Summer-end Fireworks on the Tokaido Line

EMU JR East 185 series stands at Atami Station on the Tokaido Main Line

Although it's still hot in the daytime, the mornings and evenings are now quite comfortable. Many Tokyoites have an end-of-summer melancholy feeling, and I am one of them. Regretting the passing summer, I visited Atami City to see the summer-end fireworks. As I mentioned in my blog on February 1st, Atami is well known as a resort city in the Tokyo metropolitan area. It is located some 100km southwest of downtown Tokyo.

Japanese people have a love of fireworks. They add a sort of poetic charm to the summer season. From July to September, fireworks events are held in many areas. About 3,000 fireworks were set off in Atami (see the following picture). Being controlled by computers, they are very gorgeous and well programmed.

To get to Atami from Tokyo, you can choose from JR Central Tokaido Shinakansen or JR East Tokaido Main Line. If you choose Shinkansen, it's faster but expensive. If you choose Tokaido Main Line, it's exactly the opposite. I took the Tokaido Main Line this time, as I prefer a leisurely trip.

The top photo is the EMU JR East 185 series taken at Atami Station. The 185 series was launched in 1981 by Japan National Railways (JNR) to replace old express trains. A total of 227 units have been manufactured. After breakup and privatization of JNR in 1987, all units have been transferred to JR East. 31 years have already passed, but they still play an important role on the Tokaido Main Line.
 

Summer-end fireworks on the Atami Beach near Atami Stasion, JR East Tokaido Main Line

Pros and Cons, Design of the Tokyu 6000

EMU Tokyu 6000 series stands at Mizonokuchi Station, the Denentoshi-Oimachi Line

As I mentioned previously, the railway business in Tokyo is very competitive right now. Many companies are fighting for survival. Tokyu, which records sales of 3.5billion US dollars per year, is no exception. They are facing fierce competition from JR East and other railway companies (see my blog on February 14th). In this business circumstance, Tokyu has a clear strategy for survival: restructuring of the railway network. Take for instance, the Oimachi Line.

The Oimachi line used to be a short local line connecting Oimachi and Futako-Tamagawa. All-stations trains were operated slowly; however, the operation totally changed in 2009. All trains began to operate directly on the Tokyu- Denentoshi Line through Futako-Tamagawa, because the double-double track of the Denentoshi Line had been completed. In other words, the Oimachi Line had been extended substantially. The railway network had been reinforced.

Taking the above opportunity, Tokyu launched express trains on the Oimachi Line, using a new model, the EMU 6000 series. The red colored front mask is very unique (see the top photo). There are pros and cons among passengers about this design. Some people say "cool and futuristic", but others say "catchpenny robot".

As a rail-fan, I would like to compliment Tokyu's challenging spirit. Today, standardization is a keyword for many railway companies to reduce their capital expenditures. As a result, many trains have become very similar to each other. They are meat-and-potato vehicles.

I am looking forward to seeing new and unique second and third trains in Tokyo

Side view of EMU Tokyu 6000 series

The Nagano Color 115 and Summer End Scenery

EMU JR East 115 series (Nagano color) stands at Otsuki Station on the Chuo Line

The weather has become gradually cooler, giving Tokyoites a sense of the upcoming autumn. This summer was really sizzling. Visiting a cool environment was my only pleasure. Nagano was the best place.

Nagano Prefecture, which is surrounded by steep mountains, is located some 150km west of Tokyo. Millions of holidaymakers visit this mountain resort prefecture during the summer vacation season, as it is cooler than Tokyo.

I like Kurumayama Highlands on the Chuo Line. It is nearly 2,000m high above the sea, and famous for its beautiful scenery and alpine flora. Here you are afforded a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Fuji, the Yatsugatake Mountains and Japan Alps, which defies description.

The railway in Nagano Prefecture is also gorgeous. For instance, as I mentioned in my blog on June 22nd, the trains on the Koumi Line run in the highlands at an elevation of 1345 meters, which is Japan's highest railway track.

