Japan, September 2023 ... When a dream comes true (subtitled : An obnoxious Japanese trains' orgy)

[JR East]

Hi Friends, 

 

I know that @Tony Galiani was waiting for this report ... So that, let's begin this (very) long serie of posts, depicting my travel to the Rising Sun Country. As it's somewhere my 10th or 11th travel ... I'm familiar with Japan. 

 

As I've announced it a couple of weeks ago ...

 

 

... I was in Japan for a mix of leisure and work, landing on september 10th, 2023 at Tokyo Narita airport, rsp 17:35 JST (time is important ...). Landing doesn't mean disembarquing (at 17:45 JST).

 

As usual NRT is really convenient and fast and despite I've got a checked luggage to collect, I'm around 18:10 in front of the Skyliner desk, queuing, absolutely not stressed. Guess what ? you're in Japan ... people are efficient ! (to be fair, I was flying First Class with Emirates, and you're given a 'Fast lane' card. Anyway, even without 'fast lane' it's really fast at NRT)

 

 

Why not the N'EX ? First of all the N'EX is slower and less comfortable (to me) but .... look at the waiting line full of tourist exchanging their JR Pass voucher

 

 

It's 18:13 when I've got my Skyliner ticket ...

 

 

and the train leaves at 18:16 meaning in less that 3 minutes. Welcome in Japan, no stress

 

 

two minutes after you're on the platform, boarding the Skyliner (reason why I didn't made an orgy of photos ...)

 

 

(this shot below is from a former travel in 2016, just to show you how it looks like ... at that time there were no fences and sliding doors)

 

 

It's really a comfortable place to travel (to answer a question below, yes N'EX has free Wifi as Shinkansen and other JR limited Express). Anyway, I do not need it as I've purchased an 'unlimited' Data Card for 29 euros in France ... very easy to use, and cheap too)

 

 

and if you need to plug your laptop of cellphone charger, everything is there (sorry for the poor quality)

 

 

Commuting in Nippori (instead of Ueno... it was raining)

 

 

a looooong corridor to the JY Yamanote line direction Shimbashi, my favorite place to stay in Tokyo

 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by JR East
Typos ... as usual

[JR East]

Commuting at Nippori is convenient when it's raining otherwise, you've to go outside between the Keisei Skyliner station & the JR Yamanote Uneo station. It's something that 100 m walking but I do prefer commuting at Nippori. Contrary to France (esp. the subway), there are lots of mechanical stairs & elevators and it's really convenient when you're travelling with lugages. 

 

Sept 11th, 2023, 19:08 JST .... it's warm (30 °C) and humid (85%)

 

 

 

Anyway, as soon as I'm in the train, the air conditionning makes me feel great

 

 

It's not a long trip from Nippori to Shimbashi (新橋) or Shinbashi (there are 2 ways to write it) ... just 16mn & 7 stations before arriving at Shimbashi station

 

I love this place is Tokyo. It's the second 'red light disctrict' of Tokyo, probably a reason why so few tourists are sitting there. Despite this reputation, it's really safe (you're in Japan ...). Of course, there is a place to meet a friend, being sure it's there and not somewhere else ... The famous C11 at night 

 

 

or day

 

 

 

Having a beer with some yakitoris in one isakaya is a must be 

 

 

 

Oh ...two tourists ... maybe lost

 

 

I lover all those small streets where you can make a good street picture and trains in background

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by JR East

[kuro68000]

Thanks for the great photos! I like the Sky Liner too. I don't don't know if the NEX offers free wifi, but the Sky Liner does.

 

Looking forward to seeing more.

