Photos from December 2022 Japan trip

[Aleks]

A day in Hiroshima and Miyajima

 

Tram terminal near JR Hiroshima train station

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kamiya-cho-higashi stop and the nearby tram line junction (this is city center, a block or two away from the Atomic Bomb Dome and from the Hiroshima Castle). An EDION department store with a great model railway department is here too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eba Depot. Terminus of lines 6 and 8. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Near Dobashi stop and junction (where lines 2 and 3 turn away for Nishi Hiroshima)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tram I was waiting for to go to Nishi Hiroshima

 

 

Now at Nishi Hiroshima station

 

 

Through line to Miyajimaguchi goes to the left, terminus stub for line 3 on the right. 

 

 

Spare siding for long layovers

 

 

Shoko Center Iriguchi station next to JR Shin Inokuchi station and near the Arate Depot

 

 

Arate Depot views

 

 

 

The next morning, after a night at Miyajima. Miyajimaguchi terminus while running to catch the JR train back to Hiroshima (though I did not have to run since all trains were running late)

 

 

JR West commuter train at Hiroshima station

 

 

Off topic: Hiroshima Castle and city. A snow storm would start in less than 5 hours

 

 

The eucaliptus next to the Hiroshima Castle that survived the atomic bomb (which exploded a couple hundred yards away).

 

 

Early morning at Miyajima

 

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Aleks

[brill27mcb]

Great photos, Aleks!

 

Interesting to see all of the Green Movers lined up in storage together, presumably withdrawn from service.

 

Rich K.

[ronin]

Very nice.  Lots of street cars.  Been along time since I visited Hiroshima.

 

Thanks for sharing. 

 

Eric

[Aleks]

38 minutes ago, brill27mcb said:

Great photos, Aleks!

 

Interesting to see all of the Green Movers lined up in storage together, presumably withdrawn from service.

 

Rich K.

 

Thank you! Yes, it seemed they were not in service and some were not in a good condition. I walked around the depot (squeezing at some points through holes in fencing and jumping over a fence) and took some pictures from the back. The composition was not great or wiring was in the frame, so they did not end up on my website. Here is one I just added:

 

 

Fun fact #1: The way trams park in the depot, there is a space for walking across the tracks that is left unoccupied, around the middle of the depot. You can see it in this photo. A bit hard to see in this photo, but there is an "official" opening in the fence, right by the silver box with a red top in the bottom. To get to this opening, you need to cross line tracks where these trams run at good 60-70 kmh. On the opposite side of the line tracks, there are several 3-4 story residential buildings (the photo is taken from the open staircase in one of them). While I was there, a guy crossed the tracks and went inside the depot, which tells me this is the normal way for workers to enter or leave the depot. Both the closest tram and train stations are in a different direction (though there is a bus line running near the buildings). My guess is these buildings belong to Hiroden and some employees may be living there. This used to be common practice in transit operations in many countries back 100 years ago, but I am not surprised if it still survives in Japan.

 

I toyed for a while with the idea of crossing the tracks and approaching the hole in the fence to take nicer pictures, but ultimately decided it was not a good day to get yelled at.

 

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by Aleks

[Aleks]

40 minutes ago, ronin said:

Very nice.  Lots of street cars.  Been along time since I visited Hiroshima.

 

Thanks for sharing. 

 

Eric

 

Thank you! It was a fun and very pleasant day. 

 

Fun fact #2. JR trains going from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi obviously carry a lot of tourists. Two stops before Miyajimaguchi, trains stop at Miyauchikuchido. Approaching this station, the train announcement adds in English: "This stop is NOT for Miyajimaguchi. The stop for Miyajimaguchi is the second stop after this stop" or something like this.

 

On the way back, there is an interim stop in Nishi Hiroshima. And sure enough, the announcement adds in English, "This stop is NOT for Hiroshima station. The stop for Hiroshima Station is the third stop after this stop."

 

There must have been flocks of tourists who were getting off at these similar sounding stations and being left on the platform or even worse, outside the station, disrupting their schedules and plans and probably then also trying to negotiate their way back into the stations somehow. 

[cteno4]

Thanks aleks! Brought back many fond memories of Hiroshima.

