Japan Train Enthusiasts Tour

[mich1409]

Hi, I'm a travel wholesaler that specialises in Japan travel and am looking into making a Japan train enthusiasts tour, but make it really niche.

If you were to take this tour, which area of trains would you like the tour to focus on?

 

Feedback greatly appreciated! Thanks so much.

[keitaro]

I'm not interested in the newer stock. More in with the older dmu's. Also riding the d51 498 would be a bonus.

 

More rural limes as well.

 

Anyone can do the city stuff.

 

Of course you always have to include the Shinkansen in all travel to get to a destination to kick start the tour.

[mich1409]

Thank you Keitaro-san, will certainly keep that in mind :)

[Guest ___]

The more trains I can see, shoot, the better, the more station bentos the better as well.

[mich1409]

Oh yes, the station bentos, very important! Thank you Monorail Cat-san!

[bikkuri bahn]

I'm with Keitaro- focus on the older stuff, including soon to be retired rolling stock- even if some of the participants are not cognizant of the specifics of each type, later on (perhaps years later) the pics they take will be nice historical records- look at the numerous videos forum member Westfalen has posted on early JR 90's era trains.  There will be plenty of chances to ride and photograph the modern stuff in "positioning" moves as well as during free time in the big cities.  Another point is to choose a location that has at least two attractions to it, for example, scenic quality and unique rolling stock, or traffic volume and variety of stock, unique stock and special operations, etc.

 

other suggestions:

-JR freight: choose a high volume mainline (e.g. Sanyo line), or one with unique character (Yokkaichi area with d51 tanker trains, senohachi pusher locos on Sanyo line out of Hiroshima)

 

-local lines: 1.Kominato Rlwy in Chiba highly recommended, 2. any line with kiha 40's- an explanation of this iconic type would be valuable to tour participants, 3. Koumi line for mountains and Hybrid railcar, combined with a ride on Chuo Line local trains out of Kofu would be great, return via Nagano Shinkansen or the bus down to Yokokawa and the railway museum there 4. Obasute station switchback- schdule it so you can catch the EH200 tanker coming through

 

-an "operations day": focus on a busy junction where volume and diverse operating patterns can be easily observed.  

 

-try to squeeze an depot open day in your itinerary, if possible

 

-supporting documentation is a big plus and value add to a tour: background data and history, copies of "daiya" of the line visited, a commentary of a typical hour of the line/junction

[mich1409]

wow great info! Thanks Bikkuri Bahn-san! Good idea to focus on the older stuff before they retire.

[bikkuri bahn]

Let me add:

-a single track main line with relatively heavy traffic, for example the Sanin Line past Sonobe to Fukuchiyama, or even the Nara Line.  I find the operations of local trains pulling into station sidings to let ltd. expresses and other faster trains pass fascinating.  Even a double track line such as the Hanwa Line is good as it has timed overtakes (and the bonus of the iconic 103 series still in operation).

 

-"rail for rail", the Kansai area has more rail enthusiast interest than Kanto, and the area is a bit more compact and concentrated.  Also, any (albeit irrational) fears of radiation are moot here. Historically and touristically, Kansai wins hands down.

[keitaro]

right in my families neighbourhood heh :D

[mich1409]

yeah, agreed re: radiation fears. what about railway in kyushu? this was something i was initially going to add in the itinerary, any thoughts?

[gmat]

Would it be with family and if so, when the train buffs are shooting at stations, would a separate venue for the wives be useful? For example shopping or cultural attractions or visit interesting eating places. Would guys be open to shooting at stations in the evening?

 

There are also a lot of Japanese programs that do visiting local areas. You might get some interesting ideas.

Could you get or allow locals, Japanese or expats to join up when you swing near their neck of the woods?

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[mich1409]

Thanks Grant, I really didn't think of the children and the wives! I'll have a chat with my supplier if I can get the locals to join when we visit them. Do you mean just for the day or from that point on?

[bikkuri bahn]

what about railway in kyushu?

 

Others on this forum likely have been there more than me.  However, IMO it's better for the more modern rolling stock as well as for the unique JR Kyushu designs and paint schemes- JR Kyushu(unlike JR west) seems less keen on keeping older JNR era stock running or in their original paint schemes.  It does have a couple of very interesting switchback stations, one which I will visit later this month (the Okoba Loop/switchback) along with a ride on the new Shinkansen line to Kagoshima.  Moji Station is a very interesting terminal station which also has a small railway museum.  The nearby Kanmon Tunnel and AC/DC current change point is ferroquinologically significant.

[gmat]

I'm thinking that there are guys living in Japan who might be able to take some time off, especially on the weekends to travel with the tour, but also perhaps near their local area. Also perhaps we might interest Japanese members of train clubs who may want a chance to meet foreigners. Don't know anyone like that, but perhaps others might.

People who have traveled here with their wives might have a better idea if they'd prefer to split off at the station and do something different.