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

I do apologize for the long (coming) texts but I want also to give you some tips & tricks as outcome of my personal experience(s) in Japan

 

All you need to know on the Spacia X is here : https://www.tobu.co.jp/spaciax/en/

 

 

Routing of the day:

 

• Tobu Skytree Station (TS02) - Tochigi Station (TN11) : Spacia X (Standard seats) [09:03 - 10:08]
• Tochigi Station (TN11) - Tobu Nikko Station (TN25) : Tobu 500 Series Revaty (standard seats) [10:29 - 11:22]
• Tobu Nikko Station (TN25) - Tobu Asakusa Station (TS01) : Spacia X (Premium seats) (11:55 - 13:45]

 

Total price : 57 euros (average rate 1 euro = 150 yens)

• 39 euros for all reserved seats
• 18 euros (standard return tickets to Tobu Nikko & Asakusa) to purchase on top of the reservations (2 x 1400 yens) 

 

How did I booked my tickets ?

 

To be fully transparent, I've booked first the return ticket to be sure I can have a Spacia X Premium seat (few of them were available, booking straight one month in advance on Internet [you can't book more than one month in advance on Internet]. No seat were available in cockpit lounge, neither in Compartment nor in Cockpit Suite).

Then I booked the tickets for Tochigi with Standard seats (more seats available but not that much in the car near to the Goen Café) and from Tochigi to Tobu Nikko with the Revaty (lots of seats available) . 

 

Tobu Reservation website is here : https://www.tobu-ticket.jp/guest/EBA01/GEBA01010.xhtml - Pay attention that - as for other Japanese rservation websites - it's open from 04:50 JST to 24:20 JST

 

 

The most convenient way to go to Tokyo Skytree from Shimbashi (A10) is the Asakusa line, stopping at Oshiage (A20) for 220 yens. A 10' walk offers a funny view on the Tokyo Skytree tower ...

 

 

Despite it's already warm ... this small walk is convenient.

 

Note that there is not vending machine on the Tobu Skytree platform and a part of it was in maintenance, which doens't help for making good shots. 

 

Tobu Skytree Station

 

If you've already visited the Tobu Asakusa station, you know that it's not the most convenient place to make interesting shots of trains. Lots of people, poor light, shallow depth of field due to narrow platforms ...  that's the reason why I've decided to board the Spacia X at Tobu Skytree. What I was not aware of are the work in progress on the inbound platform with some ugly green fences ... (GRRRRRR).

 

The display explains lots of things on Spacia X and other trains

 

 

Anyway, I go a chance of filming & shooting interesting things in 4K

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting for my Spacia X to arrive, I got a chance to shoot several trains 

 

Tobu 10000 series

 

 

 

 

or views out of the platform

 

 

And luckily a 200 series Revival Livery 

 

 

 

 

Wikipedia : On 5 August 2021, 200 series set 205 was repainted in a livery based on that of the 1800 series trainsets. In addition, its seat covers were changed to resemble those of the 1800 series. Set 209 was repainted in the same livery on 8 February 2022.

 

 

 

This one was shot at Asakusa Station when I came back. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by JR East
Typos ... as usual

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

My Spacia X is arriving. Just the time to record it in motion

 

 

 

and I'm boarding it. 

 

First impression is ... the space and the light. 

 

 

There are dedicated places for disabled people. As you can notice, not all the windows are hexagonal. 

 

This is a view of a standard seating car ... I need to move a bit ahead to find my car

 

 

As I've made my reservation on Internet and I got a Passmo card (the so-called "IC Card" .. very convenient), I don't have ticket 

 

Let's go to car 3, seat 11C

 

 

Seats are really comfortable for a standard seat. Note the hexagonal logo on the curtains

 

 

Like in a plane, you've an onboard notice

 

 

displaying the various train's facilities

 

 

 

 

 

What is important to notice :

 

Goen Café is "by reservation" only. What does it means ? Unless you're sitting in the 'Cockpit Lounge', you can access it once all the Cockpit Lounge customers are served. Thus, you must apply for a reservation and then, once the reservation is accepted, you'll be able to access the Goen Café at a dedicated slot of 10'. I'll show you the way it works during my travel from Tobu Nikko to Asakusa as I had time enough to experiment it. 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by JR East
Typos ... as usual

[Tony Galiani]

Great reporting!  I have been looking forward to this.  Nice to see again some of the places I have been to and ridden.  And inspiring me for my next trip.  Thanks for sharing. 