 

jeff

[Aleks]

A few hours in December 2022 along the Chikuho Light Rail line. a

 

Chikuho-Nogata Station

 

 

#3006 crosses Onga River approaching Chikuho-Nogata Station, brief layover and sets on the trip back to Kurosaki 

 

 

 

 

 

#3003 at Kusubashi Station disembarks passengers and will maneuver to the opposite track and into the depot. This one would look great as a N scale model.

 

 

 

 

Depot entrance. #3004 visible in the distance, and #3002 is under the cover hidden by #3003. The sign on the left shows #3003 will proceed to track #3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment between Kibogaokakoko-mae and Chikuho-Nakama Stations, near the crossing of Kuro River. Trams run here at a good speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Near Sangamori Station

 

 

 

 

#3007 just departed Morishita Station running to Kurosaki

 

 

#5004 is pulling into Kurosaki Station. The small depot/maintenance facility in the background looks closed.

 

 

...while two minutes earlier a Sonic train unexpectedly runs by the adjacent JR Kyushu line. Unfortunately the train front is not in focus, but this is the only picture I have for now of a Sonic.

 

 

All in all, I caught all of #3001-3008 (the first 5 in the depot, the last three in service) as well as #5001 and 5004.

 

Off-topic... Kitakyushu, bridge to Honshu over Kanmon Straight.

 

 

 

Sunrise over Fukuoka

 

 

 

[Aleks]

24 hours in Nagasaki. Due to a snow storm the previous night and the snow that restarted in the evening, which shut down all trips to Gunkanjima, I had more time to take photos of trams than I anticipated.

 

Near Urakami tram depot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tram only bridge over Urakami River

 

 

 

Back to the depot

 

 

 

 

Iwayabashi stop

 

 

#305 is coming back into the city center

 

 

Terminus in Akasako. Navy blue #377 pulled in for a longer "lunch" layover into the back of the track while other trams pass with a shorter stop before heading back to the center. Notice how accurately the tram stopped at the white line that signals the end of the track.

 

 

Inside the Urakami depot. Not exactly a fun fact - the nuclear bomb #2 fell pretty much next to the then-location of the Urakami depot. So the depot suffered very heavy casualties... Unlike in Hiroshima (which is flat), the city center was not affected much as it was protected by hills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short stretch between the depot and Iwayabashi

 

 

 

#1507 at the junction near Shiyakusho (City Hall) stop. This is advertising livery of the West Japan City Bank/Nagasaki Bank which says "There is a soul. There is an answer".

 

 

Same location.

 

 

 

 

Some time later, #1507 on the way back near Hamanomachi Arcade stop, the only full triangle in Nagasaki.

 

 

The only single-track segment of Nagasaki tram ends here at the Ishibashi stop.

 

 

The most well known Nagasaki tram spot, the junction in front of the Nagasaki Station. Line 1 continues south to Gotomachi stop.

 

 

Not the best photo, but the only one I have of a 500 series tram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really wanted to get a photo of this one (which is now in my collection too). This was the second time I saw it during the day, this time I got it.

 

 

Twins

 

 

Off topic. Spectacles Bridge/Meganebashi

 

 

Christian church - Oura Cathedral - near the end of line 5. The entrance requires a fee, so I passed. I was planning to hike up to the top of Nabekanmuri for the sunset, but the snow started falling, and there was not much to be seen.

 

 

The next morning there was a plan to get to the top of Inasayama for the sunrise. However, buses did not operate due to snow. I ended hopping on some random bus in this direction which went up the same hill, just not as high, and then walked back into the city. I was rewarded with some great views of the downtown.

 

 

 

 

 

[cteno4]

Wow, that is a lot of tram goodness! 
 

thanks @Aleks, nice shots. 
 

cheers,

 

jeff

[brill27mcb]

Yes, the tram bug has bitten you badly, Aleks! There is no known cure...

 

Rich K.

[Aleks]

4 hours ago, brill27mcb said:

Yes, the tram bug has bitten you badly, Aleks! There is no known cure...

 

Rich K.

 

It's long-time chronic... It has alternated somewhat between trams and ETBs but trams have been winning over for the past 10+ years...

