Monday 29 April 2013

Azalea Season in Tokyo


EMU JR East E257 series passes through Sendagaya Station on the express track
 
It is late spring in Tokyo. Following the Sakura (cherry) blossom, many kinds of flowers paint the ground a rainbow of colors. You should certainly not miss the azalea blooming week in Tokyo. There are a lot of famous viewing spots downtown, but don't forget about the railways as well. You can find many little-known azalea viewing spots along the tracks.

Look at the photos. It is Sendagaya Station on the JR East Chuo Line. The azalea planting zone is seen along the east bound express track. Currently, it is flourishing with pink colored full blown azaleas. The white colored EMU, E257 series and orange striped EMU, E233 series belong in the azalea blossoms. Don't miss them!

For your information, the E257 series is an EMU for the limited express Azusa and Kaiji. It is also used as a Commuter Liner (see my blog on November 26th, 2012) on the Chuo Line. It was launched in 2001 to replace the old EMU, 183 and 189 series. A total of 21 sets, 154 units have been manufactured by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo and Tokyu Sharyo.

Meanwhile, the E233 series is a standard commuter train on the Chuo Rapid, Ome and Itsukaichi lines. It was commissioned in 2006 to replace the old EMU, 201 series. A total of 74 sets, 688 units have been manufactured by Tokyu Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, JR East Niitsu Factory and J-TREC.

The full blown azaleas are expected to last a week.
 
EMU JR East E233 series passes through Sendagaya Station on the express track of the Chuo Line