Tony

[katoftw]

I think that now the JR nation wide passes are near useless, and international visitor are paying point to point. I think the Skyliner being cheaper and faster, it will probably get a big bump in patronage.

[kuro68000]

I wish they had a better line from Haneda into Tokyo though. It takes an hour on the Asakusa Line to get to... Asakusa. I think next time I might try taking the monorail to Hamamatsucho, and then going to Akihabara, and finally taking the Tsukuba Express to Asakusa. It's a little faster, but also the monorail has racks for luggage. It's not fun holding your 4 wheeled suitcase still for an hour.

 

The only issue is that Google Maps claims that you need to take the stairs at Hamamatsucho. I'm sure there is probably an escalator or lift. Not great that Google recommends that route even if you select "wheelchair accessible" as an option though. If it actually worked it would be useful for avoiding stairs and steep inclines.

 

JR East: Can I ask what camera you are using?

[JR East]

1 hour ago, mojo said:

JR East: Can I ask what camera you are using?

 

• OM System (for Olympus) OM1 & Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100 mm f/4 IS PRO as "Photographer Camera" (incl. 4K movies)
• OnePlus 9 cellphone camera (incl. some movies too). It's enough for 95% of the shot at days, but the OM1 offers far more options esp a dawn, at night etc ... 

 

 

... which is a very good fallback solution when .... you' main camera falls and the fuse ring breaks, protecting the camera from more damages (that what's occured during the Hinotori ride ... I'll report later). First time I'm breaking a lens in 40 years of photography. 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by JR East

[kuro68000]

Thanks. Sorry to hear about your lens. Do you use a tripod or just hand-held?

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

I'm commuting at Tobu Tochigi Station (TN11) for the Series 500 Revaty to Tobu Nikko Station.

 

 

It's time to let my Spacia X continue to Tobu Niko Station (TN25) without me. 

 

 

The Tochigi Station is a shared station between Tobu & JR meaning that each company has its own dedicated platforms for inbound & outbound trains. 

 

 

JR Platform is just the opposite side

 

 

Normally all Spacia X are stopping at Tochigi station but this one doesn't ...

 

 

... Because it is empty. 

 

On the JR line, there is a bit of activity

 

 

On the other side, a Tobu 20400 series going to Minami-Kurihashi

 

 

Commuting at Tochigi was a good idea as several trains arrived and this is a nice animation. 

 

My Tobu Serie 500 Revaty is arriving

 

 

it's time to board, let's go to Car 4, seat 9A

 

 

 

 

Wifi aboard, comfortable seat, wide windows, what to expect more than that ? 

 

Before stopping at Shimo Imaishi (TN23) some maintenance rolling stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by JR East
Typos, corrections... as usual

[JR East]

1 hour ago, mojo said:

Thanks. Sorry to hear about your lens. Do you use a tripod or just hand-held?

 

Basically, after more than 12 years with the same reflex camera, whe I decided to change, I was having some drivers :

 

• Lighter total weight (camera, lens & batterie)
• 5 axes sensor + lens stabilization for lowering / prohibiting the use of the tripod 
• Better autofocus at night as Im wearing glasses and it's more difficult to make manual adjustments
• Full tropicalization for shooting under heaving rain, snow, etc ... 

 

OM1 was the best trade-off despite it's less performant in high iso ... but that I don't care as I've got DXO Photolab with Deep Prime AI to cleanup the electronic noise. 

 

So basically to answer your question  ... hand-held including videos (great stabilization ... believe me)

 

If you need more ... let's do it in private message

Edited September 25, 2023 by JR East

[cteno4]

Sorry to hear about the lens. I think I’ve only broken one lens in 45+ years with cameras with detachable lenses. About 90% of the way to the top of one of the pyramids at Tikal and somehow my wide angle wiggled out of the camera bag and went bouncing all the way to the bottom. It was just very, very fortunate no one was coming up the pyramid after us! Found the lens at the bottom, compacted into a very solid cricket ball sized ball.