 

One of the goals of this trip was to visit a few systems I have not been to, mostly in Western Japan.

[Aleks]

20 hours in Kumamoto, Kumamoto trams and more.

 

Chugginton advertising livery, near Kumamoto Station.

 

 

Italian flag not a coincidence, pizza pockets advertising.

 

 

Advertising of National Mutual Aid organization

 

 

Driver's seat in the above tram

 

 

Near Karashimacho Stop in the city center. Due to some festivities, this day all tram and buses rides were free throughout the day. And trams were packed!

 

 

More or less standard livery of Kumamoto older trams

 

 

Line B terminus at Kami Kumamoto Station. The depot is seen in the background.

 

 

Three trams in repairs in covered storage. Unfortunately due to a lot of poles and limited walkways, it was impossible to get a better angle to capture all three trams.

 

 

Car 9705 inside the depot.

 

 

Two older trams, 1063 and 5014, I presume no longer in regular revenue service.

 

 

 

 

Open storage

 

 

Approach to the terminus and the depot

 

 

 

Near the same JR Kami Kumamoto Station there is also a terminus of a short (1.4 km) single track line part of Kikuchi Line owned by Kumamoto Dentetsu, which has just two other stations. Its other terminal is Kita Kumamoto where you can transfer to the trains that run the longer part of the same line. This track can only accommodate one train as there are no places where trains can pass by each other.

 

 

Passing and parked trains at Kita Kumamoto

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the city center and the trams. Torichosuji Stop on Denshadori (Tram Street). This and the next couple photos are taken from the observation deck in Kumamoto Castle, good 500 meters away. I remember reading this street used to be a river (part of Tsuboi River?) and was filled in and the river redirected back in the shogun days.

 

 

 

 

The same street, from the ground level. Tram traffic in Kumamoto is no less frequent than in Hiroshima.

 

 

 

 

 

Near Kumamoto Castle/City Hall stop

 

 

The same tram as in the previous photo, from the opposite side - the livery is asymmetrical. Twin trams.

 

 

 

Gionbashi stop. JR Kumamoto Station is the next stop, somewhere behind the tallest building.

 

 

Off topic. Same place, about 15 minutes later, sunset.

 

 

Kumamoto Castle. Unfortunately castle grounds were badly damaged by an earthquake a few years ago and are still under repairs. You can visit the castle though.

 

 

Clouded sunrise on Ukishima Pond, before heading into Mount Aso Caldera.

 

 

 

[JR East]

2 hours ago, Aleks said:

Kumamoto Castle. Unfortunately castle grounds were badly damaged by an earthquake a few years ago and are still under repairs. You can visit the castle though.

 

I was lucky as I can visit it a couple of days before the earthquake that damaged dramtically this beautiful castle. It's really a nice visit to do as this is a large castle, very different of the other ones in Japan. 

[Aleks]

On 8/7/2023 at 5:22 PM, JR East said:

 

I was lucky as I can visit it a couple of days before the earthquake that damaged dramtically this beautiful castle. It's really a nice visit to do as this is a large castle, very different of the other ones in Japan. 

 

Yes the signs of the damage still very visible as in below. Stones are lying on the ground, assorted and waiting to be re-installed, in various places. It's good at least you can visit and go inside.

 

 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Aleks

[Aleks]

Some pictures of Kyushu trains today.

 

JR Shin-Tosu, waiting for Kamome Relay to go to Nagasaki, 787 series.

 

 

885 series.

 

 

Nishi Kyushu shinkansen at Nagasaki Station

 

 

 

 

Area around the toilet room in Nishi Kyushu shinkansen.

 

 

 

Main cabin

 

 

The next day, Shin-Tosu station, now waiting for Tsubame to go to Kumamoto.

 

 

 

This is Miyaji Station near Mt Aso.

 

 

 

The inside of car 13 (red one) from the above photo.

 

 

Some time later, car 125-18 moved to the platform and ready to depart.

 

 

Bridge over Kusu River near Gion-no-taki waterfall. Thanks to Google Maps, when visiting the fall, I was able to check the timing of departures at a nearby JR station. Turns out the nearest train was just about 15 minutes away, and I lucked out that it was one of the Yufuin no mori.

