ED75's Random Japanese Trip Photos

[ED75-775]

The dust has well and truly settled after my last trip to Japan earlier this year, and after potentially thinking about (and discarding the idea) travelling to Germany next September for the Märklin Days and International Model Railway Meet in Göppingen, I'm starting to think about a fourth trip to Japan next year, probably around the same time as my previous trips (late May through June). And that has got me looking at old photos from all three of my trips in 2019, 2023 and 2024, which has in turn meant that I started thinking about having a random 'photos from past trips' thread here on the Forum.

 

Since this is going to be a random 'photos from past trips' thread there will be a bit of chronological jumping around, though I'll try to group everything by location so it doesn't become too discombobulating for people to follow. So, to start things off where better to start where it all begins each time, at Narita Airport, specifically Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station? This is where I first encountered Japanese trains after looking at photos of them in the past.

 

 

On arriving at platform level armed with my iPod Touch, as my big camera was still in my bag, the first train I spotted was this E217 on Narita Line duties. Hiding behind it was a Keisei Skyliner:

 

 

Unfortunately as a quick 'grab' shot once the E217 had left, it's not my best, but I think it's pretty atmospheric nonetheless. The lighting from the Keisei platforms made it a little harder to get a nice photo as well, particularly with the glare reflection off the front windscreen.

 

 

And of course, no photography session at Narita T1 would be complete without a shot of the E259 Narita Express dedicated sets. At that point in time the current renewal livery was still a few years away, and I have to admit I've got a fondness for the original version. I still need to work on getting one of these trains in N scale, in fact I almost brought a six-car set at Book-Off in Hakata on my 2024 trip but ultimately chose not to, because I'd already killed the economy (read: my wallet!) several times over in Tokyo.

 

I'll try and update this when I can, both so I can relive these trips and so I can bring anyone along with me who wants to come.

 

Cheers!

Alastair

[ED75-775]

I didn't take many, if any photos over my last two trips at Narita Airport, in fact infamously I rushed for my train in 2023 and left behind a brand new travel wallet! I was not happy about that, and it never came back. Anyway, with that being the case, let's move on to one of my favourite locations: Shinjuku. Back in 2019 I stayed at the ibis Tokyo Shinjuku, which was a great hotel located handily to the station. Unfortunately it closed during the pandemic, and while it's been sold to another hotel group, I've instead stayed at the APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho which is also a good hotel.

 

Anyway, starting with two photos today, this time taken on my first day of my first time in Tokyo, 16 May 2019. Starting off from the pedestrian bridge across the throat of Shinjuku Station, as I waited for the shops to open:

 

 

From left we have an E353 laying over, two Chuo Line E233s, and one of the then-new E235 sets snaking past Yoyogi. At this point I have to admit I wasn't as enamoured with the E235 series as I was the E231-500 series then used on the Yamanote Line, but I've since become more used to them, and in any case I can ride my E231's anytime I want to go to Akihabara for the Paolo Walking Tour.

 

From there I decamped to the nearby Takashimaya Times Square and its spiral ramp, which proved to be a great spot to trainwatch from:

 

 

Being morning peak hour, I had plenty to observe - Saikyo Line, Chuo Line and Sobu Line all appearing in this shot with the still-laying-over E353 waiting for its turn as either a Azusa or Kaiji service west. I can heartily recommend both locations for anyone who wants some good photos of lots of action. And although I didn't know it at the time, there's more than a few model train shops around the Shinjuku area. 

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

These next two shots are rather special. I didn't know what to expect on my first trip to Japan, so I didn't expect to get photobombed by one of JR East's 215 series double-deck EMUs.

 

 

 

These photos, and one other, would be the only ones I ever took of a 215 in service. I would find out later in March 2021 posting on @Kamome442's Yurakucho layout build thread that these trains had been quietly withdrawn. It would also be the impetus to buy the Tomix version when it was announced later in 2021, and I still have it, even though it's not run in a while and needs all the decals added.

