The , referred to as , is a
cable railway
A cable railway is a railway that uses a Wire rope, cable, rope or chain to haul trains. It is a specific type of cable transportation.
The most common use for a cable railway is to move vehicles on a Grade (slope), steeply graded line that is t ...
line owned and operated by the
Kintetsu Railway
, referred to as and officially Kinki-Nippon Railway, is a Japanese passenger railway company, managing infrastructure and operating passenger train service. Its railway system is the largest in Japan, excluding Japan Railways Group. The railw ...
, a Japanese major
private railway. The line connects
Toriimae to
Ikomasanjo, all of which are within
Ikoma, Nara
is a Cities of Japan, city in the northwestern end of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. It was founded on November 1, 1971. As of September 1, 2023, the city has an estimated population of 117,259, with 51,478 households. It has a p ...
, Japan.
Basic data
*Lines and distances:
**Hōzanji Line: Toriimae - Hōzanji,
**Sanjō Line: Hōzanji - Ikoma-Sanjō,
*
Gauge
Gauge ( ) may refer to:
Measurement
* Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments
* Gauge (firearms)
* Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire
** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, especia ...
:
*Stations: 5
*
Double track
A double-track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single-track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.
Overview
In the earliest days of railways in the United Kingdom, most li ...
line: Toriimae — Hōzanji
**Quadruple at the
passing loop
A passing loop (UK usage) or passing siding (North America) (also called a crossing loop, crossing place, refuge loop or, colloquially, a hole) is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at or near a station, where trains o ...
*Vertical interval:
**Hōzanji Line:
**Sanjō Line:
Overview
The Ikoma Cable Line is actually made up of two different lines; between Toriimae and Hōzanji, between Hōzanji and Ikoma-Sanjō. The Hōzanji Line is the oldest commercially operated funicular in Japan, opened in 1918. It runs to
Hōzan-ji, a
Shingon Buddhist temple. Sanjō Line climbs up
Mount Ikoma, reaching
Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park.
The Hōzanji Line is the only double-track funicular in the country. However, the two tracks are treated as different lines, called and . Normally, only Hōzanji Line 1 and Sanjō Line are used. Hōzanji Line 2 is operated in holiday seasons, and for safety inspections of the Line 1. Since the Hōzanji Line runs along a fairly urbanized area, it also functions as a commuter line. However, the line does not accept
PiTaPa
PiTaPa () is a contactless smart card ticketing and electronic money system used predominantly the Kansai region of Japan. The name ''PiTaPa'' from "Postpay IC for Touch and Pay". In the Osaka area, PiTaPa is usable on the Osaka Municipal Subw ...
, a
smart card
A smart card (SC), chip card, or integrated circuit card (ICC or IC card), is a card used to control access to a resource. It is typically a plastic credit card-sized card with an Embedded system, embedded integrated circuit (IC) chip. Many smart ...
ticketing system, nor
Surutto Kansai, a prepaid magnetic card ticketing system.
In 2021, the line became a Civil Engineering heritage site.
Rolling stock
Hōzanji Line 1 used classical 1928 cars until 2000, when they were replaced by the current fancy-decorated cars. Since then, bulldog-faced "Bull" and calico cat-faced "Mike" serve the line, both officially being Type Ko 11. Sanjō Line uses
organ
Organ and organs may refer to:
Biology
* Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function
* Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body.
Musical instruments
...
-like "
Do-Re-Mi", cake-decorated "Sweet", both officially Type Ko 15. Hōzanji Line 2 uses ordinary-shaped Type Ko 3 cars, nicknamed "Yume-Ikoma".
Image:Kintetsu_Ikoma_Bull.jpg, "Bull" of Hōzanji Line 1
Image:Kintetsu_Ikoma_Mike.jpg, "Mike" of Hōzanji Line 1
Image:Kintetsu_model_ko15_(Doremi).jpg, "Do-Re-Mi" of Sanjō Line
Image:Kintetsu_model_ko15_(sweet).jpg, "Sweet" of Sanjō Line
Stations
See also
*
Cable car
*
Funicular railway
A funicular ( ) is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages (also called cars or trains) permanently attached to opposite ends ...
*
List of funicular railways
This is a list of funicular railways, organised by place within country and continent. The funiculars range from short urban lines to significant multi-section mountain railways.
A funicular railway is distinguished from the similar incline elev ...
*
List of railway lines in Japan
List of railway lines in Japan lists existing Rail transport, railway lines in Japan alphabetically.
The vast majority of Japanese railways are classified under two Japanese laws, one for and another for . The difference between the two is a leg ...
*
Mt. Ikoma
References
Ikoma Cable Line
Rail transport in Nara Prefecture
Funicular railways in Japan
1067 mm gauge railways in Japan
Railway lines opened in 1918
1918 establishments in Japan
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