Exploring Along the Kobe Electric Railway

April 2022. As Golden Week began, I wrapped up my work and immediately hopped on the Shinkansen.

In my bag was my new companion, the FUJIFILM X-E4, which I had just bought.

The goal of this trip was to revisit the Kobe Electric Railway, which runs through the town where I lived about 15 years ago.

I’m more of a model railway enthusiast (and imaginary railway fan), not a rail photographer, but

I couldn’t resist the idea of capturing the striking contrast of red and white with my new camera.





By the time I got off the Shinkansen at Shin-Kobe, it was already night. I decided to rest up at my hotel and start exploring early the next morning.

First, I headed from Shin-Kobe to Shinkaichi, where my hotel was located.





Onward to the Kobe Municipal Subway.





I love the retro feel of the ticket gates here.

The design somehow reminds me of a ship, perhaps because of the round windowed door in the station office.





I continued towards Sannomiya to transfer to Shintetsu at Minatogawa.


Back when I lived here, the opposite direction, towards Tanigami, was known as the Hokushin Kyuko Line.

It was later municipalized and became the Kobe Municipal Subway Hokushin Line.

When heading towards Sanda, you’d transfer here to the Shintetsu at Tanigami.





The 1000 series, phased out with the introduction of the 000 series.

The bright green and soft blue two-tone suits its 19-meter aluminum body. A classic from the Showa era.





I transferred to the Shintetsu at Minatogawa. Although Shinkaichi is close enough to walk to, I was too eager to board the Shintetsu.

The low ceiling and exposed walls give the place a nostalgic feel.





Since Minatogawa and Shinkaichi are only about 400 meters apart, you can see the lights of Shinkaichi Station from the Minatogawa platform.





Here, I pulled out my new camera, the X-E4.

This camera has a film simulation feature that lets you take photos with a look inspired by Fujifilm’s film products.

It’s a great way to capture beautiful photos without RAW processing—a truly nice function.





The Shintetsu 6000 series arrived from Shinkaichi.

I tried using the film simulation “ETERNA Bleach Bypass” to create a silver-retention effect, imagining the night view of Kobe.

I’m not particularly skilled in photography, but I enjoy experimenting with these camera features.





I boarded the 1000 series on the other side, heading to Shinkaichi.

The top photo was taken with my iPhone, and the colors look completely different from the same-colored train below.





After saying goodbye to the 1000 series at Shinkaichi, I headed to my hotel. Let’s meet again tomorrow!





I thought about grabbing a drink somewhere, but it was too late, and most izakayas were closed. So, I bought takoyaki and udon to eat back at the hotel.

Tonight’s accommodation was a super cheap business hotel. I’m a solo male traveler, so all I need is a roof over my head and a place to sleep.

But wow, the takoyaki here is delicious—so gooey inside!

This is what takoyaki should be like. Huh? Gindaco? What’s that again?




The next morning, unfortunately, was cloudy. No rain at 6 AM, but the sky was gray.

With a Golden Week one-day pass, I traveled from Shinkaichi to Suzurandai.





At Suzurandai, Shintetsu’s mascot character Shin-chan welcomed me.

Not the crayon kind.





A huge lineup of Shin-chan figures on a different floor.





A crossing north of Suzurandai.

Here, I swapped lenses and took out my old Soviet-made Helios44-2 58mm lens with a mount adapter to fit my X-E4.





The connection between cars 1362 and 1351, with the headlights removed. Each car in the 1000 series has its unique features, adding to their charm.

They form three or four-car formations with various combinations, including double-ended cars. There were once five-car formations.





Does it look like an old lens shot?





This is the Aio line with the three-car formation 1103-1202-1104.





The Aio and Arima lines split north of Suzurandai, with the Aio line heading up steep slopes and sharp curves.

One of my favorite scenes.

Realized the exposure compensation was set to -2, making it too dark… still getting used to this camera… oh well.

Time to brighten it up a bit on my iPhone.





I got off at Okaba Station, where I used to live.





Okaba Station has a two-platform, four-track layout allowing passing and exchanges.





The Carillon clock tower on a small hill near Okaba Station. The clock has been stopped for at least the 14 years since I lived here.





Near Taji Temple, 5000 series.

Oops, it’s starting to rain…





The Shintetsu “K” mark glistened dully in the rain.





The 3000 series. Ultraman.





This car has a nostalgic Showa era feel, which I like.





Tired of silver-retention, I switched to the vivid “Velvia” film simulation.


The red of the 1000 series looked amazing with Velvia, a complete contrast to ETERNA Bleach Bypass!





Another 3000 series. With Velvia, it somehow has a Return of Ultraman vibe!?


As the rain intensified, I thought it was time to wrap up.





At Sanda, I had a late breakfast. Steak in the morning at Miyamoto Munashi, a place I had long wanted to visit.

By the time I left, the rain had turned into a downpour.