2018 Sakura Season in Tokyo: The Inokashira Line

EMU Keio 1000 series travels on the Inokashira Line backed by fully bloomed Sakura trees

On March 17th, the Meteorological Agency of Japan declared that sakura (cherry) blossoms had started blooming in Tokyo. The agency then reported that they fully blossomed on March 24th.

As I post year after year, Japanese people harbor romantic emotions towards sakura blossoms. We are also reminded of the emptiness of life seeing the beautiful blossoms dropping only a week after they fully blossom. This season is precious for us. Sakura viewing is a part of Japanese culture; famous sakura spots are crowded with admirers. They spread mats on the ground under the blossoms, and have parties with their family, friends and colleagues.

This year, I visited Takaido, which is close to my parents' house. We can see beautiful sakura trees on the bank of the Kanda River and the Keio-Inokashira Line. It is a place filled with memories for me since I went to a kindergarten in Takaido when I was a kid. We kindergarten pupils often walked along the stream and the track with our teacher seeing the fully bloomed sakura trees and the rattling trains.

Currently, the EMU 1000 series is the sole model on the Inokashira Line. It was launched in 1996 to replace the old model, the 3000 series. A total of 29 sets were built by Tokyu Sharyo and Nippon Sharyo. The 1000 series comprises five 20 m-long cars. The first batch is composed of two motor cars and three trailers, while the second batch is changed to consist of three motor cars and two trailers to prevent from racing.

A fully bloomed Sakura tree and the EMU Keio 1000 series

Sayonara to the Old Express Train

Set 2011 (original color) of the EMU Keikyu 2000 series (March, 2018)

On March 5th, Keikyu Corporation made a press release announcing that their old express train, the EMU 2000 series, will be retired from the track by the end of March.

The 2000 series was commissioned in 1982 for the express train. A total of 12 sets, 72 cars, were built by Tokyu Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. One set comprised 8 or 4 cars. The 2000 series originally had 4 doors per car and cross seats. One car had both forward and backward facing seats across the center of a car, which means that the passengers looked at each other across the center of a car. It was quite unique.

In 1998, a new express model, namely EMU 2100 series, was launched. The position of the Keikyu's flagship train was replaced with the 2100 series. The 2000 series was modified to become the standard commuter trains with 6 doors per car and long seats. The color design of the train bodies was also changed to the standard one, which is red with a white stripe under the windows. Set 2011 only has the original color design, which is two-toned red and ivory. Recently, the 2000 series was commissioned as the airport access train between Haneda Airport and the Yokohama area.

According to a media report, the last run of the 2000 series was conducted on March 25th. Many rail-fans flocked to the Keikyu Line. Sayonara (good-bye) and Arigatou (thank you), the 2000 series.

Set 2018 of the EMU Keikyu 2000 series before modification

Photo: Nicolai Okkels (1996)

Visit to Fujimigaoka Railyard

Fujimigaoka Railyard near Fujimigaoka Station on the Keio Inokashira Line

Do you have good luck of the draw? No, I don't. I have normally no luck with lotteries at all, but I was recently a lucky person. I won the lottery to join the railyard tour on the Keio-Inokashira Line. I visited Fujimigaoka Railyard on March 17th, while grasping the winning notification of the lottery. It was a warm and clear day on the weekend so that I could fully enjoy this precious opportunity.

Fujimigaoka is the sole railyard on the Keio-Inokashira Line, which is located next to Fujimigaoka station. A total of 29 sets, 145 units of rolling stock are maintained there. They are all the EMU 1000 series, which was commissioned in 1996. One of the features of this stainless-steel body EMU is that each train set shows a different color on the front mask and side lines. Those are salmon-pink, white, ivory-white, lilac-colored and so on. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. The gauge size is 1,067 mm, which is different from the Keio Line.

In the railyard, I saw many rail-fans, families and couples. Children were playing with the miniature Keio trains. On the other hand, rail-fans like me could see precious scenes such as the lifting up of a train body by a crane. I also experienced train washing by a washing machine boarding on a train.

For a memory of the visit, I purchased a new pen case, which is made of train sheet cloth, before leaving the railyard.

Lifting up of a train body by a crane

Official information about the trains on the Keio and Inokashira lines (in Japanese):

https://www.keio.co.jp/group/traffic/railroading/introduction_of_train/index.html

Public Transportation in the Waterfront Area

EMU Tokyo Monorail 1000 series travels in the waterfront area of Tokyo Metropolis

Tokyo is a super-high density city. More than 30 million people live in this small metropolitan area. It has been spreading into the suburbs, underground, air and sea. There are many reclaimed lands on Tokyo Bay. What is the public transportation like in this newly created waterfront area?

Firstly, the railway is the main transportation artery. The JR East Keiyo Line plays an important role in the eastern part of the waterfront area. It was fully opened in 1990, connecting Tokyo and Soga in Chiba Prefecture.

Secondly, AGT (Automated Guideway Transit) is also important in the central part of the waterfront area. The Yurikamome Line was opened in 1995, connecting Shimbashi and Ariake. It was later extended to Toyosu, a newly developed residential quarter.

Thirdly, the Monorail is a traditional transportation mean. The Haneda Line of Tokyo Monorail Company was opened in the western part of the waterfront area in 1964, connecting Hamamatsucho and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). The track was mainly constructed on the canals in the reclaimed lands. 

Please don't forget one more public transportation mean. It is a water bus. Currently, at least three companies operate several routes in the waterfront area. They have unique boats to attract passengers. A newly established Urban Launch has a small boat. Connecting Shibaura, Odaiba and Toyosu, the company operates seven services per day. The route is located mainly on the canals, rivers and the coastal part of Tokyo Bay.

Mini-travel in the waterfront area is an excellent attraction in Tokyo.

A water bus travels in the waterfront area of Tokyo Metropolis

Nostalgic Diesel Rail-car on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line

Diesel rail-car, TH3501, travels on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line

As I posted before, Tenryu-Hamanako Railway is a local company in Shizuoka Prefecture, about 270 km west of Tokyo. It is the former Futamata Line of Japanese National Railways (JNR), and was spun off from JNR and privatized in 1986. Connecting Kakegawa and Shinjohara on the JR Central Tokaido Main Line, the route length is 67.7 km. The track is single and non-electrified. The gauge size is 1,067 mm. A lovely diesel rail-car is operated every half an hour on average.

Along with the TH2100 series, which I introduced before, a diesel rail-car, TH3000 series, plays an important role on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line. The TH3000 was launched in 1995 to increase transportation capacity of the line. A total of two units were built by Fuji Heavy Industries (present Subaru). One unit, named TH3502, was scrapped in 2010; therefore, only one unit, named TH3501, is operated as an active member. The TH3000 series has an 18 meter-long steel body and a diesel engine, which was made by Cummins Inc., with 257 kW output. The transmission system is hydraulic.

Currently, TH3501 is operated as a "Slow Life Train". Its concept is enjoying what the Japanese landscape used to be. Riding the slow train, passengers can enjoy the nostalgic landscape in the countryside. For that purpose, beautiful window curtains and headrests are equipped as train interior decorations. They are made by Finnish fabric brand, Marimekko.

Riding the TH3000 series diesel rail-car, I enjoyed the slow life on the Tenryu-Hamanoko Line with my family.

Diesel rail-car, TH 2100 series (left) and TH3500 series (right)

Official information about Tenryu Hamanako Railway:
https://www.tenhama.co.jp/english/
Official information about Slow Life Train (in Japanese):

https://www.tenhama.co.jp/events/4936/

Official information about the trains on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line (in Japanese):

https://www.tenhama.co.jp/about/geton/