Friday 5 September 2014

Rose Garden on the Saikyo Line

EMU JR East E233-7000 series arrives at Naka-Urawa Station on the Saikyo Line
 
I can't believe that it is September already, as I feel as though I just celebrated the New Year a short while ago. Before introducing the topics of autumn, I am going to step back to spring time this year for a while.

In May, I visited Yono, some 30 km north of Tokyo. Yono used to be a small urban commuter city, but it was incorporated with several surrounding cities, and became part of the larger Saitama City in 2003.

Yono Rose Garden was opened as a part of Yono Park in 1977 in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the park. The main concept of the rose garden was "an investment for people's hearts". Following this concept, people of Yono started a rose festival in 1980, which has become a large regional event. When we visited the garden, I saw many rose lovers, including foreigners, admiring the blossoms.

To visit this gorgeous spot, JR East Saikyo Line is convenient. Connecting Oosaki and Oomiya, the route length is 36.9 km. The entire route is an electrified double track. The track gauge is 1,067 mm and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead.

The Saikyo Line penetrates suburban residential areas in the northern part of Tokyo Metropolis and Saitama City. The EMU JR East E233-7000 series is the major fleet on the line. The E233-7000 series debuted in 2013 to replace the old EMU 205 series. The shining stainless steel body with its green-colored stripe is fresh.

 
Rose garden in the Yono Park near Yono-honcho Station on the Saikyo Line