July 31, 2007

Asia | Japan

The Little Train That Could

By Nicole Cotroneo

Take the greenest train on tracks through the Japanese Alps.

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The world’s first commercial hybrid train begins service through Japan’s northern highlands today. Even in climbing the sharp inclinations, the electric-diesel wonder spews 60 percent less nitrogen oxide into the crisp mountain air than most trains. It can also ferry over 100 people along the scenic 50-mile line with stops at Kiyosato, a resort area in the southern Japanese Alps favored by Tokyo’s summer escapees. Cleanly gliding on two electric motors, the Kiha E200 only fires up its diesel engine when the batteries run low or it needs to tackle a hill. Which means the hybrid will in fact get quite a work out — climbing the mountainous Koumi route that runs between Kobuchizawa in Yamanashi Prefecture and Komoro in Nagano Prefecture. Here you can ride a cable lift over birch-speckled parkland or horseback ride in fields overlooking Mt. Fuji. There are spas, too, including Aqua Resort, which harnesses the therapeutic bubbly of natural hot springs with equal environmental stewardship.