The advertisement above has no relationship with the content of this homepage, but is necessary for financial support.
Last update: 2004-04-30
Looking at statistic books, Japan has about half the population than the USA, and in average about the same population density like European countries. However, Japan as the image, that the people live on very limited space and the streets in Tokyo are always crowed. The reason is, that the middle of Japan consists of wild and unpopulated mountain ranges, and only a few traffic lines pass through. The people have settled in the flat land regions near the coast. Especially the three great bays, Tokyo bay, Osaka bay and Nagoya bay became the most populated regions. The three metropolises have total different character, Tokyo is the administrative center, capital and the location for the headquaters of most of the great companies. Nagoya is the engineering area, with automobile companies (in Toyota), ceramic companies (in Seto and Tajimi) and chemical industry (in Yokkaichi). Osaka and the surrounding Kinki region is the cultural area, the Kabuki theater and many music performances are the main entertainment, while Kyoto and Nara are the sightseeing spots with many traditional temples, shrines and beautiful parks.
In this homepage Central Japan is considered, that is the Kanto area around Tokyo, the Tokai Area around Nagoya and the Kansai/Kinki areas around Osaka. The former Japan National Railway (JNR) was divided in 1988 into five private companies, the one concerning the area focused on here are the West Japan Railway operating in the area Osaka, Kyoto, Nara to Maibara, which is between Otsu and Gifu. The Central Japan Railway operates around Nagoya from Maibara to Atami including the Shinkansen line from Osaka to Tokyo and on Chuo-Line to Matsumoto. The area around and North of Tokyo is the domain of the East Japan Railway company. On this map the Shinkansen-High speed line is marked red, also the 42km testline for the linear-motor high speed train Maglevsouth of Kofu. The JR lines are shown in black, and the private lines in blue.
D010929Yab.jpg (89kb)
Shinkansen means New-Main-Line and means Express bullet trains
running with a speed of 280km/h. This line was opened in 1964 for
the Olympic games in Tokyo. This high-speed train class 700 is
soon arriving at Tokyo terminal, here in the dense shopping area
near Yabakucho close to the Ginza shopping street. At every time,
streets in Tokyo are crowded with people.
Photo Rail-Fan World in 2001-09-29
Dsc00059.jpg
(129kb)
The station Shinagawa is the main depot for local and commuter
trains. This picture shows the densely populated area in Tokyo.
In 2003-10 this station has been modernized and rebuild, so that
Shinkansen trains can stop here, allowing a higher capacity of
trains on the Tokai-Shinkansen line.
Photo by Railfan magazine
K010000.jpg (81kbs)
Shinkansen class 700, the newest type of high-speed trian
introduced in 1999 and meanwhile built in rather high number, is
passing the famous Fuji mountain on the way from Tokyo to
Shizuoka and Nagoya. From October until June the top of this
ex-vulcano is covered with snow and due its perfect shape it is a
model for many ancient and modern paintings.
Photo by Train calendar 2002
Tokyo- Yokohama- Shizuoka - Hamamatsu- Toyohashi - Nagoya
This is the 1067mm-main line, on which mainly regional, local trains are running, but also freight trains and some long-distance night trains. For passengers the costs for a journey on this line is about half of that compared to the Shinkansen-line and furthermore, many different kinds of season tickets are valid, so that especially young people use this line. The night-trains are also called blue trains according to the color of the coaches.
D010927Shinbas.jpg (95kb)
Shinbashi station is almost the center of Tokyo within only five
minutes walk from the famous shopping street Ginza. It was the
endpoint of the first railway line in Japan, open 1895 between
Shinabsi and Yokohama, and a steam loco is displayed as a
reminder. The commuter train has brought many salary man going to
work and almost ignoring this character puppet, which are so
popular in Japan, here in peperoni shape advertising a chain
restaurant. The blue commuter trains with 16-coaches run on the
Yokohama-line every 2min, and between Ueno/Tokyo and Shinagawa
the Yamanote-line and Tokaido-line are running parallel with the
about same dense frequency, making this area the most busiest
railway line in the world.