That reminds me, and pointless digression incoming, I could've had one of the MicroAce versions from a hobby shop in Tokyo. I can't remember if it was Big Yard at Nakano or Hobbyland Pochi in Shinjuku that had it, but I turned it down because cost and I 'already had one'! Not that such an argument holds much weight looking at my fleet roster...

 

Alastair

[Kamome]

Probably a blessing as the MA seems quite inferior these days considering how good the newer Tomix version is.  A lot of the MA versions came up on the used market once the Tomix one was announced. No disrespect to the MA version, just things have moved on a bit and hats off to them for seeing fit to produce a model all those years ago. 

 

Remember seeing these units a lot when I lived in Kanto but never rode one, nor thought it interesting enough to take a photo. Bit of an oversight on my part.  Possibly looked a bit drab next to all those shiny E231s and E233s with their line allocation coloured banding. By comparison it looked a bit thrown together at the time, the off white side panels looking more like heavily-weathered white than an intentional colour. 

 

Great photos @ED75-775 Thanks for posting

 

[ED75-775]

It's been a month and no postings by me, which means I need to be a bit more proactive in doing so, given that I've had plenty of time to update this thread.

 

Takashimaya Times Square and its elevated walkway is a good spot to shoot train photos from, but one can still get a few good shots from ground level near the JR Kanto Bus terminal. Here's two random shots from 2019 to start with, taken by poking my then still-relatively young iPod Touch over the railings on the fence:

 

 

 

Not my best handiwork at the time, but they serve as a snapshot of that time. The E353 is the same one in my earlier photos, laying over between runs. I'm sure with a little timetable diving I could tell you whether it was heading into Shinjuku to become an Azusa or Kaiji service... The E233-7000 on the other hand was running an ordinary Saikyo Line service, and I should look into getting a model of one of these as I've travelled on more than a few Saikyo Line services, mostly out to Omiya.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

Fast forward to 2023, with a slightly empty wallet (thanks Travelex! At least you did better on my last trip...) and a random Chuo Line 209-1000 to make up for the demise of my 215's:

 

 

I think the construction workers and their stuff in front adds a little something extra to the photo - slice of life, maybe?

Oh, and I mentioned JR Kanto has a bus terminal down near the station, so here's a random shot of that too:

 

 

Apologies to @Kamome442 that I do not have enough detail for more bus wing mirrors. I am also not sure what manner of creature these buses are, and since @JR 500系 hasn't visited in more than a year, I am not sure if we have a bus expert in the forum who can identify them for me. All I know is they're JR Kanto buses, long distance ones by the look of them.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

ED75 Approved Photo Spot #1 - Yoyogi Broadway Crossing

Continuing our Train Tour of Greater Shinjuku, if one heads south from Takashimaya Times Square then you'll come to Yoyogi Broadway - a small area of restaurants with a similarly small courtyard that has been themed somewhat to pretend it's somewhere in New York. It's a short jaunt from Yoyogi station, in fact probably only about 25 meters away from the station's East Exit! Or for bonus walking points, you could stop at the station's West Exit, grab the eki-stamp for your collection, and then stroll under the Chuo-Sobu line and across the nearby level crossing to get there.

 

 

This is just the courtyard side of things back in 2023, with a couple of vending machines and a services room decked out as a NYC subway car. It's all nicely executed, but probably not something you want to go out of your way to visit unless you happen to be in the area. For me at least, the reason to be in the area is the aforementioned level crossing, which serves up a constant stream of JR services on the Saikyo, Chuo and Sobu lines (the last two bridging over the Saikyo Line tracks at this point), plus a few Sotetsu and TWR Rinkai Line services to spice things up a little.

 

 

The crossing during a quiet moment...

 

 

Oh, wait, nevermind - there's a train approaching, this time a Saikyo Line E233-7000. This was on my first day in 2019 and despite the cool-ish feeling from the photo, I think it was still relatively warm that day, maybe with a bit of a breeze making it relatively bearable. Not that I took a journal with me on that trip, as my cameras sufficed.

 

Alastair

Edited November 14 by ED75-775

[ED75-775]

A Slice of Life...