 

jeff

[kuro68000]

Wow, I thought it might be a gimbal or something, it was so smooth.

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

The train is making a brief stop  at Shimo Imaishi (TN23). Looking though the right windows, I noticed a train looking familiar to me. Despite I have a neighbour sitting on 9B, (after a "soumimasen") I'm moving to the other side to shoot it

 

This is the famous Tobu Sightseiing SL Taiju : https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/nikko_kinugawa/sl/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my father used to say : "shoot it now or never, it may not be there next time".

 

Leaving the Revaty for shooting is not an option and I need to do it through the windows only.

 

Unfortunately, a Tobu 20400 series arrived, masking partially the train and especially the "smoking part" of it I can see in background

 

 

As it's a brief stop, the Revaty is in motion again

 

 

But I had the chance to capture the C11 207 (I can read the number on the original picture not resized)

 

 

It has a red badge,

 

but not the same you can see below. 

 

 

After a couple of minutes, the train arrives at Nikko. There are two stations at Nikko. 

 

The JR Station (where roughly all the tourists are going to, as they can use their JR Pass)

 

 

and the Tobu Nikko Station, just beside (couple of minutes walk) where more or less, there are no tourists but one or two foreign railfans ...

 

 

For those who want to shoot the Tobu rolling stock, and not travelling with Tobu but JR, you can access the platform after paying a platform ticket. A nice tram is displayed in front of the station, just the other side of the street. 

 

 

Nikko World Heritage is really something you must see if you're coming to Nikko : https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/913/

 

I've visited it three times (as well as Chūzenji lake, Kegon falls and Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck).

 

Nikko  ... It's like peeling an onion, every time you're discovering something new.

 

Don't rush, take you time to make a full tour of the site, the main part is crowded with tourists but there are also some parts, away from tourists. 

 

• https://maps.app.goo.gl/ojgnAtzH5pzhTkzj7 :
  • Just after the brigde, the other side of the road, there is a path with beautiful stairs separated in their middle by cascading water. It take 10' to go by foot from there to the Nikko tocket office.

 

• Usually the tourists are climbing the hill up to the Grand Shrine https://maps.app.goo.gl/giX8Uk6MgkY5mtYN8 but there is an additional visit to do after the sleeping cat https://maps.app.goo.gl/osBovb3uG4Mn6L3n7.
  • Before accessing to the Sakashitamon Gate, you'll have to pay an extra fee to climb more up to the Inner Shrine Copper Torii https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vufsMxv8sP1sYba6 ... I let you discover

 

• Another part, not crowed with tourists is the Futarasan Jinja https://maps.app.goo.gl/G7b3ciB1SfVGemPt7 and the Taiyu-in Temple Hall https://maps.app.goo.gl/M9aNFbemRt9Ca8gcA, nearby are the Hokke-do Hall https://maps.app.goo.gl/P5T2fD1TLQ385hMW9 and the Five-storied Pagoda (Gojunoto) https://maps.app.goo.gl/DNQFkmjzCV7qCTsu9

 

• The Yashamon Gate is also a part of the site not crowded with tourists https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCb8sp1QcTvVb7L48 and really beautiful

 

Edited September 26, 2023 by JR East
Typos, corrections etc ... as usual

[Tony Galiani]

Really enjoying this.  We liked Nikko so much we named one of our cats for it!  And the Revaty was the second limited express train we rode in Japan (after taking the NEX in from Narita on our arrival.)  Took the Spacia for our return to Tokyo.

 

One nice thing we found was that the Tobu Railway offered a tourist ticket that included round trip train service, use of the area buses and entrance to area attractions that @JR East mentioned above.  There is also some nice hiking and walking trails in the area.

