Thursday 15 January 2015

National Treasure on the Seibuen Line

Set number 2019F of the EMU Seibu 2000 series arrives at Seibuen Station on the Seibuen Line
 
Although Tokyo is a modernized city, many historical constructions are still preserved. For instance, the five-story stupa in Ikegami-Honmonji temple is famous for a medieval buiding in the downtown area. Today, I am going to show you the other old wooden building, which is a unique National Treasure in Tokyo Metropolis.

Jizodo Hall was constructed in 1407 as a main building of Shofukuji Temple in Higashi-Murayama City of Tokyo Metropolis. The East Asian hip-and-gable styled roof is very beautiful. This precious building was designated as a National Treasure in 1952. Strange to say, it is less-famous among Tokyoites. Perhaps, it is famous only among local people. It is sitting on a gold mine, isn't it?

To see this wooden building, please take the Seibuen Line of Seibu Railway, and get off at Seibuen Terminal. The Seibuen Line is a feeder route of the Seibu-Shinjuku Line. Connecting Higashi-Murayama and Seibuen stations, its operating length is only 2.4 km. The entire route is an electrified single track. The track is 1,067 mm-size and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead.

6-car trains, the EMU 2000 series, are operated every 20 minutes during the daytime. The EMU 2000 series was launched in 1977 to reinforce Seibu Railway's transportation capacity. A total of 102 units (except the New 2000 series) had been manufactured by Seibu-Tokorozawa Factory for three years. Its specification is rather old (DC motors with field chopper control system); however, the 2000 series still keeps a beautiful figure like the National Treasure building, Jizodo Hall, near the track.

 
Jizodo Hall (Natioal Treasure) in Shofukuji Temple near Seibuen Station on the Seibuen Line
 
More information about the EMU Seibu 2000 series (in Japanese):