 

 

This one I felt deserved its own post. Yet another Saikyo Line E233-7000... but the reason I like this shot is because it shows some of the locals heading about their daily business as the train goes by. With the events of the following two years, this photo would be one of a few that gained additional significance, at least to me anyway. Life as it was, perhaps. I'm not sure.

 

In the background you can see what would become Yoyogi Broadway, which at this point in 2019 was still some ways off. Given how fresh everything looked in 2023 and based on a quick pass through Google Maps, I'd say that it had opened sometime between late 2022 and early 2023. If one passes through this space, according to Google Maps, there's a wonderfully dense little network of izakaya, restaurants and snack bars which make up the Shinjuku Norengai area. Some of these are based in former suburban houses, and look quite cozy at least from the outside. Perhaps a worthy spot to mark for future reference?

 

Alastair

Edited November 14 by ED75-775

[Tony Galiani]

Like that shot - great atmosphere.

 

The good news - photos like that (and @kuro68000's videos) are giving me lots of modeling ideas.

The bad news - I am spending too much time staring at these photos and videos to get any modeling done ....

 

Cheers,

Tony

[cteno4]

4 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

 

I think the construction workers and their stuff in front adds a little something extra to the photo - slice of life, maybe?

Yes and these are the best photos for modeling these scenes! All the bits and pieces from that slice of life!

 

4 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

Wow, nice find. Love the paint job to make the mundane something that pops 3D and is just fun.

 

thanks for the picts.

 

jeff

[ED75-775]

As mentioned earlier, there is some through running over the Yoyogi Broadway crossing. From my first day in 2023, we have this Sotetsu 12000 series:

 

 

Followed a day later (while waiting for the shops to open) by a TWR 70-000 series heading south on a Rinkai Line through service.

 

 

If anything, this gives you a good excuse to prove that private railway operators can, and do, run on JR tracks.

 

Alastair

Edited November 15 by ED75-775

[ED75-775]

Did I mention that epic signals are epic? This cluster sits just to the north of the crossing and controls entrance to Shinjuku station for the Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, including Narita Express service. Not sure that it's feasible to reproduce in N scale with full functionality, but someone could prove me wrong!

 

 

And to conclude, another slice of life shot taken from the Yoyogi Broadway side of the crossing, with a Shonan-Shinjuku line E231 passing through. These guys turn up either as standard 10+5 formations, or sometimes as mixed formations paired with an E233-3000. I have, as of yet, not caved in and brought a five-car Kato E231 to mix with my E233 though. Further details for the (un)interested - there is a small burger joint in the building to the left of the crossing, which I was almost willing to try until my nerves said 'nuh-uh!', and note also the flowers by the crossing signal - proof that greenery can crop up (just about) anywhere if you let it. I think it's a nice feature.

 

 

Next time sees us move on to another favourite photo spot, this time on the other side of Shinjuku.

 

Alastair

[kuro68000]

8 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

Did I mention that epic signals are epic? This cluster sits just to the north of the crossing and controls entrance to Shinjuku station for the Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, including Narita Express service. Not sure that it's feasible to reproduce in N scale with full functionality, but someone could prove me wrong!

 

 

Wow, yes... My quick estimate is that the square part would be about 5mm per side. It's not impossible but would be quite difficult.

 

On the electronics front you could make a PCB with 1005 size LEDs, maybe even 1608, that would fit a 3x3 matrix in that space. I2C controller on the back, or you could run 10 very thin magnet wires down through the pole. The PCB would have to be oversize and shaved down as most manufacturers will struggle to cut one with enough accuracy at the edges. SLA printed cover, I've had really good results with those ordered from JLCPCB.

 

Actually it's not that bad with a hot plate and solder stencil/paste, if you have good eyes or a microscope. Putting a controller on the back could be tricky as it will likely need to be a no-lead package, and of course you have components on both sides... You might be able to Charliplex the LEDs to reduce the number of wires, that might work better. Are those lamps single or dual colour?

