Odakyu Electric Railway , commonly known as Odakyū, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for its '' Romancecar'' series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone. The Odakyu Electric Railway Company f ...

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

mountain resort A mountain resort is a place to holiday or vacation located in an elevated and typically at least relatively isolated area. The term resort implies integral hotel or inn accommodations, restaurants, and either or both sports facilities or sceni ...

Hakone is a List of towns in Japan, town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the town had a population of 10,965, and total area of . Hakone is a notable spa town and a popular tourist destination due to its many onsen, hot springs being within view of ...

Gotemba is a city on the southeastern flank of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 88,370 in 36,096 households, and a population density of 450 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography ...

Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano located on the Japanese island of Honshu, with a summit elevation of . It is the highest mountain in Japan, the second-highest volcano on any Asian island (after Mount Kerinci on the Indonesian island of Sumatra), a ...

Odawara is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 188,482 and a population density of 1,700 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Odawara lies in the Ashigara Plains, in ...

Enoshima is a small offshore island, about in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River which flows into the Sagami Bay of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Administratively, Enoshima is part of the mainland city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Fujisawa, and is ...

narrow gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with Minimum railw ...

Shinkansen The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. It was initially built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond lon ...

regenerative braking Regenerative braking is an energy recovery mechanism that slows down a moving vehicle or object by converting its kinetic energy or potential energy into a form that can be either used immediately or stored until needed. Typically, regenerativ ...

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

Hakone Tozan Line The is a mountain railway in Japan operated by Odakyu Hakone, an Odakyu Group company that also owns the Hakone Tozan Cable Car. The section of the line from Odawara Station to Hakone-Yumoto Station began operating in 1919, with the current t ...

Hakone is a List of towns in Japan, town in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the town had a population of 10,965, and total area of . Hakone is a notable spa town and a popular tourist destination due to its many onsen, hot springs being within view of ...

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. On average, the line carries 1,447,730 passengers daily (2017), the second highest of the Tokyo Metro network, behind the Tozai Line (1,642,378).Yoyogi-Uehara) *''

Enoshima is a small offshore island, about in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River which flows into the Sagami Bay of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Administratively, Enoshima is part of the mainland city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Fujisawa, and is ...

'' service between

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

and Katase-Enoshima (in

Fujisawa, Kanagawa is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 439,728 and a population density of 6300 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Fujisawa is in the south-central part of Kan ...

) *''Metro Enoshima'' service between Katase-Enoshima and Kita-senju (direct through service to the

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. On average, the line carries 1,447,730 passengers daily (2017), the second highest of the Tokyo Metro network, behind the Tozai Line (1,642,378).Yoyogi-Uehara) *'' Mt. Fuji'' service between

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

and

Gotemba is a city on the southeastern flank of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 88,370 in 36,096 households, and a population density of 450 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography ...

on

JR Central is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...

Gotemba Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). It connects Kōzu Station (Kanagawa), Kōzu Station in Odawara, Kanagawa, Odawara to Numazu Station, Numazu via Gotemba Station, Gotemba. The ''Mt. Fuj ...

*''Sagami'' service between

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

and

Odawara is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 188,482 and a population density of 1,700 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Odawara lies in the Ashigara Plains, in ...

(in

Odawara, Kanagawa is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 188,482 and a population density of 1,700 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Odawara lies in the Ashigara Plains, in ...

) *''Morning Way'' trains inbound from

Odawara is a Cities of Japan, city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 188,482 and a population density of 1,700 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Odawara lies in the Ashigara Plains, in ...

, Katase-Enoshima to

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

until 9:30 a.m. *''Metro Morning Way'' trains inbound from Hon-Atsugi to Kita-senju (on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line) *''Home Way'' trains outbound from

Shinjuku , officially called Shinjuku City, is a special ward of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) as well as the Tokyo Metropol ...

to Hakone-Yumoto, Katase-Enoshima after 6 p.m. *''Metro Home Way'' trains outbound from Kita-senju (on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line) to Hon-Atsugi These are classified as ''tokkyū'' (

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

) services, requiring limited express tickets and seat reservations.

Bento A is a Japanese-style single-portion take-out or home-packed meal, often for lunch, typically including rice and packaged in a box with a lid (often a segmented box with different parts of the meal placed in different sections). Outside Japa ...

meals are available on the train.

Trainset evolution

*

Odakyu 3000 series SE The or SE (Super Express), later becoming SSE (Short Super Express), was a "Romancecar" electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan. It was the recipient of the inaugural Blue R ...

: These pioneering rapid rail trains were introduced in 1957 and were commonly used until 1968; one was used until 1991. They set the world speed record for narrow gauge track in September 1957 at and were an inspiration for the world's first

high speed train High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail transport network utilising trains that run significantly faster than those of traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated railway track, tracks. While there is ...

, the

Shinkansen The , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. It was initially built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond lon ...

. They later earned Japan's Blue Ribbon design award. The 8-car trains could seat 354 people. * Odakyu 3100 series NSE: A taller, upgraded version of the 3000 series, it was used from 1963 until 1999. The 3100 series was the longest ''Romancecar'' in common service and gave it its distinctive look. The

Nagoya Railroad , publicly trading as , is a private railway company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Some of the more famous trains operated by Meitetsu include the ''Panorama Car'' and the ''Panorama Car Super'', both of whic ...