 

 

 

Nearby Bunga mori abandoned roundhouse, from the ground and from the air

 

 

 

Abandoned as a railroad bridge (now pedestrian) - Chikugo River Lift Bridge - this was a waste of 3 hours to get there from my road from Beppu to Fukuoka. All that happens is a couple dudes sit in the middle of the bridge and raise it and lower it every 5 minutes for their own and anyone else who cares entertainment.

 

 

JR Nogata Station and surroundings

 

 

 

 

Several series 415 trains. Still operating here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off topic

 

Sunrise over Beppu

 

 

One of the seven colorful "hells" of Beppu. Deadly hot despite the appearance...

 

 

Takachiho Gorge must-see classic...

 

 

Meoto Falls

 

 

Koga-no-taki (Koga Falls). JR railroad passes very close inside this mountain in a tunnel, entering it just as the walking path to this fall crosses over. You can see the trains from the path.

 

 

Sunset near Mt Aso

 

 

Snow croppings from the air

 

 

And personal favorites, and completely unexpected, this was like an enchanted snowed out forest near the top of Mt. Aso. Literally not many drivers could pass by without stopping, getting out and taking pictures. You did not even need to step off the road...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2023 by Aleks

[Kamome]

Great photos Alex. This is why I love living in Kyushu, so many different landscapes in such a small space. 

 

 

[ED75-775]

On 8/7/2023 at 6:05 PM, Aleks said:

Two older trams, 1063 and 5014, I presume no longer in regular revenue service.

 

 

Actually, both are still in regular service. According to the Japanese Wikipedia page for the Kumamoto 5000-series, car 5014 (ex-Nishitetsu 1014) was overhauled in 2017 and operates during peak-hour or for charters. Car 1063, on the other hand, built in 1951 as Kumamoto 163, is still in regular service today. I caught it during my trip to Kumamoto when I decided to spontaneously visit Nikkyosha Models.

 

Your Hiroshima photos bring back a few memories of the two full days I spent there, I'm a bit annoyed to have missed EDION but I'll know for next time when next time rolls around! Though I note that some of your photos at Eba depot were taken from the neighbouring bus depot parking area, I'm curious to know how you got permission to be in there. So far as I'm aware, the only depot where the public can get that close and personal is Senda depot with its viewing platform.

 

And you got a ride on 352 as well! Jealous.

 

Alastair

[Aleks]

On 8/16/2023 at 4:38 AM, ED75-775 said:

 

Actually, both are still in regular service...

 

I'm a bit annoyed to have missed EDION but I'll know for next time when next time rolls around!..

 

Glad to know the old Kumamoto trams still operate! I have another trip to Kyushu envisioned, as I did not get at all to southern Kyushu (anything much south of Kumamoto - Mount Aso - Beppu line), so there is a chance to check back in Kumamoto too.

 

And I am VERY annoyed to have missed the fact that Hiroshima has three not two tram depots, and the one I was not aware of is actually the main one. 🙂 So... may go back too.

[Aleks]

Today some pictures of Tokyo's Sakura line trams. All pictures taken at or near JR Oji train station (and the tram stop "in front of it"). Oji eki mae looks like one of those tram stops where opposite direction trams tend to meet... and also sometimes match (tram types).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tracks are so well built into the asphalt it almost looks like the tram is riding the road, not the tracks.

 

 

 

Can't say I appreciate the advertising livery that destroyed the beaufiful dark green/yellow livery.

 

 

Completely exotic offtopic... A few train pictures from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where I spent the previous two weeks on a photography trip.

 

Ulaanbaatar train station, typical Soviet Union-influenced style building from mid-last century.

 

 

The overnight train just arrived from Sainshand in southern Mongolia, likely as far as trains go without crossing into China.

 

 

One of the cars, likely, German built Ammendorf type that were ubiquitous across Soviet Union (which largely influenced Mongolia infrastructure development).

 

 

Loco front

 

 

Back of the loco, completely different. I am not sure if they operate it like this in that direction or turn it around.

 

 

Another diesel loco, on a brief layover at the station.

 

 

Edited September 4, 2023 by Aleks

[Aleks]

These are the final photos from my December 2022 trip. Trains in Tokyo.