[ED75-775]

ED75 Approved Photo Spot #2 - Odakyu Odawara Line (Minami-Shinjuku)

If one rambles a bit further west of Yoyogi Station heading, sooner or later you'll bump into the Odakyu Odawara Line as it heads southwest from Shinjuku. Quite by chance in 2019, I stumbled across this line as it approaches Minami-Shinjuku Station. There's two level crossings in quick succession between Odakyu Shinjuku and Minami-Shinjuku, and the second one - the focus of these photos - has been thoughtfully provided with an adjacent overbridge. Although intended to minimize the impact of trains regularly passing and sometimes stopping, it also makes a great photo stop.

 

 

Here's the overbridge by the crossing, with an Odakyu 3000-series ducking underneath on its way out of Shinjuku. This train has only just left Shinjuku Odakyu; in fact the bridge straddles the points at the entrance to the Shinjuku Odakyu station throat, hence the signals on the left.

 

 

Here's a view taken from the bridge of another 3000-series passing over the crossing and into Minami-Shinjuku (just visible in the middle distance).

 

 

And for the fun of it, this is Japan's take on the level crossing road sign. Like so many other countries worldwide, these signs feature a steam locomotive, which seems oddly anachronistic, but hey, at least it's easy to understand.

 

As an aside, the Odakyu Odawara Line was one of two Japanese rail routes included in Microsoft Train Simulator in 2001 along with JR Kyushu's Hisatsu Line. I didn't spend much time playing on the Odawara Line at all, I have to admit, but went back to look through some footage from the game as I wrote this. To my surprise, although both Minami-Shinjuku station and the level crossing appear in-game, the footbridge doesn't. Nor does the other level crossing closer to Shinjuku Odakyu station, which we'll visit shortly.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

One other good thing about hanging around the Odakyu Odawara Line - the Romancecars. I've seen more than a few on my travels around Shinjuku, mostly series 30000 EXE and EXEα sets. Here's one heading into Shinjuku Odakyu:

 

 

Looking the other way across the bridge railings there really isn't much to see, unless a train happens to be passing through or you're looking for overhead line details. Here's yet another 3000-series passing over the points leading into Shinjuku Odakyu.

 

 

44 minutes ago, kuro68000 said:

Wow, yes... My quick estimate is that the square part would be about 5mm per side. It's not impossible but would be quite difficult.

 

On the electronics front you could make a PCB with 1005 size LEDs, maybe even 1608, that would fit a 3x3 matrix in that space. I2C controller on the back, or you could run 10 very thin magnet wires down through the pole. The PCB would have to be oversize and shaved down as most manufacturers will struggle to cut one with enough accuracy at the edges. SLA printed cover, I've had really good results with those ordered from JLCPCB.

 

Actually it's not that bad with a hot plate and solder stencil/paste, if you have good eyes or a microscope. Putting a controller on the back could be tricky as it will likely need to be a no-lead package, and of course you have components on both sides... You might be able to Charliplex the LEDs to reduce the number of wires, that might work better. Are those lamps single or dual colour?

Thanks @kuro68000, that puts it well within the realms of possibility to make and get it working, but probably not by me. I do not have that level of skill - and anyone who does would be worthy of considerable praise!

 

Unfortunately I have no idea if the signal lights are single or multi-colour either, so I'd have to spend some more time lurking down there on my next trip. Which, if all goes to plan, should be mid-2025, so there will be plenty more opportunities to crossing-lurk...

 

Alastair

[kuro68000]

Hmm, I couldn't find any videos of it in my short time searching. If I find the time I'll look at what LED controllers are available and how practical something like that would be, but I'm pretty busy so remind me next year.

[ED75-775]

Time to wrap up our time on this part of the Odakyu Odawara Line, this time with shots from 2023 and 2024.

 

 

This time a relatively-new 5000 series happened to wander into range for a quick shot as it passes through in June 2023... Note also the little fences protecting the motor boxes for the barrier arms; the uprights on these fences are pieces of old rail. Not sure if that's a uniquely Odakyu thing, but it's a neat detail and, perhaps, a good way for we modellers to use up a piece of damaged track.

 

 

And back down at ground level a year later, we get a 2000 series. Although built in 1995, for some reason I think these look older then they actually are!

