After enjoying the “Big Catch Cherry” blossoms at Nakane Station, I boarded the Minato Line once again. My next stop was Nakaminato, one of the best places for railfans to observe the diverse fleet of the Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway.
The moment I stepped off the train at Nakaminato Station, something unusual immediately caught my eye. Standing quietly in a corner of the station was a bright yellow diesel railcar that I had never seen before on this line. Take a look at the top photo. What could it be?
If you are thinking, “I’ve seen this railcar somewhere before on this blog,” you probably have a sharp eye for Japanese rolling stock. The answer is a KiHa100 series diesel railcar formerly operated by JR East.
Here is the story behind it. Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway recently acquired three second-hand diesel railcars from JR East. Two of them will replace aging vehicles currently in service. The third one, however, is destined for something more special — a new sightseeing train.
The bright yellow railcar in the photo is that very unit.
Its official designation is KiHa100-40, a member of the KiHa100 series. Interestingly, Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway decided to retain JR East’s original numbering. At the same time, the car received a new nickname:
“Wrapped Train of the Hoshi-imo Train Kingdom,” or simply the Hoshi-imo Train.
So what exactly is Hoshi-imo?
Hoshi-imo is a traditional local specialty made from steamed and dried sweet potatoes. With no artificial sweeteners, it is a simple yet naturally sweet and chewy snack that has long been popular in this region. In a fun touch, the side of the train even features the recipe for Hoshi-imo, complete with a short English explanation for visitors (see the photo below).
A train that teaches you how to make a local snack — how cool is that?
According to a station staff member, the Hoshi-imo Train will soon enter service as a sightseeing train on the Minato Line. Perhaps passengers will even be able to enjoy some freshly prepared Hoshi-imo on board. That would certainly make the ride even more memorable.
From a technical standpoint, the KiHa100 series is a compact 16.5-meter diesel hydraulic railcar that first appeared on JR East lines in 1990. A total of 64 cars were built by Niigata Tekko and Fuji Heavy Industries, each powered by a 243 kW diesel engine.
The particular unit seen here, KiHa100-40, was built in 1991 and transferred to Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway in 2024.
I’m already looking forward to riding the Hoshi-imo Train on my next visit to Nakaminato.
To be continued…
