200MPH, Speeding up of "Falcon"

Japan's fastest train, "Hayabusa", EMU E5 series stands at Tokyo Sta. on the Tohoku Shinkansen

The JR group has been launching "300km/h (186.4miles/hour) top speed" trains since 1997. They are the EMUs JR West 500 series (see my blog on November 28th, 2012) launched in 1997, the JR Central/West N700 series (see my blog on February 22nd, 2011) in 2005, the JR East E5 series in 2011 and the E6 series (see my blog on April 2nd, 2013) in 2013.

Among them, the E5 series had its maximum speed raised to 320km/hour (198.8miles/hour) on March 16th this year. As a result, the E5 series has won the honor of Japan's fastest train. Using the E5, a Super Express train, "Hayabusa (Falcon)" has cut the travel time between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori by 11 minutes. Currently, it takes only 2 hours 59 minutes.

When I was a kid, Aomori was a distant city for Tokyoites. It is located in the northernmost part of Honshu Island. I still remember that it took almost half a day on the overnight express train. The train reached Aomori Station in the early morning, since it was connected to the first ferry boat to Hokkaido Island. The passenger carriages of the express train were tattered and hardly seemed to be cleaned.

Although Japan at that time was poor; it still was a very relaxed journey for my family in the 1960s. The Shinkansen is very convenient; but I also feel that people should take a break from the fast-paced living of the modern world.

Side view of the Japan's fastest train, "Hayabusa", EMU E5 series

The Shinkansen E6 Series, Brilliance of "Japan Red"

New Shinkansen train, EMU JR East E6 series stands at Tokyo Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen

On March 16th, 2013, a new Shinkansen train was launched. It is named "Super Komachi", the EMU JR East E6 series.

The E6 is a so-called "Mini-shinkansen" train (see my blog on August 15th and October 27th, 2011). It is the E3's successor on the Tohoku and the Akita Shinkansen. Just like the E3, the E6 series is coupled with other shinkansen trains, such as the E2 and the E5 series. It is operated with the other trains from Tokyo to Morioka. Then, the E6 is detached after arriving at Morioka Station, and runs by itself to Akita, since the route between Morioka and Akita is constructed as a Mini-shinkansen.

What would be the main differences between both trains, the E6 and the E3? It is the maximum speed. The E6 series is operated with a maximum speed of 300km/hour, meanwhile the E3 is designed to run at 275km/hour. JR East plans to raise the maximum speed of the E6 to 320km/hour early next year. The other difference between the two trains is their curve passage performance. By tilting the train's body using advanced technology, the E6 series is designed to operate at a speed of 320km/hour on a section which has a radius of curvature of 4000 m.

I first saw the E6 series, Super Komachi at Tokyo Station last week. The vivid colored body was very impressive. JR East calls this madder color "Japan Red". Japan Red will glow on the tracks in the Tohoku District from now on.

Side view of Type 621 of the EMU JR East E6 series, "Super Komachi", bound for Akita

 

More information about the EMU E6 series, Super Komachi:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/akitashinkansen.html#category01

Plum Grove and Aerial Tramway of Mt. Tsukuba

Tsukuba-san Aerial Tramway

It got warm in Tokyo. Who would have thought it would get warmer so quickly?

While it is cherry blossom season in downtown Tokyo, plums are still blooming in the northern part of the Tokyo metropolitan area. I visited a plum grove at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture at the end of last week.

Tsukuba-san Plum Grove is one of the largest plantations in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Local people cultivate plum trees for fruit to eat and blossoms for viewing. When I visited there, both red and white plums were in full bloom. The visitors were enjoying the last days of the 2013 plum viewing season in their own way (see the following photo).