When I visited Kurumayama Highlands, I got on a local train on the Chuo Line. The EMU JR East 115 series, the so-called "Nagano color trains," are the major fleet there. They have ivory colored bodies with light blue and emerald colored stripes (see the top photo). It is a standard commuter train, launched in 1963. Nearly 2,000 units have been manufactured for 20 years, but most of them have been scrapped. Currently they are designated as an endangered species by rail-fans.

Autumn is just around the corner.
 

Summer end scenery of Kurumayama Highland near Kami-Suwa Station on the Chuo Line

F-Train II, Special Poster Train on the Odakyu Line

EMU Odakyu 3093F of 3000 series, F-Train II arrives at Kyodo Station

On July 20th, Odakyu Electric Railway launched a special poster train, "F-Train II" in commemoration of the first anniversary of "Kawasaki City Fujiko F Fujio Museum".

Fujiko F Fujio (1933-1996) was a famous Japanese cartoonist, who created popular comics, such as Doraemon, Perman and Kiteretsu. After his death, Fujiko F Fujio Museum was opened, and has been operated by Kawasaki Municipal Office, as he had been lived in Kawasaki City for long time. His original drawings and related materials are displayed in the museum.

F-Train II is a 10-car train, EMU 3093F of 3000 series wrapped in posters. It carries designs of Fujiko F Fujio's popular cartoon characters on the blue, pink, orange, yellow and green colored car bodies (see the top photo).

F-Train II has a tidbit of history. In 2011, Odakyu launched the first F-Train, but it was short lived. It was because the F-Train had violated the regulation of Tokyo Metropolitan Government. According to the regulation, Odakyu had to get a permit of the poster train prior to the operation. To make matters worse, the size of the cartoon characters had also broken the regulations. They were too large. For your information, the Odakyu Line penetrates not only Kawasaki City but also Tokyo Metropolis.

After a big fuss, the matter was settled. Odakyu has launched the second poster train, F-Train II. Although the size of the cartoon characters has shrunk, they have been revived on the body of an urban train on the Odakyu Line.
 

Closeup of the F-Train II, EMU Odakyu 3093F of 3000 series at Kyodo Station

More information about F-Train II (in Japanese): http://www.odakyu.jp/ftrain/

Hokutosei, Another Overnight Sleeper to Hokkaido

Overnight sleeper train, Hokutosei (the Big Dipper) arrives at Hakodate Station
 

Along with Cassiopeia (see my blog on 25th June), I am going to show another overnight sleeper train from Tokyo to Hokkaido Island: "Hokutosei (the Big Dipper)".

Hokutosei is operated from Ueno, a suberb of Tokyo, and Sapporo, the main city of Hokkaido Island, everyday. It was launched in 1988, when Seikan Submarine Tunnel was opened. It covers a distance of 1214.7km in about 16 hours.

The passenger cars are blue colored 24 series, which are composed of A-sleepers (first class), B-sleepers (standard class), a power-supply car and a dining car (see the following picture). A mini-lobby and shower rooms are also supplied. Although the luxury of the interior doesn't come up to that of Cassiopeia, Hokutosei is also very popular among tourists.

I have been thinking for a long time that I would get on this train, but, it has not been realized due to professional commitments and a consequent lack of time. A 16-hour trip is a bit too long for me.

 

Instead, I could take a picture of this popular train arriving at Hakodate, the gateway station of Hokkaido Island. It was an early morning in August, when I visited Hokkaido on vacation. Hokutosei appeared at platform number 8 on time after a long overnight trip from Ueno (see the top photo). It was a 12-car train pulled by an altered current electric locomotive, the type ED79.

I felt that someday I will travel by Hokutosei.

 

Dining car Type SuShi 24 of the carriage 24 series, sleeper train, Hokutosei at Ueno station

More information about Hokutosei:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/cassiopeia_hokutosei.html
Detailed information about Hokutosei (in Japanese):
http://www.jreast.co.jp/cassiopeia/hokutosei/