Ikoma Cable Line

The Ikoma Cable Line (生駒鋼索線, Ikoma kōsaku sen), referred to as Ikoma Cable (生駒ケーブル, Ikoma kēburu), is a cable railway line owned and operated by the Kintetsu Railway, a Japanese major private railway. The line connects Toriimae to Ikomasanjo, all of which are within Ikoma, Nara, Japan.

Ikoma Cable Line (Ikoma Cable)
Motorable level crossing at the passing loop of Hōzanji Line
Overview
Native name	生駒鋼索線 (生駒ケーブル)
Owner	Kintetsu Railway
Line number	Y
Locale	Ikoma, Nara, Japan
Termini	Toriimae Ikomasanjo
Stations	5
Color on map	(#B1865B)
Service
Type	Cable railway
System	Kintetsu Railway
Operator(s)	Kintetsu Railway
History
Opened	August 29, 1918; 106 years ago (1918-08-29)
Technical
Line length	2 km (1.2 mi)
Number of tracks	4
Character	Cable railway
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	200 V DC
Operating speed	10.8 km/h (6.7 mph)
Maximum incline	Hōzanji Line: 22.7% Sanjō Line: 33.3%
Route map Legend Hōzanji Line km Ikoma Ikoma, Keihanna and Nara lines 0.0 Toriimae Toriimae Crossing 1 Toriimae Crossing 2 Toriimae Crossing 3 0.9 Hōzanji Sanjō Line 0.9 Hōzanji Hozanji Crossing 1.2 Umeyashiki 1.6 Kasumigaoka Kasumigaoka Crossing 2.0 Ikoma-Sanjō km

Basic data

• Lines and distances:
  • Hōzanji Line: Toriimae - Hōzanji, 0.9 km (0.6 mi)
  • Sanjō Line: Hōzanji - Ikoma-Sanjō, 1.1 km (0.7 mi)
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 5
• Double track line: Toriimae — Hōzanji
  • Quadruple at the passing loop
• Vertical interval:
  • Hōzanji Line: 146 m (479 ft)^[1]
  • Sanjō Line: 322 m (1,056 ft)^[1]

Overview

The Ikoma Cable Line is actually made up of two different lines; Hōzanji Line (宝山寺線, Hōzanji-sen) between Toriimae and Hōzanji, Sanjō Line (山上線, Sanjō-sen) 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 Hōzanji Line 1 (宝山寺1号線, Hōzanji Ichi-gō-sen) and Hōzanji Line 2 (宝山寺2号線, Hōzanji Ni-gō-sen). 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, a smart card ticketing system, nor Surutto Kansai, a prepaid magnetic card ticketing system.

In 2021, the line became a Civil Engineering heritage site.^[1]

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-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".

• 
  "Bull" of Hōzanji Line 1
• 
  "Mike" of Hōzanji Line 1
• 
  "Do-Re-Mi" of Sanjō Line
• 
  "Sweet" of Sanjō Line

Stations

line name	No.	Station name	Japanese	Distance (km)	Direct	Transfers	Location
Hōzanji Line	Y17	Toriimae	鳥居前	0.0		A Kintetsu-Nara Line (Ikoma) (A17) C Keihanna Line (Ikoma) (C27) G Ikoma Line (Ikoma) (G17)	Ikoma	Nara Prefecture
Sanjō Line	Y18	Hōzanji	宝山寺	0.9	●
	Y19	Umeyashiki	梅屋敷	1.2	|
	Y20	Kasumigaoka	霞ヶ丘	1.6	|
	Y21	Ikoma-Sanjo	生駒山上	2.0	●

See also

• Cable car
• Funicular railway
• List of funicular railways
• List of railway lines in Japan
• Mt. Ikoma