Tsukuba Express
The Tsukuba Express or TX is a new railway line which opened in late 2005, it connects Akibahara with the high tech city of Tsukaba,
The Tsukuba Express or TX is a new railway line which opened in late 2005 which runs from Akihabara Station to Tsukubu.
The new rail station of at Akihabara has really given the area a big boost with quite a few huge electronics retailers setting up in the proximity. Some of the camera and computer stores are the biggest in the world, which helps make the area very competitive on price and gives the shopper a almost too big choice.
Akihabara is all things geek, only computers and electronic gizmos it is also home to the biggest anime centre in Japan. A popular attraction in the area is the Tokyo Anime Centre is within walking distance.
The train service runs about 4 times an hour to Tsukuba which is well worth a visit. Tsukuba was home to Tokyo’s World Fair, Expo ’85 and has become a science city hub over the last 20 years. Tsukuba is about 40 kilometres from Akihabara and was built as a planned city therefore it is well layer out with more than 60 research institutes, the University of Tsukuba and the main Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) all calling it home. Jaxa is Japan’s version of NASA and the agency’s Tsukuba research center has free exhibits, guided tours and a gift shop with plenty of models, books and space food.
For the visitor there is a wealth of things to see including a full size rocket in the city park which commemorates Expo 85. Another popular Expo leftover is the Planetarium and Expo centre which are also well worth a visit.
The new Tsukebo Express is also an adventure in itsself, this high tech train has an express line with no railway crossings on the entire length. The track also has doors and barriers at the stations so nothing can fall on the tracks and interfere with the 130 kmh train. When the train stops at the station the doors open so people can hop off then they open on the other side to load new passengers. All trains have 6 cars and are controlled pretty much automatically with only one person required to operate the entire vehicle. One thing to note is this train is run by yet another rail company Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company and tickets from other companies are not accepted.
JAXA Tsukubu Site (English)
