Japan Has Unique Vehicles That Are Packed with Technology
Look at all these different designs, shapes, and purposes of these vehicles! There are many different types of unique vehicles in Japan that have been created with new ideas and technology. (Photos courtesy of KAHO Manufacturing Co., Ltd., FUJI-EXPRESS Co., Ltd., and Asa Coast Railway Company)
The Japanese archipelago is part of the circum-Pacific belt, and is characterized by its highly mountainous terrain. Japan is surrounded by seas and has many inland lakes, so there are a lot of places across the country in which being near water is a regular part of life, as well. In recent years, unique vehicles have been developed in different parts of Japan to match these characteristics. These vehicles have gained attention not only as a way to make Japan’s transportation better, but also as a new resource for tourism. Let’s take a look at some of these vehicles.
The World’s First Vehicle to Run on Both Roads and Railways
In the modern age, there is an increasing fall in population in areas surrounded by mountains in Japan. As such, there is a significant challenge to revitalize these regions, as well as to develop and support sustainable forms of transportation for people living in areas without convenient ways to get around.
Obviously, it is essential to build a transportation network to secure routes for people, but it is also crucial to have means of transportation for them to use. One new form of transportation that helps people move around in areas with shrinking transportation networks is a DMV (dual-mode vehicle), which can run on both roads and railways.
A DMV switching from rubber tires to train wheels, so that it can run on the tracks. This system is called mode interchange. (Photos courtesy of Asa Coast Railway Company)
A DMV uses rubber tires to move on roads. When running on railways, it switches to train wheels that are stored inside the bonnet. This happens in a speedy process, with the switch from rubber tires to train wheels taking about 15 seconds. The DMV also has GPS and sensors to detect its location in stations, as well as other systems that let it move safely. It is about a quarter of the weight of a regular train, which brings two benefits for DMVs: on top of requiring less fuel, this vehicle can help reduce rail maintenance costs because it puts a smaller burden on the tracks.
Currently, DMVs run through areas with low populations by the sea where public transportation is used by a decreasing number of local residents and an increasing number of tourists during the day. A DMV can go by road to places without any railway lines, allowing for a wider range of possible routes. In addition, areas beside the sea can be affected by tsunamis during disasters, but there are expectations for DMVs to help secure routes for restoring transportation functions and providing support as quickly as possible by using both roads and railways. DMVs have also gained attention for being the world’s first vehicles to be used in full-scale commercial services. This fact has established them as a way to support local communities as a resource for tourism.
Left: Currently, DMVs in three different designs run across routes in Kochi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture.
Right: Each DMV has a design that draws from the characteristics of the local area. (Photos courtesy of Asa Coast Railway Company)
A Vehicle That Lets You Enjoy the Scenery While Traveling Smoothly over Steep Slopes
The slope car is a type of vehicle that is used in areas with uneven or hilly terrain. This vehicle was developed with technology for mine carts that transport material in the mining industry. Slope cars are used to move people and goods to tourist attractions, golf courses, parks, shrines, temples, and other locations in mountainous areas.
Slope cars are fully automated and can be operated by pressing a single button, just like an elevator. These vehicles are powered by motors. The gears on the motor engages with teeth installed on the rails, and this makes the slope cars move. When going downhill, the motors are designed to function as electrical power generators, which also helps save energy.
The basic purpose of slope cars is to enjoy the scenery, and they are designed not to move very quickly. (Photo courtesy of KAHO Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
The greatest advantage of slope cars is that they can move in curved paths. This makes it possible to create routes that do not ruin the landscape. Slope cars can be order-made to have any kind of design for their chassis, while using the same internal system. You can find unique slope cars in different areas, with original designs that match the locations in which they have been installed.
Left: Slope cars on Mount Inasa in Nagasaki Prefecture. This location was designated as one of “The New Three Japanese Cities with the Most Spectacular Night Views.”
Right: These slope cars are designed with glass windows so that you can get a wide-open view of the whole landscape at night. (Photos courtesy of KAHO Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
Left: A slope car installed at Hikosan Jingu in Fukuoka Prefecture.
Right: This car has a refined design that does not detract from the view around it. The inside of the car has seats with tatami mats on them to give a Japanese feel. You can ride this car as you enjoy the scenery across the four seasons. (Photos courtesy of KAHO Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
Recently, there has been a growing demand for slope cars as a way for people to move within parks, or for hotel guests to move between the hotel building and the car park. Slope cars may become an even more familiar type of vehicle in our lives going forward.
A slope car that runs through Asukayama Park in front of Oji Station in Tokyo. This area is a popular spot, as it features trains, street cars, and slope cars going back and forth in the same place. (Photo courtesy of KAHO Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)
An Amphibious Bus That Can Move on Roads and in Water with Two Engines
Amphibious vehicles have appeared in recent years, as a fusion between a bus and a boat. These vehicles are used to travel in Japan’s lakes and seas for tourism. This type of vehicle features the chassis of a truck as well as two engines—one for moving on land, and another for moving in the water. When it moves into the sea, the marine engine starts up so that it can travel on the water. The entrance is placed high, because the vehicle is designed to go into water. As such, passengers use a slope when getting on or off. Also, the passenger windows do not have glass and are instead covered with a see-through plastic sheet. This sheet can be taken away to create a dynamic and fun experience when the vehicle sends sprays of water on the passengers as it moves.
Left: An amphibious vehicle moving on the sea.
Right: Here, an amphibious vehicle is pictured right as it hits the water. These parts of the trip are a fun attraction in addition to traveling on the water. (Photos courtesy of FUJI-EXPRESS Co., Ltd.)
Left: This is how the vehicle looks when moving on land. The lights are also placed high.
Right: Drivers for this bus need not just a license for driving buses on land, but also a license for small boats. As such, driving this vehicle requires a high degree of skill. (Photos courtesy of FUJI-EXPRESS Co., Ltd.)
Amphibious buses are being used more often by tourists from outside of Japan, and people around the world are paying more attention to this type of vehicle as well. Companies involved with this type of bus say that they are thinking about creating appealing tours by collaborating with local facilities, so there may be more exciting developments in the future.
New vehicles are being created with many different kinds of technology. The vehicles that we looked at here can only be used in a limited number of areas, but they could be used in more new ways through new discoveries about the characteristics and potential of each vehicle. Who can imagine what exciting things might happen in the future?