Thursday 30 May 2013

"Sigh of the Dragon" on the Koumi Line


DMU JR East KiHa 110 series passes through Kawamata River near Kai-Ooizumi Station

As I mentioned in my blog on June 22nd, 2012, the JR East Koumi Line is a local railway route in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures. The 78.9km long route penetrates a highland area at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains.

The Koumi Line provides us with various pleasures. The coolness of summer is special. The foliage season is also attractive. Specifically, I like to visit Shirokoma-ike where we can view a mysterious pond and beautiful autumn leaves (see my blog on February 11th, 2013).

What is it like on the Koumi Line in late spring? It is the season of fresh greenery. I like to visit Doryu Fall, which is located near Kai-Ooizumi Station (see the following picture). "Doryu" means "a sigh of the dragon". Ancient people probably imagined steam breathing from a dragon's mouth while looking at this fine and thin waterfall. It is quite unique that the water squirts out from the surface of the rock.

In the meantime, Doryu Fall is located near a railway bridge of the Koumi Line so we can enjoy both the gorgeous waterfall and trains passing through the river in one spot. I could see a 2-car train, the DMU JR East 110 series, heading north (see the top photo). It is the JR East's standard DMU for local lines (see my blog on June 22nd, 2012).

The beautiful "sigh of the dragon" and the gorgeous railway scenery...this is killing two birds with one stone, isn't it?

Doryu Waterfall near Kai-Ooizumi Station on the JR East Koumi Line