National Treasure on the Takasaki Line

EMU JR East 231 series arrives at Gyoda Station on the Takasaki Line

 

Kangi-in is an old Buddhist temple in Kumagaya City of Saitama Prefecture, some 70 km north of Tokyo. It was opened in 1179 by Saito Sanemori, who was a Kumagaya-based local military commander.

In 2012, the main building of Kangi-in temple, namely Shodendo, was designated as a national treasure by the government. It was originally built some time around 1184, but it was reconstructed in 1760 by Hayashi Masakiyo, who was a head of carpenters.

Shodendo is a large reputable building, but more importantly, there are many colorful sculptures on the walls of the building. They are phoenixes, great men and children. Repairs to Shodendo were started in 2003, as it was weathered and worn. It took 7 years to complete the renovations and it was perfect when it was reopened. Local people are proud of this new national treasure.

To get to this precious spot, take the JR East Takasaki Line and get off at Kumagaya Station. It takes about one hour by rapid train from Ueno in the downtown Tokyo area. The EMU E231 series is the main fleet on the line. This model is basically the same as that of the train being operated on the Tokaido Main Line. It was launched in 2000 to replace the old model, the 115 series. All of the trains belong to Oyama Rail Yard near Oyama Station.

The delightful train takes you rapidly to the city of national treasure.

Shodendo (National Treasure) in Kangiin Temple near Kumagaya Station on the Takasaki Line 

Thinking of the Disaster City

Unit number 809 of the electric car, Hiroden Type 800 arrives at Dobashi Stop

 

We had broken weather this summer in Japan. It was very hot in the first half. The daytime maximum temperature in many places often reached 35 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, it was rainy every day in the second half of the summer. Many areas in Japan were subjected to torrential rain. Especially, a typhoon caused heavy damage to Hiroshima City, some 900 km west of Tokyo. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Hiroshima saw 120 mm (4.74 inches) of rainfall in just one hour. Many houses were destructed by multiple mudslides along the Chugoku Mountains. I hope that local people quickly got over the shock of this disaster.

Speaking of Hiroshima, I am going to show you an electric car in Hiroshima City with my feeling for local people. As I mentioned before, Hiroshima is well known as Japan's largest tram network city. Its total operating length is 35.1km. The track gauge is 1,435mm and the electric system is 600V DC overhead. Currently, 299 units are operated on the tracks.
 

The electric car 800 series is one of the major fleets on the Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden). It was commissioned as a new standard streetcar model in 1983. A total of 14 units have been manufactured so far by Alna Koki. Each one is 13.5 m or 13.68 m long, and carries 91 passengers.

 

The electric car 800 series will take part in the activity of reconstruction of the city as vigorous urban transporters.

Unit number 808 of the electric car, Hiroden Type 800 stands at Yokogawa Terminal

Rose Garden on the Saikyo Line

EMU JR East E233-7000 series arrives at Naka-Urawa Station on the Saikyo Line

 

I can't believe that it is September already, as I feel as though I just celebrated the New Year a short while ago. Before introducing the topics of autumn, I am going to step back to spring time this year for a while.

In May, I visited Yono, some 30 km north of Tokyo. Yono used to be a small urban commuter city, but it was incorporated with several surrounding cities, and became part of the larger Saitama City in 2003.

Yono Rose Garden was opened as a part of Yono Park in 1977 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the park. The main concept of the rose garden was "an investment for people's hearts". Following this concept, people of Yono started a rose festival in 1980, which has become a large regional event. When we visited the garden, I saw many rose lovers, including foreigners, admiring the blossoms.

To visit this gorgeous spot, JR East Saikyo Line is convenient. Connecting Oosaki and Oomiya, the route length is 36.9 km. The entire route is an electrified double track. The track gauge is 1,067 mm and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead.

The Saikyo Line penetrates suburban residential areas in the northern part of Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama City. The EMU JR East E233-7000 series is the major fleet on the line. The E233-7000 series debuted in 2013 to replace the old EMU 205 series. The shining stainless steel body with its green-colored stripe is fresh.
 

Rose garden in the Yono Park near Yono-honcho Station on the Saikyo Line

Gondola Lift to Panorama Park

View from Izunokuni Panorama Park Ropeway near Sanroku Station

 

Mt. Katsuragi is located in the northern part of Izu Peninsula, some 120 km southwest of Tokyo. Although it is a small mountain that stands only 452 m above sea level, the summit is famous for its glorious view of Mt. Fuji far across Suruga Bay. I visited this superb spot with my family at the weekend.

To get to this viewing spot, Izunokuni Panorama Park Ropeway is convenient. It was opened in 1962, and renovated in 1992 due to antiquated equipment. Izunokuni Panorama Ropeway is a gondola lift, whose operating length is 1.8 km. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 411 m. The maximum angle of the route is 36 degrees. Six-seater gondolas are operated at the speed of 5.0 meters per second. It takes about seven minutes from Sanroku (foot of the mountain) to Sancho (summit) Station. A total of 40 cabins are operated every half a minute.

While we embarked on the gondola with high expectation, it was misty around the summit. In the end we couldn't see a view of Mt. Fuji that day. We felt faintly sorry... but never mind as we cooled off on a hot summer day escaping from the heat in the city. There are 170 aerial lifts in Japan. I have already introduced 13 routes so far; however, 158 routes are yet-to-be-reported. It will be a never ending story.

In the meantime, I have linked to a Danish rail fan's infromative website, Letbaner. DK. Please enjoy the latest news on the urban railways in Denmark.
 

View from Izunokuni Panorama Park Ropeway near Sacho Station

EMU Tobu 100 Series, "Spacia": New Colors

EMU Tobu 100 series, "Spacia" (purple color), arrives at JR East Shinjuku Station 

Tobu is one of the major railway companies in Japan. They operate the largest private railway network in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and are aggressive in diversifying their business. Their current biggest news is the grand opening of Tokyo Sky Tree, the 634 meter-high world's tallest broadcasting tower near Oshiage Station in 2012.

Tobu Railway, then, geared up for the promotion of tourism to Nikko, a World Heritage Site by renovating their flagship train, "Spacia", the EMU 100 series. The interior of Spacia has become more gorgeous and the exterior colors have also been changed. Currently, there are three body colors, namely orange, purple and blue.

Spacia was launched in 1990. A total of 9 sets, 54 units have been manufactured so far by Alna Koki and Tokyu Sharyo. Because of its unique design and high specifications, Spacia was elected as the 1991 Blue Ribbon Prize train. As you may know, the Blue Ribbon Prize is an annual award presented by the Japan Railfan Club since 1958, awarded to the best train that was launched in the previous year. Actually, almost all awarded trains to date are representative carriages in each railway company.

I, recently, had a chance to take photographs of the new colored Spacia in JR East Shinjuku Station, since Spacia is directly operated onto the JR East lines in the downtown Tokyo area. The new colored trains were shining beautifully under the evening illumination in the station yard.
 

EMU Tobu 100 series, "Spacia" (green color), stands at JR East Shinjuku Station