 

Ciao,

Tony

[beakaboy]

On 9/26/2023 at 7:59 PM, JR East said:

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

The train is making a brief stop  at Shimo Imaishi (TN23). Looking though the right windows, I noticed a train looking familiar to me. Despite I have a neighbour sitting on 9B, (after a "soumimasen") I'm moving to the other side to shoot it

 

This is the famous Tobu Sightseiing SL Taiju : https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/sightseeing/nikko_kinugawa/sl/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my father used to say : "shoot it now or never, it may not be there next time".

 

Leaving the Revaty for shooting is not an option and I need to do it through the windows only.

 

Unfortunately, a Tobu 20400 series arrived, masking partially the train and especially the "smoking part" of it I can see in background

 

 

As it's a brief stop, the Revaty is in motion again

 

 

But I had the chance to capture the C11 207 (I can read the number on the original picture not resized)

 

 

It has a red badge,

 

but not the same you can see below. 

 

 

After a couple of minutes, the train arrives at Nikko. There are two stations at Nikko. 

 

The JR Station (where roughly all the tourists are going to, as they can use their JR Pass)

 

 

and the Tobu Nikko Station, just beside (couple of minutes walk) where more or less, there are no tourists but one or two foreign railfans ...

 

 

For those who want to shoot the Tobu rolling stock, and not travelling with Tobu but JR, you can access the platform after paying a platform ticket. A nice tram is displayed in front of the station, just the other side of the street. 

 

 

Nikko World Heritage is really something you must see if you're coming to Nikko : https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/913/

 

I've visited it three times (as well as Chūzenji lake, Kegon falls and Akechidaira Ropeway Observation Deck).

 

Nikko  ... It's like peeling an onion, every time you're discovering something new.

 

Don't rush, take you time to make a full tour of the site, the main part is crowded with tourists but there are also some parts, away from tourists. 

 

• https://maps.app.goo.gl/ojgnAtzH5pzhTkzj7 :
  • Just after the brigde, the other side of the road, there is a path with beautiful stairs separated in their middle by cascading water. It take 10' to go by foot from there to the Nikko tocket office.

 

• Usually the tourists are climbing the hill up to the Grand Shrine https://maps.app.goo.gl/giX8Uk6MgkY5mtYN8 but there is an additional visit to do after the sleeping cat https://maps.app.goo.gl/osBovb3uG4Mn6L3n7.
  • Before accessing to the Sakashitamon Gate, you'll have to pay an extra fee to climb more up to the Inner Shrine Copper Torii https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vufsMxv8sP1sYba6 ... I let you discover

 

• Another part, not crowed with tourists is the Futarasan Jinja https://maps.app.goo.gl/G7b3ciB1SfVGemPt7 and the Taiyu-in Temple Hall https://maps.app.goo.gl/M9aNFbemRt9Ca8gcA, nearby are the Hokke-do Hall https://maps.app.goo.gl/P5T2fD1TLQ385hMW9 and the Five-storied Pagoda (Gojunoto) https://maps.app.goo.gl/DNQFkmjzCV7qCTsu9

 

• The Yashamon Gate is also a part of the site not crowded with tourists https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCb8sp1QcTvVb7L48 and really beautiful

 

Thanks so much for some wonderful memories for my wife and I . we travelled to Nikko with friends back in 1985 as part of a tour of Japan. It was such a magical experience, although we only saw a fraction of the country on our travels. 

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

As I told you, I used my IC Card to purchase the basic fare ticket to go to Tobbu Nikko, but I want a small souvenir of my travel with the Tobu N100 SPacia X (announced as 'to be produced' by Tomix in 'High Grade' ... and now it's already on my whish list). One minute queuing and I've got my ticket (as you can see ... purchased at 11:38 AM). 1400 yens for adults, 700 yens for childrens. 

