railway

Keibin: Remembering Okinawa’s Light Railway at Yonabaru
Keibin: Remembering Okinawa’s Light Railway at Yonabaru

Keibin: Remembering Okinawa’s Light Railway at Yonabaru

One of Okinawa’s distinct features that sets it apart from mainland Japan is its lack of a railway system, not counting the tourist-centric monorail between the airport and Kokusai-dori. But that wasn’t always the case and for three decades railways,…

Riding in Meiji-style: The Imperial Carriages of Emperor Meiji
Riding in Meiji-style: The Imperial Carriages of Emperor Meiji

Riding in Meiji-style: The Imperial Carriages of Emperor Meiji

When the first train line opened between Tokyo and Yokohama on Oct. 14, 1872, one of the first passengers on the inaugural ride was Emperor Meiji (1852-1912). While it may have been one of his first train rides*, it was…