The Miyajima Line, Approarch to the Island of God

Electric rail car, Hiroden Type 3800 stands at Miyajima-guchi Terminal on the Miyajima Line

On the second day of our journey to Hiroshima, we visited Itsukushima, which is well known as the Island of God.

The main place of worship is Itsukushima Shrine that was originally built in 593. This is the only shrine in the world built over the surface of the sea. They could only build it there, because the island itself had been considered sacred as an island of God since ancient times. Even priests had not been allowed to live on the island since the 6th century, when it was built, until the 19th century. Following the ancient worshippers, we also visited the shrine by boat through the "torii" gate built in the sea (photo at the bottom). Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

To get to this Island of God, we took the Miyajima Line of Hiroshima Electric Railway. The rolling stock was an electric car, Type 3800, which was launched in 1987. It is an articulated three-car tram with four bogies. The total length of the rail car is 29.6m. VVVF (variable-frequency drive) inverters with induction motors are equipped as a drive system. A total of nine sets, 27 units have been manufactured so far by Alna Sharyo.

For your information, although "streetcars" are operated on the track, the Miyajima Line is classified as a "railway" based on the Railway Business Act of Japan. It is NOT a "tramway", because it is an exclusive track.

"Torii" gate of Itsukushima Shrine

 

Route map of Hiroshima Electric Railway: http://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/s-routemap.html

Hiroden, Japan's Largest Tram Network

Electric car Hiroden Type 1000 stands at Dobashi Stop

 

Hiroshima is the largest city in Chugoku District. The population now stands at 1.14 million, which is the eleventh largest in Japan. It is also famous for the first city in the world to have been atomic-bombed. Although the downtown area was completely destroyed by the bomb in 1945, it has been reconstructed after WWII.

Hiroshima is also well known among rail fans as Japan's largest tram network city. A total of 7 labyrinthine routes are operated by a private railway company, Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden). Its total operating length is 35.1km.

Hiroden has a rich variety of streetcars. A total of 299 units are operated. The oldest rolling stock was manufactured in 1925; meanwhile the latest one was launched this year. Look at the photos. It is the latest model, the electric railcar Type 1000. It is an articulated three-car tram with two bogies. The bogies are equipped in cars number 1 and 3. In other words, car number 2 doesn't have a bogie... just being floated and being supported by cars number 1 and 3. The other feature of the Type 1000 is its low floor. The height of the cabin floor is only 36cm from the track. Needless to say, this structurally-engineered car is enthusiastically welcomed, especially by old people. A total of two sets have been manufactured so far by Kinki Sharyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industies and Toyo Denki Seizo.

Electric car Hiroden Type 1000 arrives at Dobashi Stop

 

More information about Hiroshima Electric Railway: http://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/

Classic Streetcar and Peace Memorial in Hiroshima City

Electric car Type Hiroden (Ex-Kyoto City Tram) 1900 stands at Yokogawa Terminal  

 

After a visit to Kintai Bridge, we took a night train from Iwakuni Station on the Sanyo Main Line. Getting off at Yokogawa Station in Hiroshima City, we transferred to a tram line on the Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden).

It was already 8.30pm, and really dark around the station. We got on a streetcar and headed to a hotel in the downtown area. The rolling stock was the electric car, Hiroden unit number 1911 of the Type 1900. The 1911 had been operated on the Kyoto City Tram line until 1977. It was manufactured by Alna Sharyo in 1957, and was moved to Hiroden in 1978 to spend its second life after retirement. Although, some modifications such as installation of the air conditioning system have been made, the 1911 still keeps much of its original shape. We were lucky to get on this precious streetcar on day one of our stay in Hiroshima City.

We got off the tram near the Peace Memorial Park, which was located about 15 minutes by streetcar from Yokogawa Station. The Peace Memorial Park is close to the epicenter of the atomic bomb blast in 1945 at the end of WWII. At one corner of the park stands the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Atomic Bomb Dome), but it remains preserved in its bombed-out state, showing its collapsed walls and bare iron skeleton. It is a precious monument intended to call for peace. Hiroshima Peace Memorial was designated a World Heritage site in 1996.

For the sake of the world peace...

Hiroshima Peace Memorial near Genbaku Dome-mae stop on the Hiroshima Electric Railway

Iwakuni Station in the Twilight

EMU JR West 115 series (New Hiroshima Color) stands at Iwakuni Station

After visit to Kintai Bridge (see my blog on May 1st, 2013), we returned to Iwakuni Station on the JR West Sanyo Line to go to Hiroshima City. We spent a lot of time enjoying the scenery of the bridge and a historical park nearby; so, by the time I arrived at the station, the day had completely set in. Since I found there was a wait for the next train, I had a time to see several rolling stocks standing at the station. Rail fans are always busy while traveling.

Look at the top photo. It is an EMU, JR West 115 series, a standard commuter train with a dark yellow body color. It is the so-called "New Hiroshima color", which is a new standard train color in the Hiroshima area. Frankly speaking, it is not my favorite color; however, it looks beautiful in the twilight, probably because it is brightly-colored.

On the other hand, the following picture shows a diesel rail car, Type KiHa 40 on the Gantoku Line. The Type KiHa 40 is a standard diesel rail car for local lines. It was launched in 1977 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). The body is two-toned yellow and white with a gray stripe, which is called "Hiroshima color" among rail fans. It also looks beautiful in the twilight.

Escaping from the urban jungle, we were standing on the very quiet platform of Iwakuni Station in the twilight. It got quite late.

Diesel rail car JR West Type KiHa40 (Hiroshima Color) stands at Iwakuni Station

Precious Bridge and Precious Train

EMU JR West 113/115 series (Setouchi Color) travels on the Sanyo Main Line

Japanese take about one straight week of holidays during the so-called "Golden Week" starting from the end of April. This year, Golden Week refers to the period from April 27th to May 6th when there are four national holidays. Using Golden Week, I headed to the west with my family.

Our first destination was Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is located some 940km from Tokyo. Taking Shinkansen and the Sanyo Main Line, It takes around five hours by train. Our first target was precious "Kintai Bridge (Brocade Sash Bridge)", which is a historical wooden arch bridge over Nishiki River.

Kintai Bridge was built in 1673 by the lord, Kikkawa Hiroyoshi. Although it has been replaced several times due to its age, the design of the bridge still keeps to the original. I admired the graceful shape of the bridge for a while. Specifically, the timbered bridge girder is elaborately artistic.

In the meantime, while I took a train to Iwakuni, I went by an oncoming precious rolling stock on the track. It was a "Setouchi Color" train of the EMU JR West 113 and 115 series. In the past, most of the trains in this area were colored beige with a dark blue stripe. It is the so-called "Setouchi color". But, they have currently been changed to a dark yellow color. Only 3 sets of the 113 and the 115 series remain as Setouchi color trains.

I had a good day today as I saw a precious bridge and a precious train.

Kintai Bridge near Iwakuni Station on the JR West Sanyo Main Line