The , referred to as , is a cable railway line owned and operated by the

Kintetsu Railway , referred to as , 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 railway network connects Osaka, Nara, Kyo ...

, a Japanese major

private railway A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector. Japan In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railwa ...

. The line connects Toriimae to Ikomasanjo, all of which are within Ikoma, Nara, Japan.

Basic data

*Lines and distances: **Hōzanji Line: Toriimae - Hōzanji, **Sanjō Line: Hōzanji - Ikoma-Sanjō, * Gauge: *Stations: 5 * Double track 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 or ...

*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 260px, Hall for Kangiten (Shoten) Hōzan-ji (宝山寺 Hōzan-ji) is a Buddhist temple in Monzen-machi, Ikoma, Nara, Japan. Though officially dedicated to the deity Acala (Fudō Myōō), the temple serves as a cult-center of the deity Kangit ...

, a Shingon Buddhist temple. Sanjō Line climbs up Mount Ikoma, reaching

Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park Ikoma may refer to: * Mount Ikoma in Nara Prefecture, Japan * Ikoma (ethnic group) an ethnic group of Tanzania * Ikoma, Nara, a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan * Ikoma Station, a station in Ikoma City, Japan * Ikoma clan The was a Japanese samur ...

. 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 is a contactless smart card ticketing and electronic money system used in the Kansai region (and may also be used in some areas of Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Shizuoka Prefecture) of Japan. The name ''PiTaPa'' is an acro ...

, a smart card ticketing system, nor Surutto Kansai, a prepaid magnetic card ticketing system. In 2021, the line became a Civil Engineering heritage site.

Rolling stocks

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-like "

Do-Re-Mi "Do-Re-Mi" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical '' The Sound of Music''. Each syllable of the musical solfège system appears in the song's lyrics, sung on the pitch it names. Rodgers was helped in its creation by long-ti ...

", 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

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 {{Japan-cable-line-stub

Basic data

Overview

Rolling stocks

Stations

See also

References