 

Alastair

[Ekiben]

On 11/13/2024 at 3:42 AM, ED75-775 said:

the reason I like this shot is because it shows some of the locals heading about their daily business as the train goes by.

 

Great shots. I just realized that I tend to focus too tightly on the trains in my photos. Your scenes present the trains within a setting, a feature which really adds to the meaning and impact of the final image. Serves as great modelling inspiration as well! I've noticed this technique is often taken to extremes by the Japanese rail fan community, where a train is sometimes just a minute detail in a larger scene. An advantage of Tokyo and other large Japanese cities is that there can always be so much going on (people, buildings, cars, random equipment, etc...) in an image.

[cteno4]

Excellent observations @Ekiben! This is why I love to model Japanese scenes.

 

jeff

[ED75-775]

ED75 Approved Photo Spot #3 - Odakyu Odawara Line (Shinjuku Odakyu)

Venturing slightly closer to the Shinjuku Station complex with its rabbit-warren of passages, the Odakyu Odawara Line crosses another road and dives under Shinjuku Southern Terrace Square on its way into the bilevel Shinjuku Odakyu station. While there's not terribly much to be seen here, other than trains exiting what might well be termed an 'urban canyon' and diving under Southern Terrace Square, it's still a good little spot to train-watch at, and all within spitting distance (almost) of the JR lines. Starting once again with shots from 2019:

 

 

Busy, busy spot - being right on the station throat, with tracks either running into the ground-level section or diving down into the underground section of Shinjuku Odakyu, there's plenty of train action at rush hour. Note in the foreground more of Odakyu's reused rail fence-posts to protect the barrier arm motor box.

 

 

This train, on the other hand, needs little in the way of introduction - it's one of the two 50000 series VSE Romancecars. At the time I took these photos in 2019, the two 50000 series sets were still in regular use, and although they were still running when I finally returned in 2023, I didn't see them at that time. Had I been aware that they were running on borrowed time, I might have made more of an effort to seek them out. Unlike the 215 I posted about earlier though, I do not feel strongly enough about the 50000 series that I would be prepared to buy the Tomix model.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

Moving on now to 2023, and the other side of the road for these shots before we move on.

 

 

The 'urban canyon', with an outbound 2000 series commuter unit serving as what I thought was the main focus. While I'm delighted by @Ekiben's comment about how they like how my shots capture the train within the setting, I have to admit that all too often - as was the case here - I tend to focus on the moving thing and not worry about the environment around it. Their suggestion however, and my growing interest for 'slice of life' shots suggests that I should start thinking a little more about taking the approach of 'train within the landscape' more often.

 

 

And up we come - yet another 2000 series climbs up from the underground portion of Shinjuku Odakyu comprising tracks 7 through 10.

 

Alright, that's enough crossing-gazing for now. We'll head back toward Shinjuku Station next time.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

Continuing on the ED75 Tour of Shinjuku, another good spot to train-watch from is Shinjuku Southern Terrace Square. This raised space is home to a smattering of shops and cafes along its length as it feeds into the morass of humanity that is Shinjuku Station. While there aren't terribly many good vantage points from the Terrace itself, one location that I can commend is the East Deck Bridge, which links Southern Terrace Square to Takashimaya Times Square, which we visited earlier. This bridge crosses the southern end of Shinjuku station, and while the windowed balustrades on the bridge make getting a perfect picture less than easy, it's still a worthwhile spot to stop and watch. Unfortunately I only have a few photos from 2023 to show this location, so here's a couple to illustrate.

 

 

The view south towards Yoyogi station, looking from the intersection of the East Deck Bridge and Southern Terrace Square. This station, I am bemused to know, sits on concrete arches, of which I was able to get a photo on the same trip. I'll post it separately as a Detour. The track in the foreground is part of the Sobu Line, which splits at this point; the westbound track leaps over the Yamanote Line while the eastbound track remains at ground level, remaining like this to a point between Shinjuku and Ōkubo Stations, where the eastbound Sobu Line and both Chuo Line tracks leap across the Yamanote Line.