Panorama Car is a trainset series operated by Nagoya Railroad, including the . Like the ''Romancecar'' trains of Odakyu Electric Railway, they are designed to be tourist oriented limited express trains, although they also operate on services. The very ...

design was based on the 3100 series. The 11-car trainset could seat 464 people, and had a maximum design speed of . * Odakyu 7000 series LSE: Entering service in 1980, it has a 180-degree front view of scenery. It has seating for 464 people in 11 cars—identical to the 3100 series. It was manufactured by

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Minato, To ...

. The two remaining sets were withdrawn from regular service on July 10, 2018, and are scheduled to be operating seasonally until the end of the fiscal year. * Odakyu 10000 series HiSE: Introduced in 1988, like its predecessor, the 7000 series LSE, these two types are very closely related, and were once the top grade of ''Romancecar'' service, but with larger seats than the 7000. Like the LSE and VSE, the driver's compartment is elevated so that passengers at the front of the train have an unimpeded 180 degree view of the scenery. These trains are used for ''Hakone'' services, plying the same route as the VSE but stopping more often; the trip to Hakone takes about 90 minutes. Cabin attendants are available for food and drink service, except in the evening. The two remaining sets were withdrawn on March 16, 2012. *

Odakyu 20000 series RSE The (Resort Super Express) was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated between 1991 and March 2012 by the private railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway on ''Asagiri (train), Asagiri'' limited express services in Japan. Operation ...

: Introduced in 1992, and withdrawn in 2012, these trainsets were mainly used for '' Asagiri'' services to , where they alternated with the very similar JR Central

371 series The was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Japan between 1991 and 2014. Originally used on ''Asagiri (train), Asagiri'' limited express services in conjunction with Odakyu Electric Ra ...

. They were the only Odakyu trains with first-class seating in "semi-compartments" on the upper deck of two bi-level cars in the center of each train. It was the first in the series to break from the traditional wine red color, being baby blue. *

Odakyu 30000 series EXE The Odakyu 30000 series (), branded "EXE/EXEα" ("Excellent Express/Excellent Express Alpha"), is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan on Odakyu Odawara Line and Odak ...

: Introduced in 1996, these currently operate most ''Romancecar'' services. Most are equipped with vending machines on board, and some also have cabin attendants. They are boxy and metallic bronze in color. From fiscal 2016, sets have undergone a programme of refurbishment; refurbished sets are branded EXEα (Excellent Express Alpha). *

Odakyu 50000 series VSE The or VSE (Vault Super Express) was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Odakyu Electric Railway on ''Romancecar'' services in Japan. Two 10-car articulated sets were introduced in March 2005, manufactured by Nippon Sharyo. ...

: Introduced in 2005, the white VSE featured the driver's compartment elevated over the cabin as with the HiSE. VSE trains were primarily used for ''Super Hakone'' services and had cabin attendants who brought food, drinks, and on-board shopping to each passenger's seat during the 80-minute run to Hakone. There were also two cars with cafe spaces, leading to the VSE's reputation as a . There are seats for 358 people.Ltd. Exp. Romancecar , Odakyu Electric Railway
The two sets were withdrawn from regular service on March 11, 2022, and were completely retired on December 10, 2023. *

Odakyu 60000 series MSE The (Multi Super Express) is a Romancecar electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan since March 2008. The trains are used on Odakyu through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiyo ...

: The first ''Romancecar'' to be used on through services on the

Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. On average, the line carries 1,447,730 passengers daily (2017), the second highest of the Tokyo Metro network, behind the Tozai Line (1,642,378).Odakyu 70000 series GSE: The newest "Romancecar" model, with an elevated driver's compartment similar to the HiSE and VSE. Entered service in March 2018. File:Odakyu RomanceCar Old Coloring.JPG, 3000, 3100 and 7000 series Romancecar trains, left to right, in traditional colors File:Odakyu 10000.JPG, 10000 series HiSE Romancecar File:Odakyu 20000 RSE Asagiri 20100515.jpg, 20000 series RSE File:Odakyu-EXE-30000.jpg, 30000 series EXE File:Odakyu.type50000.jpg, 50000 series VSE File:Odakyu-Type60000-MSE-Hakone.jpg, 60000 series MSE File:Odakyu-Series70000 GSE.jpg, 70000 series GSE

In popular culture

* ''Open Me!'', the series finale of ''

Ultra Q is a 1966 Japanese ''tokusatsu'' ''kaiju'' television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya, first broadcast on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) on January 2, 1966 and having its twenty-eighth and final episode aired on December 14, 1967. This series w ...

'', features a flying Odakyu 3100 Series called ''The Train In The Vary Dimension''. It journeys to a pocket dimension with its passengers, a place where those within can be free of the hardships and struggles of daily life, but upon returning, those aboard are left forever insane and unable to go back. * ''Romansu (Round Trip Heart)'', a 2015 Japanese film about a train attendant who works on Romancecar services between Shinjuku and Hakone *In Vol. 21 of manga ''

Jujutsu Kaisen is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. It was serialized in Shueisha's Shōnen manga, manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from March 2018 to September 2024, with its chapters collected in 30 volumes. The ...

'', the character Kinji Hagari's personal technique of "Sitetsu Junai Ressha" features several station names from

Odakyu Odawara Line , commonly known as Odakyū, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for its '' Romancecar'' series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone. The Odakyu Electric Railway Company ...

.

References

External links

Limited Express "Romancecar" (Odakyu Electric Railway)
{{Odakyu trainsets Named passenger trains of Japan Odakyu Electric Railway Railway services introduced in 1957 1957 establishments in Japan

Name origin

Service

Trainset evolution

In popular culture

References

Further reading

External links