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Yamanote Train Green Tea

By Shibuya246 · · 2 min read · 7 photos · 27 comments

All aboard the Yamanote Green Tea ExpressPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/8sISO250Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:30
All aboard the Yamanote Green Tea Express

You don't normally associate the Yamanote train line with green tea, but from April 20th, this year, Mokku company have been selling their unique product of bottled Green Tea in the shape of a train. There are versions for both the Yamanote line and Keihin-Tohoku line.

The full body of the train looks pretty convincingPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/8sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:30
The full body of the train looks pretty convincing
The cap comes off to reveal a quite normal pet bottlePhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/25sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:32
The cap comes off to reveal a quite normal pet bottle
The cap cover, or head carriage of the train is what gives it such a train feelPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/20sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:32
The cap cover, or head carriage of the train is what gives it such a train feel
They even paid attention to the undercarriage, wheelsPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/8sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:34
They even paid attention to the undercarriage, wheels
The well detailed side view with doors and windowsPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/8sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:34
The well detailed side view with doors and windows
... and also the roofPhoto dataCameraCanon PowerShot G10Focal length6mmAperturef/2.8Shutter1/8sISO200Taken9 Jun 2009, 17:34
... and also the roof

Since we are talking about the Yamanote line I thought you might be interested in some great facts about this main line train loop around Tokyo.

There are a total of 29 stations on the Yamanote Line that runs 34.5 kilometers around Tokyo. The line is so important in keeping the human resources of the city moving, that real estate prices can vary dramatically for properties in or outside the loop.

From wikipedia discussing the Yamanote line:

The Yamanote Line originated in 1885 with the construction of the Shinagawa line between Shinagawa and Akabane, bypassing the then built up areas and providing the first north-south rail link through Tokyo. The top part of the loop between Ikebukuro and Tabata was completed in 1903 (known as the Toshima line, 豊島線) and in 1909 following electrification both lines were merged to become the Yamanote Line.

Quiz
For those that have lived in Tokyo for some time and know the Yamanote line well, you might want to try the following quiz?

  1. Which 2 stations on the Yamanote-line do not connect with any other line?
  2. What do the numbers on the top left side of the front of the train mean?
  3. What station was formally known as Karasumori station? The only station on the line to be renamed
  4. Based on the 2007 figures, what are the top 4 busiest stations for passenger usage? Can you name them in order, busiest first?
    A. Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Tokyo
  5. How many minutes does is the fastest time a train can take to complete one loop?
  6. If you lined up all the E231 trains that are used on the Yamanote line (in 2007 figures) from Tokyo station going clockwise (soto-mawari), which station would they stretch to?
  7. Which is the oldest station on the Yamanote line?
Please put your answers in the comments. Don't assume the person above you has the right answers. I will post the correct answers next week.

Here is a short video I tried out with my Canon Powershot G10 camera. The video capabilities seem a bit limited with this camera as you can only take 640x480 resolution. All the latest cameras seem to have High Definition recording capabilities which I would like to take a closer look at.

Video (original link)

What video cameras are you all using these days?

Update: I have now posted the answers to this quiz.

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27 comments

Comments are closed. These are from readers when the post was first published.

  1. Will

    very interesting, sorry i can't answer any of the questions though, id like to try that drink some day.

  2. Shibuya246

    no problem. the taste was pretty ordinary, but the shape was great. ;)

  3. Nick

    Those are all trick questions! Every one knows that Yama-no-tea! :-P

  4. Giancarlo

    Cool! Guess we're never having an Osaka Loop Line tea, though... Not famous enough... :(

  5. Radeonic

    1) Shin-Okubo, Mejiro 2) Not sure, but I believe it corresponds to the train schedule its running as set by JR every quarter? 3) Shinbashi 4) My guess would be: Shijuku, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Shinagawa 5) ~60min? 6) No idea 7) Shinagawa at 1885?