 

Not many grade level crossings are left in central Tokyo, but two of them are right near Shinjuku Station. One is where Odakyu Line emerges from its terminus station inside a tunnel.

 

 

 

The other is just south of the station along Yamanote Freight Line, used by Saikyo and Shonan Shinjuku Line commuter trains and various limited express lines.

 

 

 

 

 

Just past 6 in the morning at Tokyo Station, Chuo Rapid track 1, train number 434T indicates it departed its station of origin (likely Takao) between 4 and 5 in the morning on its way to Tokyo.

 

 

Tokyo Station, about to take a shinkansen ride to Shinagawa. Why not, with JR Pass... (I think I even risked riding a Nozomi for that short trip).

 

 

Another N700 about to depart.

 

 

...arriving to Shinagawa to take these couple of photos, from an emergency exit staircase at a high rise apartment building right next to the monorail line and Shibaura Island. Blue streaks are Haneda bound trains, red streaks Hamamatsucho.

 

 

 

 

Side view, monorail to Hamamatsucho and in the background, Rainbow Bridge.

 

 

Tokyo Station at sunset from my room at Marunouchi Hotel.

 

 

Keihin Tohoku Line train just departed (I think) Kaminakazato Station.

 

 

Shinkansen trains ride at about 6-7th floor level here. Photos taken from an open staircase of a retirement home (?) near JR Kaminakazato Station. Overcast morning (between 7 and 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first saw this color train from the ground on an Akihabara Station overpass, where I knew it could be either Yamanote or Keihin Tohoku line, I was very surprised, what was going on. I later met it going in the opposite direction as I was riding Keihin Tohoku train southbound, and it's advertising livery Yamanote train. This photo is all I have of it though, taken as my train's doors closed. I do hope this does not become everyday's and every train's practice...

 

 

I spent the last two hours in Tokyo before my evening train to Hiroshima at the well known Hijiri Bridge, setting by me two plastic bags bursting with model train goods from Akihabara stores and the tripod...

 

 

 

 

 

This picture has light trails of five trains on Marunouchi subway, Chuo Rapid and Chuo Sobu lines. It's a composite of three pictures as it was too difficult if not impossible to find the right time to capture them all at the same time. Not in the timeframe I had.

 

 

December 30, last day in Japan. Shinagawa Station, just arrived by Nozomi from Hakata.

 

 

Hop on Keihin Tohoku for some final shopping at IMON Oimachi. With my large suitcase and other bags it was an adventure.

 

 

Back to Shinagawa, for Keikyu rapid to take me to Haneda.

 

 

It was a great and really fast ride on this train #600, enjoying from the rear view window.

 

 

Ride from Hakata to Tokyo on Nozomi (my JR Pass was only for one week and had expired, and would not have allowed me to make a quick enough ride from Fukuoka to Tokyo anyway to get me there in time for my flight home). The feeling of speed is great, especially when you pass HIkari's and Kodama's standing at stations.

 

Taking photos from a shinkansen is tricky, to cut out reflections, eliminate the glass tint and have a fast enough shutter speed... Somewhere in Shizuoka prefecture. Although I purchased a ticket for this ride 30 days in advance, to ensure a left/north side window seat and have a view of Mount Fuji... no luck due to clouds. Also, normally advance online shinkansen purchases can bring a good discount. However, not for December 30 trips as I found out... this is one of the most popular domestic travel days in Japan, so no discounts are available. I think discounts were applicable through December 28 or may be 29th.

 

 

 

[cteno4]

Thanks Aleks, nice shots! Thanks for sharing.

 

jeff

[mojo]

Some fantastic photos. You really know how to work that camera.

[HankyuDentetsu]

Wow what a thread. I absolutely loved the tram-heavy nature of these shots but really, what a pleasure to scroll through. Tremendous 🙂

[JR East]

Great pictures. I really do love the long exposure 

[SwallowAngel]

I love the photos of the mongolian train especially! Thanks for sharing!

 

I do actually have some relatives working in for Mongolian Railways, in fact my grandfather was an engine driver apparently.

When we visited my uncle (who works in the goods yard) he actually let me have a cab ride in a shunter, though I was 6 at that time, so (unfortunately) I barely remember anything...