Photo by railfan-world , 2001-09-29
5423.jpg (56kb)
Modernized electric locomotove type EF66 with container freight
train between Hayakawa and Nebugawa,
The fastest freight trains in Japan runs with 110km/h, and the
exchange of conatiners at the freight terminal is very efficient:
The train stops briefly and a crane loads the container from one
train to another. after a few mminutes, the trans continues the
journey.
Date: ca. 2000
The Tokai line between Odawara and Atami offers a beautiful view
on the Tokyo bay. This train with double-decker cars connects
Tokyo with the resort hotels in Atami and the Ise-penisula.
Photo by Kunihiko Uno, Date: 1997-06-07
downloaded from http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~PI5K-UN/train.htm in
2003-01
Famous Japanese cherry blossoms with the Keio suburban railway in
Tokyo
Photo by Keio Railway Co. calendar 2003
K00002.jpg (82kb)
Freight train on the Keio line. The locomotives look quite old,
but are from the sixties.
Photo by Keio Railway Co. calendar 2003
K01000023.jpg (43kb)
This pictures shows the Romance car of the Odakyu line, which
connects one of the main stations of Tokyo, Shinjuku, with the
beach in Enoshima, the tourist spot Kamakura and other places.
The driver sits elevated, so that the passengers in the front
seats have the famous front-view.
Photo by Odakyuu Railway Co, calendar 2002
K0100038.jpg
(53kb)
The private Tokyu railway company runs commuter trains in the
south east of Tokyo, connecting also Yokohama. This area is
hilly, so a lot of tunnels are necessary. The characteristics of
the units is stainless steel in the design of the 60'ies.
Photo: Tokyu Postcard serie
6374.jpg (50kb)
On the Oume-line, a branch line of the Chuo-line, this JR
commuter train to Tokyo passed beautiful cherry blossoms between
Futamatao and Ikusabata leaving a tunnel on a typical steel
bridge in typical red color.
Photo: Kunihiko Uno in 1998-04-05 downloaded from http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~PI5K-UN/train.htm in 2003-01
K020001.jpg
(77kb)
The Minobe line runs through
the mountain area in the mainland of Japan. The modern class 105
diesel units makes the journey for passengers more comfortable,
although it is rather slow. The country-side of Jaan can be very
lonely.
Photo rail-fan train calender 2002
Dsc00058.jpg (143kb)
Freight train on the Chuo-Line in the mountain area in Central
Japan.
Photo by rail-fan magazine.
K0100015Shinrin
(98kb)
The forest area between Nakatsugawa and Kisofukushima was the
center of the forest cultivation and a huge narrow gauge network
of forest railways was constructed in order to transport the
timber and cedar trees. Only a 12km long part in the mountain
areas is remained for tourists and hiking.
Photo: Shin-rin Tetsudo
K030000.jpg (112kb)
The express train Shinano connects Nagoya with Nagona and runs
with 160km/h, but in the mountain areas it is slower. The most
scenic views are between Nakatusgawa and Matsumoto and the
longest tunnel on this line is more than 10km long.
Photo: JR Central Railway Co., calendar
K060000.jpg (118kb)
Typical view of the Chuo line in the beautiful Japanese autuum.
Due to the high humidity the marple tress and others show these
intensive redish colors for about two weeks.
Photo: JR Central Railway Co.
D02i76X248.jpg (112kb)
Apartmenthouses without almost no trees in the suburbs of Nagoya
near the Ozone station. The bridge belongs to the Meitetsu Seto
line connecting the ceramic town Seto with the center of Nagoya.