 

 

My train is leaving at 11:55, I've got time to purchase another small souvenir at the shop ... a small Spacia X Clock for my desk

 

 

I've go time enough for a good shooting in station, first having a look at the Tobu N100 Spacia X and Tobu 500 together

 

 

 

with a close look to the Tobu 500 Revaty

 

 

 

 

 

 

They look really great together

 

 

And the Spacia X is shooted by lots of people

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by JR East

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Nikko Station : Spacia X & 500 Series Revaty

 

I know that a train will arrive before my Spacia X is leaving, so I'm going to the other side of the platform shooting through the windows too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm arriving just in time for recording the two trains together ... an noone to rotten my video

 

 

It's not that late, I've time enough to shoot the Tobu 100 series (I must say it's not my preferred one)

 

 

 

People are starting to board the Spacia X. Look at the display, it's not a standard LCD display, it's a screen where you can see the picture of the interior of the car

 

 

 

 

 

Depending where you're it can also display an animation

 

 

 

 

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Asakusa : Spacia X

 

It's now time to board the Spacia X, this journey will be done on Premium Car

 

 

The seat is very comfortable. It can be compared to a Business Class seat in a plane. The pillow can be adjusted up & down and sides are moving to embbed you head if you want to sleep, the window is wide and there is room enough for the legs (which is also the case in Standard). The recline is also great and not bethering for the neighbour as there is a shield around the seat.

 

 

I told you I'll explain how the Goen Café works. As you can read on the first paragraph, the Goen Café is accessed by reservation only if you're not seating in car n°1 (I suppose that people sitting in car n°6 have a special service too). 

 

 

Once the QR Code is scanned, you're accessing the train portal. The service is not immediately open as the train starts because the customers seating in car n°1 must be served first. 

 

 

Tips & Tricks

 

1. To finalize the reservation, you'll need a google account (there are other options, but more reserved for Japanese people)
2. Refresh your screen as the announces are done in Japanese first so that, if you want an early slot, it's better to rely on refreshing the screen
3. Despite the screen mention 'order' it's free of charge. Take care, the order itself is at the bar only. This one is just an "order" for booking a slot

 

After filling a couple of fields, you're landing on a confirmation page where you can choose your 10 minutes slot

 

 

Once done, you're receiving a QR Code

 

 

Time's up ... going to the Goen Café where I'm displaying my QR Code. All you can order is on the two small leaflets : beer, softs, candies and sweets and some crackers

 

 

I've tested the local beer (quite bitter but I like that)

 

 

together with (up) sweet beans pasta and (down) chocolate crackers

 

 

One feature is great. The display at the end of the car shows usually the informations in Japanese & English on the next station, time to destination etc .... but in the Spacia X, it shows also a view from the front of the train ....

 

 

it really gives the impression to seat in place of the driver (I recommend to play the video with the maximum definition to see it). I let you notice how silencious the Spacia X is. 

 

 

As you can see below, this is really comfortable and the inner light is not agressive

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2023 by JR East

[JR East]

Day 1 - September 11th, 2023 - Tobu's day to Asakusa : Spacia X

 

This is really comfortable ... even crossing lots of turnouts. 

 

Approaching Asakusa gives a nice view on the Spacia X

 

 

 

Entering the station is also an occasion for a quick shot

 

 

before disembarquing and walking aslonside the train whilst cleanup has already started

 

 

Just look how the display is clean

 

 

It's also the moment where people are making selfies and shots

 

 

And for me the moment to leave Tobu Asakusa station. I got a friend waiting for me to have a tea nearby. 

[JR East]

Day 2 - September 12th, 2023 - Tokyo Station to Izukyū-Shimoda

E261 - Saphir Odoriko

 

All you need to know on the Saphir Odoriko is here : https://www.jreast.co.jp/saphir/en/

 

 

Routing of the day:

 

• Tokyo Station - Izukyū-Shimoda : Saphir Odoriko 1 [11:00 - 13:29] - Car 1 seat 9-A (Premium Green car)
• Izukyū-Shimoda - Tokyo Station : Odoriko 16 [15:08 - 17:49] - Car 4 Seat 7-A (Green car)

 

Total price : 133,73 euros

• Saphir Odoriko: 12 260 yens (77,30 euros)
• Odoriko: 8 950 yens (56,43 euros)

 

How did I booked my tickets ?

