“Unnecessary and non-urgent.” That’s how the Atagoyama Railway Kosaku line was deemed during the war. Today we stand where the dream of easy access to Atago Shrine once stood. This is the story of the Atagoyama Railway.
In 1927, the Atagoyama Railway company emerged. It was a joint venture between Keihan Electric Railway and Kyoto Dento. Their goal was ambitious. They wanted to create a seamless link to Atago Shrine on Mount Atago. The Atagoyama Railway line was their answer.
Imagine this bustling hub. The Atagoyama Railway wasn’t just a railway. It was an experience. The company developed Kiyotaki-yuenchi Park at the foot of Mount Atago. Further up the mountain, they built a ski resort and a tent village. The Atagoyama Amusement Park boasted a hotel and a thrilling flying tower. These attractions drew crowds seeking leisure and spiritual solace.
The flat line stretched 3.39 km. It ran from Arashiyama to Kiyotaki. The track gauge was 1,435 mm. Five stations dotted this route. The entire length except the Kiyotaki Tunnel area had double tracks. Electric power at 600 V DC ran the entire line. The funicular line climbed 2.13 km. It ran from Kiyotakigawa to Atago. Its track gauge was narrower at 1,067 mm. Two stations served this line. The altitude difference was a significant 638.83 m.
The flat line offered frequent service. Trains departed every 20 minutes. This happened from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. Additional trains ran during Sennichi Mairi. The ride from end to end took only 11 minutes. The funicular line operated similarly. Trains ran every 15 to 30 minutes. They were available from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Extra trains were provided during Sennichi Mairi. The riding time was also 11 minutes.
The flat line opened first on April 12, 1929. The funicular line followed on July 25, 1929. Saganishi Station opened on April 11, 1941. It connected to the Japanese National Railways’ Sanin Line.
However, wartime priorities shifted everything. On December 3, 1943, the railway was labeled “non-essential”. On January 11, 1944, the flat line became single-track. The funicular line closed on February 11, 1944. The flat line ceased operations on December 11, 1944.
The Kiyotaki Tunnel transformed. It became an aircraft parts factory. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. operated it during the war. Machinery from the funicular line found new life. It was reused for the Kasamatsu Cable Railway.
The abandoned railway has changed. It is now the Kiyotaki-do Road. Kyoto Prefectural Roads 29 and 137 make up this route. The Kiyotaki Tunnel remains. It functions as a one-way alternating traffic road.
Today, remnants of the funicular line are still visible. You can see the site of Kiyotakigawa Station. Disused railway tracks remain too. The Atago Station building stands. However, it is in near collapse. Two of its six tunnels are heavily damaged. Bridges show weathering and risk collapse.
Experienced hikers use the old funicular line as a trail. They hike to Atago Shrine. Entering the site alone is not advised. Cell phone coverage is unreliable here.
Though the Atagoyama Railway dissolved in 1959, its memory lingers. A company called “Atagoyama Cable” appeared in a 1992 telephone directory. Its connection to the original railway remains unclear. Plans to revive the funicular line in 1967 never materialized. The dream of the Atagoyama Railway faded. Nature reclaimed much of its footprint. Yet, the story of its rise and fall remains. It serves as a reminder of a bygone era of innovation and leisure. It also reminds us of wartime sacrifices.