Tuesday 28 October 2014

Old Shrine on the Yahiko Line

EMU JR East 115 series (Yahiko color) arrives at Yoshida Station on the Yahiko Line
 
The JR East Yahiko Line is a short local route in Niigata Prefecture, some 300 km north of Tokyo. Connecting Higashi-Sanjo on the Shinetsu Main Line and Yahiko, its total length is only 17.4 km. The route is a single track, and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. The gauge size is 1,067 mm. A 2-car train, the EMU 115 series, is operated every hour on average. The train runs without a conductor on board because it has fewer passengers than the main line. The Yahiko Line is a typical local route in the countryside.

The body color of the 115 series on the Yahiko Line is called Yahiko-color. It is a white-colored body with yellow and green stripes. Only 3 sets, 6 units, of the Yahiko-color 115 series are operated on the track. As you may know, a rarity packs in rail fans to the track.

In the meantime, the terminal of the Yahiko Line, namely Yahiko Station, is located in a small quiet Yahiko Village. This
 village is famous for Yahiko Shrine. The foundation of Yahiko Shrine is unknown, but it was opened about 1,300 years ago or more, as the name of shrine was seen in an old anthology, called Manyo-shu, which was published in 759. The shrine was built backed by Mt. Yahiko. Being surrounded by the mountains and the deep forest, we can feel a holy atmosphere in the precinct.

To be continued...
 
Yahiko Shrine is located near Yahiko Station on the JR East Yahiko Line