 

 

From the other side of the intersection, here we have an E353 on Azusa/Kaiji duty passing an older 253-series set on Nikkō/Kinugawa duties. While the majority of the 253-series units were scrapped following introduction of the E259 series between 2009 and 2010, JR East retained two six-car sets built in 2002 which were refurbished and reclassified as the 253-1000 subseries for use on Nikko Line services which are run as a joint service with the Tobu Railway. Given that the 253-1000s are now twenty-two years old, I wouldn't be surprised if JR East is actively planning to replace them at some point soon.

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

Brief Detour - Yoyogi Station

Having never boarded or detrained here during my travels, I have limited photos of Yoyogi Station in my assortment. These come from 2023 when on my first day I needed things to do while waiting for Travelex to find and deposit the not-insignificant funds onto my travel card they had decided to hold up (ahem!).

 

 

Thanks to the ever-occurring regeneration of urban Japan, this site gave me a good view of the elevated platforms at Yoyogi Station, and the concrete arches beneath. The elliptical openings are an unusual touch for the architecturally-inclined - note that most have been sealed off, presumably to prevent antisocial behaviour.

 

Taken a little bit before, just down the road at Yoyogi Station West Exit, is the eki-stamp station for Yoyogi. It's right outside the ticket gates, and is very easy to find, compared to the Shinjuku one which was hidden inside a booking office. I suppose that's what makes finding these worthwhile though, putting the effort in to find them!

 

 

Alastair

[ED75-775]

Heading back on course again, we find ourselves in the neighbourhood of Shinjuku Station. To my chagrin, I do not have many good images of this area so we'll chalk that down to my myopic interests. If you're interested, Suica Penguin Square at the southern end of the Shinjuku Station complex is another good spot to stop, and maybe enjoy something to eat, although the train-watching isn't anything different to what you'll see from the East Deck Bridge. Also down this end is one of my favourite spots to grab a bite, Gourmet Curry Bon Gout. I found out about this place watching videos from Hachiko District during the runup to my aborted 2020 trip, and during the pandemic. Their curry is good - maybe a little expensive, but it's good.

 

 

Here's the Suica Penguin Square, looking back towards the station's south building earlier this year. Nice little spot, am I right?

 

 

Slightly further north along the station and just beyond the Odakyu and Keio stores, this little side laneway off Kyu-Ome-Kaido connects through to both a pedestrian underpass and the Omoide Yokocho area. I never really gave it any notice on past trips, but here we are on Day One of my 2024 trip, watching Chuo and Yamanote Line services through the urban canyon! At this time (8:24AM) the shops were still less than two hours away from opening so there wasn't much to do besides ramble, take train photos, and buy a Suica card which now occupies my JR Freight pass case and shall see many more miles logged across Japan on future trips!

 

 

Drawing this time from my iPhone files, this was taken on my last night in Shinjuku and was another 'slice of life' shot, albeit more of a grabshot than anything else. I'd also just hit up Yodobashi Camera's Shinjuku West store which has its own hobby department (nothing brought); for those wanting to know where all the good stuff is, I recommend watching @paolo's informative Shinjuku Train Store Tour (OK, that's my name for it - and it is a good tour as well!) Linked below for your enjoyment.

 

 

Personally, I do find all of the above stores to be excellent. Yodobashi is middle-of-the-road, but worth a check. I'll plonk some of my own photos in the next few days of these locations, among other stuff - we're almost done with Shinjuku so it's time to start moving into other parts of town.

 

Side note: Doing some applied Google-fu to find the links above, I found out that Bon Gout has a second store in Nakameguro near the subway station which is only open for lunch, but hey, since I spend time out that way for Starbucks, maybe it's worth a visit? And their portions are slightly cheaper than the Shinjuku branch...

 

Alastair

Edited November 27 by ED75-775
Fixing YouTube embed. Hey, it's been a while since I did one!

[miyakoji]

Thanks for the photos Alastair.  I am surprised that the lot in front of Yoyogi station is open.  On Google Street View it's also there, and the image is marked September 2023.