I guess that the problem is that to get in as many trains as possible, you're mostly riding the trains to and from someplace or waiting at a station for a connection. I did that with my weekend trip north and then west of Tokyo.

 

BBest wishes,

Grant

[mich1409]

Thank you Bikkuri Bahn-san, you're wealth of knowledge, truly appreciate it!

[mich1409]

Thank you Grant, yes, looking after wives and children might be a tricky thing I hadn't considered. Mingling with the locals is a great idea, I'll look into it. Thanks again!

[linkey]

I wish there was an all of the above tick box for the poll as I would be doing that! :D

[mich1409]

Hi Linkey-san, Yes, wouldn't that be ideal! BTW, when the tour is made, to show my appreciation to everyone who has answered my questions, there will be an exclusive discount for people who would like to go on the tour so all your efforts are definitely not taken for granted! Thanks so much!

[Martijn Meerts]

I just like trains in general, regardless of whether they're old, new, Japanese, or some other country. (Of course, there's designs I don't like, but hey :))

 

If I were to go to Japan and concentrate purely on trains, I think I'd prefer to travel through most of the country by train rather than go train spotting or sit on a particular station all day. I'd also add some days at certain places to visit some sites such as train museums, but also things like the Hiroshima memorial, 1 or more old temples and/or castles, and of course the Ghibli museum =)

 

Of course, for me it's a LONG flight to Japan, which means if I go I would have to stay at the very least 2 weeks, preferably 3 or 4 weeks though. Doing only train related stuff during those weeks would just be too much, hence the temples/castles/ghibli museum/etc.

[mich1409]

Thank you Martijin Meerts-san, I wasn't too sure whether some sightseeing should be included so you put my mind at ease! My initial plan is a 2 week tour with an extra week extension plan for those who want to stay so good to hear some re-assurance. Thanks again!

[westfalen]

I'm not interested in the newer stock. More in with the older dmu's. Also riding the d51 498 would be a bonus.

 

More rural limes as well.

 

Anyone can do the city stuff.

 

Of course you always have to include the Shinkansen in all travel to get to a destination to kick start the tour.

I'd go on a tour like this.

[Tecchan]

I would also enjoy tours of the different depot, train related facilities, etc.

[westfalen]

I would also enjoy tours of the different depot, train related facilities, etc.

Yes, places individuals might not have the contacts to get into. When I was on the Trains Unlimited German tour in 2008 we visited the DB diesel shops at Cotbus, a place normally strictly off limits.

 

I've started a thread a while back about this years Trainaway Tours trip to Japan to give an idea what a Japanese tour could be like, they try to accomodate those who just like train travel as well as railfans but by everyone having a railpass you are free to go off on your own on days the group are doing something you would not be interested in.

 

I find a lot of professional railfan oriented tour operators are not interested in places without steam.

[Nick_Burman]

Mich, I have yet to visit Japan, however a friend of mine (Prof. John Kirchner from Pasadena, CA) travels to Japan regularly, including leading tour groups of US railfans. By and large, most US visitors think that Japan is Shinkansen and lookalike MU cars on suburban runs, so whatever tour you run must dispel these impressions. So I would suggest the following:

 

- Steam: Oigawa, Paleo Express, Mooka Railway, Aso Boy, any of these will do. By far the Oigawa is more "authentic", with locomotives hauling real old-time coaches. Plus the scenery, of course;

 

- Trolley cars: Try hiring a trolley car in any of the big systems for a morning or an afternoon. Most systems will not say "no" to hiring a car, although management might be a bit bemused with the offer (as it happened with John in Sapporo: "OK, we will do it, however why hire our preserved car if you can ride it any day of the week for the price of a normal ticket?" said the G.M.). The Hankai Tramway would be a sure winner if you could lay your hands on one of their big 1920's center-door cars, it would give those folks who remember the Pacific Electric "Hollywood" cars a big lump in the throat;

 

- Freight;

 

- Lines with older rolling stock, especially those whose trains still emit traditional traction sounds;

 

- Rural lines, after all, Japan isn't all skyscrapers and conurbations. If the line is scenic, even better;

 

- Museums: Saitama, Umekoji;

 

- Oddballs: Utsube, Hokusei and Hachioji lines (762mm gauge electrics), Kurobe Gorge Railway (ditto, with the scenery added), Tateyama Sabo (at least a visit to their op base as riding the line would be very difficult to arrange), Oigawa Ikawa Line, etc...

 

The modern stuff you can work into the schedule as part of going from point A to B to C.

 

 

Cheers NB

[mich1409]

Thank you Westfalen-san, yes, I've read your thread about the Trainaway Tours it was a great place to start to get some ideas. Absolutely, something exclusive would be a fantastic option. I was initially thinking of doing a 2 week tour and then 1 week optional for people who want to travel longer on Cassiopeia or Hokutosei as tickets are hard to get if you live overseas. Would that be of something interest? Having the railpass to give freedom to tourgoers is a good idea, I will keep that in mind thanks again!