Early Summer Trip to Sendai City

EMU JR East E721-1000 series leaves Sakunami station on the Senzan line

On June 8th, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that this year's rainy season had begun in Tokyo. Until mid-July, the metropolitan area will have a hot and humid rainy season called Tsuyu. It's a gloomy period for Tokyoites before midsummer, so, I made a short trip to the north, where the rainy season has not started yet. My destination was a whisky distillery in Sendai City, about 380 kilometers from Tokyo. That's a quiet place surrounded by a deep green forest. I joined a guided distillery tour and a cocktail seminar. The beautiful nature also made me feel relaxed.

Since I drink alcohol, I can't drive. The access to the distillery should be by public transport, namely a train. The nearest railway station is Sakunami on the JR East Senzan line. This route was opened in 1937 penetrating steep Ou Mountains. Connecting Sendai and Yamagata cities, the line length is 58 kilometers. The track is single and electrified. The electric system is 20,000 V and 50 Hz alternative current (AC) with overhead wires. The Senzan line is well-known among rail-fans as the first AC electrified line in Japan. My vehicle was the EMU E721-1000 series. One train set is composed of 2 motorcars and two trailers (2M2T). I was very happy that cozy cross seats were equipped in the interior of the train. Drink holders beside the windows were also convenient. I fully enjoyed the excellent cafe time while watching mountain scenery on the line. I had a great early summer.

Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distiller near Sakunami station

Official information about the EMU JR East E721 series (in Japanese):

https://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/e721.html

The 60th Anniversary of Katsuta Railyard: Part 2

Set K423 (Akaden) of the JR East E531 series travels on the Joban line

"Akaden (red-colored train)" has started to come to Tokyo Metropolis. I found it at Tokyo station the other day.

What's Akaden? Is it all Greek to you? OK, let me explain. In 2021, JR East celebrated the 60th anniversary of their Katsuta Railyard. In commemoration, a special red-colored train named Akaden has been operated on the Joban and Mito lines since November, 2021. Its color design was taken from the original Akaden, namely EMU 401 series of the 1960s. The 401 series was the main fleet in Katsuta Railyard at that time. On the other hand, the modern Akaden is a revival-colored train, set K451 of the EMU E531 series. It's composed of 5 cars. I waited and waited since then, but there was no sign of its coming to Tokyo Metropolis, because set K451 had been operated only in Ibaraki Prefecture. So, I had no choice but stretched my legs far from home, and visited there myself to observe Akaden. That was in December last year.

That situation changed in April this year. JR East launched another Akaden, set K423 of the E531 series. Since then, set K423 often comes to Tokyo Metropolis. That's a "long Akaden" consisting of 10 cars including two Green Cars (the first-class cars). I saw many rail-fans taking photos of Akaden at Tokyo station. The gleaming body with rose red-colored stripes of the modern Akaden was beautiful with urban sceneries in the background. Akaden, welcome to Tokyo Metropolis! Please enjoy the megalopolis.

Green Cars of Akaden at Tokyo station

Preserved Steam Locomotive Owned by Private School

Preserved steam locomotive, Unit 4 of Seibu Railway (Unit 403 of the JGR)

After observing the Seibu steam locomotive (SL) preserved in a public park, I visited another preserved Seibu SL owned by a private school in Tokyo.

Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT) Junior and Senior High School is a historical private school in Koto Ward of Tokyo Metropolis. It was established in 1922 to offer secondary education to the employees of the Japanese Government Railways under the name of Tokyo Railway Junior High School. After WWII, this school became an attached school of Shibaura Institute of Technology, and continues to this day. On November 12th, 2022, SIT Junior and Senior High School celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding. In commemoration, the school took over an old SL from Seibu Railway, and started to display it in front of the school.

The preserved SL is Unit 4 of Seibu Railway. It was built in 1886 by Nasmyth, Wilson & Co., Ltd. in Manchester, UK. It was firstly operated on the Japanese Government Railways under the name of Unit 403 of Class 400, then transferred to Kawagoe Railway (present Seibu Railway) in 1914. After operating for 79 years in total, it was retired from the track in 1965. Unit 4 is a 2-4-2 type (Whyte notation) small tank locomotive. It's 9.188 meters long, and weighs 31,650 kilograms. The diameter of the driving wheels is 1.321 meters. It was being preserved in very good condition.

Anyone can observe this SL for free. Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of SIT Junior and Senior High School!

The preserved steam locomotive and the Yurikamome line

Official information about the preserved steam locomotive (in Japanese):

https://www.fzk.shibaura-it.ac.jp/100thproject/

Why do they like Mt. Takao so much?

EMU Keio 9000 series stands at Takao-sanguchi terminal

I recently visited Mt. Takao for the first time in a year, and fully enjoyed myself there. At the same time, I was surprised that many visitors including young people, old people and inbound tourists were spending there even though it was a weekday. Why do they like Mt. Takao so much?

That's because it is rich in nature... Yes, but Hakone and Nikko are richer in nature than that of Mt. Takao. That's because of a good reputation... to be sure, Mt. Takao was granted the highest rank of three stars in the Michelin Voyager Pratique, but that's it? That's because of an easy access to the summit taking a funicular... Good point, but is that the major reason? That's because of a hot spring near the mountain... Possible, but is it essential?

My answer is very simple. That's because it is near downtown Tokyo. It takes less than two hours from Shinjuku subcenter to the summit of Mt. Takao at 599 meters above sea level. To get to the gateway station to the mountain namely Takao-sanguchi, I took the Keio line. My vehicle was the EMU 9000 series, a standard commuter train on the line. The 9000 series stood out against the green forest around Takao-sanguchi terminal. After getting off the terminal, I transferred to the funicular of the Takao-tozan Electric Railway, and was able to reach near the summit easily. Beautiful sceneries, a historical temple, comfortable cafes and restaurants were waiting for me there. It's nice to have this kind of day.

A view from near the summit of Mt. Takao at 599 meters above sea level

The 40th Anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort

Set 101 of the EMU 100 series, "Dream Go Round Liner"

On April 15th, 2023, Tokyo Disney Resort celebrated their 40th anniversary. In commemoration, a special poster train, "Dream Go Round Liner", has been operated on the Disney Resort line since that day.

Tokyo Disney Resort was opened on April 15th, 1983, under the name of Tokyo Disneyland. Today, it has become a giant amusement complex consisting of theme parks, official hotels and shopping malls. The public transportation running through theme parks, official hotels and JR East Maihama station was inaugurated in 2001 as the Disney Resort line. It's a straddle-beam monorail line under the Railway Business Act, not an attraction inside the resort. There are four stations over the total operating length of 5.0 kilometers. The trains that are operated run counterclockwise throughout the day. The operation intervals are 3 minutes 15 seconds to 13 minutes.

Dream Go Round Liner is decorated with Micky Mouse and his friends both on the exterior and interior of the train. They're celebrating the anniversary wearing special costumes. The vehicle is set 101 of the EMU 100 series also known as "Type-C". It was originally commissioned as the first set of the 100 series in 2020. Its original yellow-colored stripe has remained on the front of the train. For your information, four sets of the 100 series are currently operated on the line. The other three sets (set 102, 103 and 104) have pink, blue and purple-colored bodies. Dream Go Round Liner will be operated until March 31st, 2024. Congratulations on the 40th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort!

Dream Go Round Liner travels on the Disney Resort line

Official website, the Disney Resort line

https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tdr/resortline.html