  6. Numer0bis

    looks good :D. I really love green tea even on hot days I like it, which makes me stand out from my friends, they think I am weird for drinking green tea on a hot summer day, but I really don't like coke or all those other soft drinks, too much sugar for me. Regarding the questions: I am not from Japan but Meitante Conan often narrates some interesting things about the yamanote line because Meitante Conan is just a Manga & Animation I am not sure if all the answers are correct :D 1. Shin-Ōkubo and Mejiro do not connect with any other line 2. I think the numbers on the top left side indicate which train it is for example 1920GHamamatsu-cho19:10Shinbashi19:12, so it departures 19:10 and arrives in Shinbashi 19:12 3. Karasumori Station was renamed Shimbashi Station, I think it had something to do with the extension of the Tōkaidō Main Line 4. I have no actuall numbers but my guess might be: 1. Shinjuku 2. Ikebukuro 3. Shibuya 4. Shinagawa must be something like that but don't take my word for it 5. I think it takes about 58 minutes to complete a loop 6. I think at peak hours there are like 50 trains running and if let say each train is about 200m long it comes down to about 10 km of total length and this would be somewhere between Gotanda and Meguro station 7. I think the oldest station is Shinagawa which I think was openend on June 12, 1872 and please bear with me if none of the above answers is correct. I have no idea, I just love watching conan :D and know I am going to enjoy some nice fried tofu and watch an episode of conan (^_^)

  7. whipcracker

    What a way to promote the train line. I like the lipton green tea they sell in the states. I usually buy the 11/2 litre bottle for $1.50USD. On any given day it doesn't take long for me to finish it off. Does Rilakkuma like green tea also? What was the cost of that bottle? Wish i had one. I would like to go on the next conbini tour, if only i was there.

  8. Ryan

    I was going to answer the quiz, but I'd only show myself up, so I'll leave that to the experts.. I like the idea of this novelty tea packaging - I get the feeling it'll shift pretty well..

  9. Michael Lynch

    Great post and photos. I'm down in Okinawa, so, I'll pass on the quiz. We got a 2 car train down in the big city of Naha. I'll have to get down out of the mountains and give it a try someday! Cool blog; I'll be back. Ryukyu Mike

  10. Shibuya246

    Thanks for dropping by. The next quiz will be a bit easier. I would like to get to Okinawa this summer. My last and only trip to Okinawa was for 12 hours. All I really saw was the airport.

  11. Shibuya246

    very clever nick. I like that answer :)

  12. Shibuya246

    maybe that could be next if you are lucky

  13. Shibuya246

    pretty good. answers coming next week

  14. Shibuya246

    Conan to the rescue. I had forgotten about how educational that program was. The last time I saw Meitante Conan was when I was asked on a date and surprised to hear that was the movie we would be seeing. :)

  15. Shibuya246

    the conbini tour would be a hot item.

  16. Shibuya246

    thanks. next time we might make the questions a bit easier.

  17. Numer0bis

    tea actually tastes great and it very healthy compared to soft drinks and all that other stuff. Ask yourself why do japanese people have a high live expectancy ?

  18. Brett

    My son would love some of those bottles, he's our version of the densha otoko.

  19. Shibuya246

    There are some great train products if you like your densha. :)

  20. jordon

    hi. great post! do you know where i can buy this in Tokyo? I haven't seen it anywhere

  21. jordon

    hi. great post! do you know where i can buy this in Tokyo? I haven't seen it anywhere

  22. Shibuya246

    You can definitely buy it at Odaiba in the gift store on the basement level, next to the convenience store. It is just off the food court where McDonalds and Cinnabon are. Also, you may find it in some Daily News JR convenience stores.

  23. Martha

    What a wonderful bottle. I suppose they don't export to the USA. I just got back home here from Japan. If I had know about these bottles I would have bought one there.

  24. Shibuya246

    Answers to the quiz now at http://shibuya246.com/2009/06/18/e5-shinkansen-qu...

  25. Shibuya246

    It's always the way :) Maybe on your next trip

  26. Japanese Words

    Great write up. I don't remember seeing this bottle for sell. I guess it must be a Tokyo thing only.

  27. shibuya246

    Havent seen it anywhere else. They should make some with different regional lines on the bottle as well :)