"Bullet Train" typically is associated with Japan railways. But far more people ride the many interurbans and streetcars which are often away from the usual tourist routes.

In this hour you will see equipment old and new on all four main islands. Ride Tokyo's last tram line. Other cities include Toyama, Fukui, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Okayama and more, plus Hakodate and Sapporo on the north island of Hokkaido.

The "Romance Car" allows you a front seat while the driver sits upstairs. Ride a Vista Car, and observe a five-way meet on busy lines, then sample the 2 1/2 -foot gauge! The variety of equipment, some dating to the 40's, is astounding.

Then there are the mountain climbing lines. Four switchbacks face trains in the vicinity of Mt. Fuji. A rack section is encountered on the Ikawa Dam route. Then there's twisting, tunneling narrow gauge through inspiring Kurobe Gorge, viewed from an open car. Two "miniature" motors keep the small, 13-car trains clipping along.

Delight to the hum of traction motors which are not in museums! Hopefully the sun will not soon set on the wonderful traction operations of Japan.