Thursday 4 June 2015

Illuminated Rose Garden on the Keihin-Tohoku Line

EMU E233-1000 series arrives at Akihabara Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line

There are several reputable rose gardens in the Tokyo metropolitan area. They are Yono Park, Keisei Rose Garden, Yatsu Rose Garden... and one more, Kyu-Furukawa Garden. Kyu-Furukawa Garden is a European style garden designed by a British architect, Josiah Conder, in 1917. Currently, it is a national property and was designated as the National Site of Scenic Beauty in 2006.

Kyu-Furukawa Garden is small compared to the other gardens, but there is a large European style house behind the garden, so the rose blossoms stand out against the background mansion. The roses are red, pink, yellow and white colored... and very fragrant. During the full blooming season, the garden is lit up at night.

To get to this gorgeous spot, please take the JR East Keihin-Tohoku Line. The nearest station is Kami-Nakazato. The blue colored 10-car train, the EMU E233-1000 series, is operated frequently. The E233-1000 series was launched in 2007 replacing the 209 series. A total of 83 sets, 830 units, were built over three years.

Same as the previous 209 series, the E233-1000 series has ultra-sonic platform sensors for safety. If the train stops outside of a station platform, the conductor cannot open the doors in order to prevent passengers falling out of the train.
 
Illuminated rose garden in Kyu-Furukawa Garden near Kaminakazato Station