for construction. Connecting Minami-Ōtsuka and Ahina, the route length was 3.2 kilometers. The track was single and electrified. After 38 years of operation, the Ahina Line was closed in 1963.

Please take a look at the photo above. This is the former Seibu-Ahina Line. The track has been left untouched for a long time, and in this season it was covered with fallen leaves. It would be impossible to revive it now. I felt sad as a rail fan, but at the same time, the abandoned track looked beautiful and somehow made me feel calm. It was different from other abolished tracks I have visited in urban areas, such as the Sagami Branch Line, parts of the Toyoko Line, and the Yokohama Harbor Line.

Finally, I have to say that ruin enthusiasts must follow rules when visiting abandoned tracks. Many dangerous spots lie in prohibited or private areas. Please be careful.

The former Ahina Line (left, a green area) and the Shinjuku Line (right) at Minami-Ōtsuka Sta.

Tobu 8000 Series: An Endangered Species

Set 8199 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series arriving at Shinrinkoen Station

I have to admit, being a rail fan is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, we get super excited about new trains. On the other, it’s really sad to see old ones retire. So, what do we really feel? Honestly… both. Today, I want to talk about the sad part.

On October 16, Tobu Railway announced that Set 8577 of the EMU Tobu 8000 series will retire soon. It’s going to be moved to Zao Ropeway, one of Tobu’s subsidiaries, and apparently it will be used as a waiting room for the ropeway line. I was really shocked when I heard this, especially since Set 8577 was just on display as an active train at the Railway Museum from April to May this year.

The 8000 series first came out in 1963 as Tobu’s commuter train for busy city routes. Over the next 21 years, a total of 712 cars were built by ALNA and others. But even trains can’t escape age. Their numbers have been slowly going down, and scrapping started back in the late 2000s. Now, only 167 cars are still running.

After reading the news, I went to Shinrinkoen Station on the Tobu-Tojo Line to catch a glimpse of the 8000 series. These days, all of them run in 4-car formations. The long 8000 series trains are gone, and they don’t even run into central Tokyo anymore.

The EMU Tobu 8000 series… I didn’t realize there were so few left. You really are an endangered species now.

Set 81107 (a special-colored train) of the EMU Tobu 8000 series