 

All the booking was done around the capability to ride the Premium Green car. I did it 30 days straight before boarding. Contrary to Tobu, when booking on JR east, you're purchasing at the same time the basic fare ticket, the limited express ticket and the Saphir Odoriko special ticket.

 

Online reservation here : https://www.eki-net.com/fr/jreast-train-reservation/Top/Index

 

 

Another day of dream is starting ... 

 

 

Despite my train is quite late in the morning, I spent a bit of time ahead shooting trains at Tokyo Station

 

The train is announced on platform 9. 

 

 

As soon as it entered the station, lots of people are taking photos from various angles. Either you love it or hate it, but I'm definitely fan of this deep brillant metallic dark blue and this elegant white. 

 

 

 

It's time to board 

 

 

One simple wooden sliding door

 

 

and you're entering the Premium Green car. The ambiance is so calm and relaxing, the mood lights are so great, you feel like a privilegied customer.

 

 

For the customers sitting in 1-A and 1-B, the view is really great and gives the impression of sitting into the cockpit (sorry for the quality of the shot and the reflecting window)

 

 

Light is perfect in this car

 

 

It's now time for me to sit down 

 

 

but as you can see, you're allowed to easily move your seat to have a better view. The lever is into the inner part of the shell. 

 

 

I really do appreciate the comfort of the Saphir Odoriko, it's like floating on a flying carpet, but no front wind. Despite we're in the Tokyo with lots of turnouts, it's incredibly calm aboard

 

 

After roughly 45 minutes, it's time to discover this incredible train, going to the on-board restaurant

 

A quick walkthrough  allows me to discover the various toilets aboard, first the western style, 

 

 

including urinals (not automatically flushed ???)

 

 

and a small wash basin

 

 

Car have various ambiance, here are the compartments in cars number 2 & 3

 

The side corridor serves the various green car compartments

 

 

For 1-4 or 1-6 people

 

 

You're not obliged to be 6 for seating in a large compartement as long as you pay for it. As you can see below, those two passengers are enjoying Champagne in a full privacy mode

 

 

As usual in Japan, there are several trashes, some dedicated to bottles. 

 

 

 

Entering car n°4 ..  where the cafeteria is located.

 

 

The corridors splits the cuisine and bar side from the lunch / dining room

 

 

You're welcomed by a waitress, and you can choose from the menu what you want to eat (menu is available in English too). 

 

The cafeteria is quite empty so that I'm offered to sit on a 4-seats place.

 

From left to right, my order, the receipt (1930 yens), the nice embossed cup and the bottle of water (what a nightmare to bring back the cup to Paris without destroying or crushing it !!!!)

 

 

and my lunch. It's served with a small white bread and the cold beer I ordered my meal with (Japan is another country of beer)

 

 

Thanks to Google Translate app, I was able to explain to the team that I've reserved this train from France 30 days before (maximum number of days allowed for Internet reservation) and there were very few remaining Premium Green seats.

 

And that's the eternal miracle of Japan, such perfect service. Just a little note kindly written on the back of a coaster bearing the E261. That's more than you can expect as service. 

 

 

 

The train makes a brief stop at Atami

 

 

As the cafeteria remains quite empty but 2 - 3 customers, I'm taking (all) my time to eat this lunch, looking through the windows as the train follows the coast. It so nice, so relaxing and so romantic (you'll see them in my next report .... back to Tokyo)

 

Arriving at Itō, I'm finished with my lunch and it's time to be back to my seat.

 

 

Eventually, the Saphir Odoriko slows down and the train arrives at Izukyū-Shimoda, terminal station. 

 

 

It's a dead end station where limited express and local trains are waiting.

