| Ikoma Cable Line (Ikoma Cable) | |
| Native Name: | 生駒鋼索線 (生駒ケーブル) |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Type: | Cable railway |
| System: | Kintetsu Railway |
| Locale: | Ikoma, Nara, Japan |
| Stations: | 5 |
| Operator: | Kintetsu Railway |
| Character: | Cable railway |
| Mapcolor: | (#) |
| Tracks: | 4 |
| Maxincline: | Hōzanji Line: 22.7% Sanjō Line: 33.3% |
| Electrification: | 200 V DC |
| Speed Km/H: | 10.8 |
The, referred to as, 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.
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, 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]
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".
| line name | No. | Station name | Japanese | Distance (km) | Direct | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hōzanji Line | 鳥居前 | 0.0 |
| Ikoma | Nara Prefecture | |||
| Sanjō Line | 宝山寺 | 0.9 | ● | |||||
| 梅屋敷 | 1.2 | ||-|||霞ヶ丘|1.6|||-|||生駒山上|2.0|●|-|}See alsoReferences |