Date: ca. 2000
Photo by rail-fan world, 2002-05
Bus service in Nagoya city, leaving from Nagoya Central station,
the 54-floor building in the back-ground. This 254m high building
was opend in 2001-12 and contains a hotel, offices and
departments stores. The Ginko trees in the foreground turn their
color end of October.
Photo: Nagoya Transport Co., published in calender 2002.
The main subway line in Nagoya
connects Nagoya station with the center of the city, Sakae,
running to Fujigaoka, from where in 2005 a mono-rail connection
to the world exposition park will be opened. Most of the line
runs underground, but the last 7km are elevated. Snow is very
rare in the Tokai area, only about a week each winter.
Photo: Nagoya Transport Co.,
published in calendar 2002.
K00MeitetsuKaisha.jpg (164kb)
The Meitetsu Company is the largest private railway company in
Tokai area. The employees at the workshop pose for a photo, like
many Japanese people do. The uniform is also typicla for Japan.
Taking a picture is a conservation of this moment for the
eternity. The workshop is on the main line Gifu-Nagoya-Toyohashi
near Gamagori. Date: ca. 2000
Photo: Meitetsu Co.
K0100001.jpg
(67kb)
The Tanigumi-line was very popular among railwya fans, but it was
closed in September 2001, due to deficit in income. The station
at the endpoint Tanigumi is preserved as a kind of museum.
Altough Tanigumi is only about 20km from Gifu city, people in
this country area recently prefer to travel with their prvate
car. The trains were running through into the Gifu tramway
system, which still exists, but the number of passengers of the
four lines is decreasing more and more. Th eproblme is, the tram
car has no priviledge and waits at every traffic light, and
becomes sloer than cars or busses. Date: ca. 1999
Photo: Meitetsu Co.
K01000020.jpg
(56kb)
The Panorama car built 1963 was running as express train, until
newer units were introduced. Now it runs on local trains on the
main line, like here in the south of Nagoya. The cherry blossom
season end of March in Japanese is a kind of special season and
everybody welcomes the spring after the cold winter.
Photo: Meitetsu Co., calendar 2001
K0100029.jpg
(42kb)
Near Gamagori this Meitetsu branch lines runs close to the Nagoya
bay. Although Gamagori is a place for relaxing and enjoying at
the beach, the number of passengers on this line are few, so this
train has only two cars. Date: ca. 1999
Photo: Meitetsu Co.
K100000.jpg (63kb)
An pink-red local train from Tokoname passes the bridge, while
the white-red Express train on the Mainline of Meitetsu (Nagoya
Railway Co.) will soon make a brief stop at Jingu-Mae. This
station is near the famous Atsuta Shinto-Shrine was in the 60ies
the endpoint of the line from Toyohashi. The office still
remained from that time, and so often the drivers are changed at
this station. Date: ca. 2000
Photo: Meitetsu Co.
k1100000.jpg (69kb)
The express panorama train passes a dam covered with tsutsuji, a
kind of rhododendron with beautiful blossoms in May. Date: ca.
2000
Photo: Meitetsu calendar 2003
(no pictures yet in this homepage)
K0100071.jpg
(60kb)
Some trains of the Kyoto subway run towards Nara. Date: ca. 2000
Photo: Kansai train calendar 2003
D000200i03X265.jpg (85kb)
The private Nankai Railway runs from Osaka to the south, and also
connecting the Kansai Airport, where this picture is taken. These
trains with the unique, futuristic design are the express trains
called Rapit connecting Kansai Airport with Namba, the main
entertainment area in the south center of Osaka.
Date: 2000-02 Photo: Rail-fan world
The Osaka monorail was opened in 1970 for the world exposition
and gives the northern part city a modern flavor. Date: ca. 2000
Photo: Osaka monorail, calendar 2003
K020008.jpg
(80kb)
The Hankyu line with the typical dark-brown colors are passing by
at the World Trade Center Osaka. The red Hinanbana-Flowers are
blooming in September, Date: ca. 2000
Photo Hankyu Railway calendar 2003