 

Here below an Izukyū serie 8000 running on the Izu Kyūkō line from Ito (IZ01) to Izukyū-Shimoda (IZ16). The Izukyū Corporation Co., Ltd is a subsidiary of the Tokyu Corporation. 

 

 

It's time to go through the gate (and require to keep my ticket as "souvenir"), before leaving the station for a small city tour. As you can see on the display below, there are plenty of activities to make in this part of the Shizuoka Prefecture. 

 

 

Meanwhile, as a wink for our 'manholes' collectors (esp @Kamome442 & @cteno4), a shot of one here showing the famous replica of Commodore Perry's Black Ships 

 

 

That also sits in front of the station as mockup  (1:13) and in the harbour as scenic boat (3:56) in this video

 

 

I've got something like 90 minutes to make a quick town tour by foot. As it's (really very) warm I'll shorten it anyway, going to the harbour is my target. 

REX : Next time I'll book a bicycle as it was so warm I've sweated like hell for being sure to return at the station on-time. 

Edited October 26, 2023 by JR East
Typos etc ... as usual

[JR East]

Day 2 - September 12th, 2023 - Izukyū-Shimoda to Tokyo Station

E257-2000 - Odoriko (part 1)

 

After a short city tour ...

 

 

it's time to be back to Izukyū-Shimoda station. There is a interesting shop in the station, where you can buy affordable specialities of the region as well as (very good) umeboshi and pickled vegetables. There is also a restaurant where you can test (or taste) the Izu gibier

 

 

Going through the gate with my (lovely souvenir) ticket

 

 

two trains are waiting here. Of course the Odoriko I'll ride, and another about to leave

 

 

It's the famous Izukyu 2100 series also known as The Resort 21 Kurofune Train, or the Black Ship Train (more information here)

 

 

I'll see it later at Atami (below) : note the particular seating organization allowing every passenger to look directly through the front window without being disturbed by the neighbour in front of him / her. 

 

 

It's time now to discover my Odoriko 16. Both ends are different

 

 

but only one allows coupling with another consist :

 

 

I really do love the elegant livery of white and metallic blue

 

 

 

It's time to board in for a short inner tour. First the standard (comfortable) seats in a bright car

 

 

before entering the Green car

 

 

with a more subdued lighting ambience (for those like me, having the Kato consist with HKTILC.com leds ... it's make the difference as there are different light temperatures from cold white to warm yellow bulb) and wood ceiling side, it's makes you feel "cosy". 

 

 

Below a close view of my seat

 

 

 

 

It's time now to seat, relax and enjoy the ride. 

Edited October 26, 2023 by JR East
Typos etc ... as usual

[JR East]

Day 2 - September 12th, 2023 - Izukyū-Shimoda to Tokyo Station

E257-2000 - Odoriko (part 2)

 

As I told you, the train is riding along the beautiful coast of Japan up to Odawara. Below one picture. It was so nice, so great ... I was stuck to the window, forgetting to shoot more pictures. 

 

 

As it was a very warm day, I was not hungry and I did not purchased an Ekiben (what I'm usually doing for the pleasure to eat it)

 

Izu-Kogen .. just enough time to shoot this train

 

 

 

 

and record a small video. you'll see some rolling stock of which the Izukyū 8000 series with this nice two-tones strip. 

 

 

The next stop is Atami Station. As I told you in the previous post, the Izukyu 2100 series (also known as The Resort 21 Kurofune Train or Black Ship Train) is there.

 

After Odawara station, the train enters the great Tokyo conurbation. Sometimes, an island of nature is there like crossing the Sagami river

 

 

 

 

before entering the city where ... only buildings and fences are there (despite a very nice warm light)

 

 

 

and a depot

 

 

The sun is going down, it's time to return to Shimbashi for a light diner and a couple of well deserved beers

 

 

Edited October 26, 2023 by JR East
Typos etc ... as usual

[Tony Galiani]

Really enjoying these posts.  And I see Totoro watching the station!

Thanks for all the pictures.

Tony