EVENTS
06.29.2018
Joined Seibu Railway’s “Local Environmental Contribution Activities Project” in Nagatoro-machi, Saitama
Since May 2016, the Seibu Railway has been working with communities and groups along its railway lines to address environmental conservation and regional contribution activities through the “Local Environmental Contribution Activities Project.” The Seibu Railway invites participants from along its railway lines and others to local environmental activities promoted by each community in the Chichibu area with the goal of reinvigorating areas along its railway lines.
On Sunday, June 24, the Ikedo family from JCS took part in the 13th Environmental Activity event. Although it rained in the morning, it cleared in the afternoon, allowing them to work under fair skies. This is a report on their activities.
Head for Chichibu on a restaurant train Fifty Two Seats of Happiness
The participants gathered together at the Ikebukuro Station at 8 in the morning, got on a restaurant train Fifty Two Seats of Happiness, and left for the Seibu-Chichibu Station. After taking photos of the train, they had a relaxed breakfast in the spacious train car. They also took photos with the conductor.
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Ikedo family taking a photo with the restaurant train they were going to ride for the first time
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Salute with the conductor!!
Enjoying great nature in Nagatoro
At the Seibu-Chichibu Station, they changed trains for the Chichibu Railway in order to reach the Nagatoro Station, where they were welcomed by an authentic steam locomotive puffing black smoke. They enjoyed the sound of the loud steam whistles. They visited a vast natural rock formation called “Iwadatami.” People enjoyed numerous summer activities such as river boating and whitewater rafting.
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The steam locomotive departs while whistling loudly and puffing black smoke
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Watching others enjoy the river boating and whitewater rafting
Climbing the mountain to the Nagatoro Hodosan Wintersweet Garden
The participants used a ropeway to climb to the Hodosan Wintersweet Garden, where they engaged in environmental activities. The view from the summit of Mt. Hodosan was really great.
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Climbing a steep hill to get to the ropeway station
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Setting off to the summit on the Hodosan Ropeway
Now is the time to participate in the environmental activities. They pulled out old stakes and chopped off overgrown branches and leaves
They listened to the local people explain current environmental activities. They divided into groups to pull out large old stakes in the walkways. It was difficult work to pull out the stakes driven deep into the soil, but they all worked hard helping each other.
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Listening to the local people explaining the activities
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Two adults working together to pull out unused stakes with all their strength
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Nobody is talking while pulling out stakes
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The Ikedo family struggles for pulling out a stake too
They also used large scissors to prune branches and leaves over the slope walkway.
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Pruning one branch after another with a large pair of scissors
After finishing the environmental activities, they visited nearby Hodosan Shrine. Surrounded by trees, they experienced a sacred space full of natural energy that relieved the weariness of their physical labor.
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At Hodosan Shrine, they completed the environmental activities
The Seibu Railway and the Chichibu area’s Local Environmental Contribution Activities Project
The Seibu Railway calls for non-local people to participate in the community’s regional environment activities, mainly in the Chichibu area. If you are interested in helping with the reinvigoration of the area and contributing to its activities, please check out the overview of available activities!