After enjoying the beautiful plum grove, I climbed up the 877-meter peak on foot. It was a bit hard work for me. So, I then came down to the mountain foot by an aerial tramway, namely the "Tsukuba-san Ropeway" (see the top photo). The Tsukuba-san Ropeway was opened in 1965. Connecting Tsutsujigaoka and Nyotaisan stations, the route length is 1,300m. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 298m. Currently, Swiss made medium sized gondolas, which can accommodate up to 70 passengers, are operated every 20 minutes. The travel time between two stations is 6 minutes. It took only a moment; while it was tough to climb up to the summit on foot.

A gorgeous plum grove and a scenic aerial tramway... it was a weekend full of memories again.

Full-blown plum trees in Tsukuba-san Plum Grove

2013 Sakura Season in Tokyo, Part 2

TheToei Line track (left) and the Tokyo Metro Line track (right) at Kudanshita Station

Cherry (Sakura) trees have now come into bloom in the Tokyo metropolitan area. As temperatures have been comparatively high this March, the trees began blooming 10 days earlier than usual. Currently, major viewing spots are crowded with people enjoying the flowers.

The Sakura blossoms are beautiful at night as well. Night viewing of illuminated trees is also popular in Japan. At the end of last week, I visited Chidorigafuchi near Kudanshita Station on the subway line with my family. There were gorgeous illuminated Sakura trees in front of the moat of the Imperial Palace. I saw many people who were enjoying Sakura from the boats on the moat. I also wanted to join them, but we had to give up, as it was about a one-hour wait.

In the meantime, we had a bit of news about Kudanshita Station, the nearest station from Sakura viewing spot, recently. The wall between the Hanzomon Line and the Shinjuku Line tracks had been removed. It was in order to make passengers transfer more smoothly between the two lines. The subway system in Tokyo is operated by two organizations, namely Tokyo Metro Company and Tokyo Metropolitan Government (Toei). The problem for passengers is the difficulty of transfer between the two different operator's lines at the interchange stations. It is inconvenient, as the entrances and exits are separated by the two operators.

In response to orders from the Governor of Tokyo, the wall at Kudanshita Station has been removed and two stations have become unified. It is the first step to improve passenger services.

Night viewing of illuminated Sakura blossoms at Chidorigafuchi near Kudanshita Station

Ryutetsu, Railway of the Showa Look

EMU Ryutetsu "Ryusei", KuMoHa 5002 and 5102 of the 5000 series approarches Koganejoshi Sta.

"Showa", this word has a special resonance for Japanese. Showa is a period when Emperor Showa (Hirohito) ascended to the throne. It began in 1926 and continued till 1989. So it's been over 24 years, since Emperor Showa died and Emperor Heisei (Akihito) ascended the throne. Japanese people, underwent World War II, and then achieved rapid economic growth during the Showa Era. So, we have mixed emotions toward the Showa Era. Anyhow, there is no doubt that Showa is a nostalgic era for us now.

If you are interested in more about the Showa era, you should visit the Nagareyama Line of the Ryutetsu Company. Connecting Mabashi and Nagareyama, the total operating length of this railway is only 5.7 kilometers. The entire route is an electrified single track. There is a nostalgic Showa-like atmosphere on the Nagareyama Line. The old-fashioned trains also make you feel like you have slipped back into the Showa Era.

Look at the top photo. It is the EMU "Ryusei", KuMoHa 5002 and 5102 of the 5000 series. This train was manufactured in 1982 in Showa Era under name of the EMU Seibu 101 series. It then moved to Ryutetsu in 2011. The two large front glasses and the two large rounded front lights have a Showa look, very nostalgic. The scenery on the route also has a Showa look (see the following picture). It is only 20 kilometers north east from the modern downtown Tokyo, but nostalgic crofts and groves still remain.

Ryutetsu, it is a railway of the Showa look.

EMU Ryutetsu "Wakaba", KuMoHa 5004 and 5104 of the 5000 series approaches Koganejoshi Sta.

 

More information aboout trains of Ryutetsu (in Japanese): http://ryutetsu.jp/traingallery.html