Atami: Hot Spring City in Shizuoka Prefecture

Leaving Atami station, EMU JR East 185 series, limited express "Odoriko", heads to Tokyo

After enjoying Ooita Prefecture on Kyushu Island, we visited Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture on our Golden Week holidays. Along with Beppu, Atami is a famous hot spring city in Japan. It is located about 100km west of downtown Tokyo.

The name of the city, Atami, means "hot sea". Obviously, it represents that hot springs are seen on the coast in this city. In fact, we can see many bursts of steam from hot water wells here and there in the city. Another appeal of Atami is its beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. It was still in early May, but we saw many tourists visiting the beach, who were relaxed in their own way. 

To get to Atami from Tokyo, you can choose from JR Central Tokaido Shinakensen or JR East Tokaido Main Line. Obviously, the Shinkansen train is faster. It took only 33 minutes from Shinagawa Station, but it is expensive. We took the Tokaido Main Line this time. JR East's limited express train, Odoriko (dancing girl), the EMU 185 series, was convenient. As I reported before, a media outlet recently stated that the EMU 185 series will be retired from the JR East tracks within a few years. It will be replaced by the EMU E257 series, which is currently operated on the Chuo Main Line.

Operation of the EMU JR East 185 series will soon end. Please ride on it and take photographs before it is too late.

Atami Sun Beach near Atami station

EMU Keisei 3600 Series: Standard Commuter Train

3658F of the EMU Keisei 3600 series arrives at Yachiyodai station

I assumed that I had already introduced all of the train models in the Tokyo metropolitan area in this blog, since I started it in 2011; but, there are still some left. Introduction of the trains in Tokyo is a never-ending story, isn't it? Today, I am going to show you one of those trains on the Keisei Line.

The EMU Keisei 3600 series is a standard commuter train launched in 1982. A total of 9 sets, 54 units were built by Tokyu Sharyo and Nippon Sharyo. Currently, 6 sets, 44 units (8-car x 5 sets and 4-car x 1 set) are still operated on the line. It originally had a field chopper electric control system; but one set was modified to VVVF (variable frequency drive) electric control system in 1999.

The design of the 3600 series is just plain. It is a typical commuter train in the 1970s and 1980s. For instance, it has stainless-steel bodies with corrugations. Its face is gable-shaped with large rounded frontal lights and tail lights. The gangway connection is recessed from the gable surface. They are indeed nostalgic for rail-fans, as 36 years have already passed since they debuted.

The 3600 series is directly operated onto the subway Toei-Asakusa line; however, it is impossible to be operated onto the Keikyu line because of its technical specifications. The scrapping of this model has been commenced. Please ride on and take photographs of the 3600 series before it is too late.

3658F of the EMU Keisei 3600 series, rapid service train, stands at Yachiyodai station

Official information about the trains on the Keisei line (in Japanese):

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/accessj/sharyou.htm

Beppu: The City of Volcanoes and Hot Springs

Gondola "Tsurumi" of the Beppu Ropeway

Japanese take about one straight week of holidays during the so-called "Golden Week" starting from the end of April. This year, Golden Week refered to the period from April 28th to May 6th when there were four national holidays. Using Golden Week, I headed to Ooita Prefecture on Kyushu Island with my family.

Our first destination was Beppu City, about 1,200 km west of Tokyo. Beppu is famous for its volcanic activities. For instance, scenic Mt. Tsurumidake (elevation: 1,375 m) is a popular spot among tourists. Beppu Ropeway is a convenient access to the summit. It is an aerial tramway opened in 1962. Connecting Beppu-kogen and Tsurumi-sanjo stations, its route length is 1,816 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 792.5 meters. Its maximum inclination is 33.6 degrees. The gondola is operated every 20 minutes with an operating speed of 4.1 meters per second. It takes 10 minutes to go one way. The current gondolas, namely Tsurumi and Yufu, were built by Kinki Sharyo in 1986. Each gondola can hold up to 101 passengers.

After enjoying Mt. Tsurumidake, we visited Umi-jigoku (sea hell) in the urban area. Umi-jigoku is a hot spring, which emerged after the eruption of a volcano about 1200 years ago. It is called "sea hell", because its emerald color is associated with the sea. Along with Chinoike-jigoku (blood pond hell), which has red water, Umi-jigoku is also one of the popular sightseeing spots in Beppu City.

Beppu is not a hell but a heaven for world travelers.

Umi-jigoku (Sea Hell) hot spring in Beppu City

Official information about Beppu Ropeway:

http://www.beppu-ropeway.co.jp/leaflet/leaflet_eng.pdf?d=20150504

EMU Toei 5300 Series: Update

EMU Toei 5300 series travels on the Hokuso line

Four years have already passed since I reported on the train on the subway Asakusa line for the first time. What is the news with this urban subway route operated by the Transportation Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (hereafter Toei)?

On September 27th last year, a new train, named EMU 5500 series, was started to bring into the Magome rail yard. This new model was introduced to replace the deteriorated model, namely EMU 5300 series. A total of 8 sets, 64 units, are planned to be built by J-trec by the end of March 2019. As of May 2018, the 5500 series has not been commissioned yet. It is said that inductive interference problem was found during their test runs. It will be some time before the commencement of commercial services of the 5500 series.

In the meantime, the existing 5300 series was launched in 1991 to replace the old 5000 series. A total of 27 sets, 216 units, were built by Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo and Kinki Sharyo. Its constitution is 4M4T (4 motor cars and 4 trailers). Currently, It is directly operated onto the Keikyu, Keisei and Hokuso lines. The 5300 series has aluminum bodies with induction motors and VVVF (variable frequency drive) electric control system. I like the 5300 series, as it has urban-style bodies with a beautiful pristine white color.

According to Toei, all the existing 5300 series will be replaced by the 5500 series in the future. Please take photographs of the 5300 series before it is too late.

EMU Toei 5300 series arrives at Higashi-Matsudo station on the Hokuso line

Official information about the EMU Toei 5300 series (in Japanese):

http://www.kinkisharyo.co.jp/ja/products/sh/5300.htm

Full Blown Wisteria on the Tobu Line

EMU Tokyo Metro 03 series arrives at Nishiarai station on the Tobu Isesaki line

Wisteria is a pea family plant seen in the low mountains in Japan. It has pale purple flowers in the middle of spring. The natural wisteria in the mountains is definitely attractive; but artificial ones, grown using a trellis, is more gorgeous and impressive. I recently visited the garden of Nishiarai-Daishi temple in Adachi Ward of Tokyo Metropolis to admire wisteria flowers. Amazingly, it was not a group of trees, but a single tree grown on the trellis. In other words, I could see only one trunk of wisteria in the center of the trellis. When I visited there, it was in full bloom and the fragrance of the flowers was hanging in the air.

To get to Nishiarai-Daishi temple, the nearest station is Daishimae on the Tobu line. On the way to Daishimae, I came across the EMU Tokyo Metro 03 series, which was directly operated from the subway Hibiya line. The 03 series is an old model launched in 1988. It is an 8-car train consisting of 18-meter short bodies. A total of 42 sets were built by Kinki Sharyo, Tokyu Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo. The older 25 sets have chopper electric control system; while the newer 22 sets have VVVF inverter control (variable-frequency drive) system.

Due to the introduction of the new model, namely EMU 13000 series, the 03 series is planned to be retired from the track by the year 2020. Please take photographs of the 03 series before it is too late.

Full blown wisteria is seen in the garden of Nishiarai Daishi temple near Daishimae station