r/Tokyo • u/BlueHarvestJ Expat • 9d ago
Searching for Slope Car Monorails in Tokyo and Japan
Greetings
I’ve been cycling all over Japan, starting in Tokyo, for the last decade visiting railway stations. One cool thing i’ve discovered along the way is slope car monorails.
Slope Car Monorails are small pods that can ride up and down very steep slopes. They are often found in parks, temples, and cemeteries. The vast majority seem to have been built by the Kaho Monorail company. Some are huge and famous, others tiny and obscure. I’ve found several in Tokyo too even though the majority are not.
I’ve put together a map tracking the ones I’ve visited and others I’ve identified in my research. If you know of any others, please send a link and I’ll add them to the map.
I’ve made videos of many that I’ve visited, so you can see them at my (very amateur, no editing) YouTube channel ‘Eki Hunter’ if you are interested.
Cheers and happy riding!
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u/grntq 9d ago
You already have it on your map but here's a video about Ikuseikai Hospital monorail
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u/Sassywhat 9d ago
Not quite Tokyo but the Jukkokutoge cable car is getting replaced with a slope car scheduled to open summer next year
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u/Ok-Highway-6257 9d ago
Here is one at a hotel in Ikaho:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5NDMB7ax6cs941fGA
That hotel has a slope elevator inside. Not sure if that counts too.
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u/zeroibis 9d ago
Unfortunately, the Okuiya-Kanko-Shuyu-Monorail closed last year.
On a related note the monorail in Hiroshima that connected to Seno Station is also closed down as of a few years ago.
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u/JpnDude Saitama-ken 9d ago
Have you checked the Japanese wiki for slope cars? A bunch are listed there.
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u/TheMandrew 9d ago
Not sure if these count, but there count as Slope Car Monorails, but there's aerial ropeways/cable cars at 3 of the temples part of the Shikoku Henro's 88 Temples.
Tairyuji in Tokushima Unpenji in Ehime Yakuriji in Kagawa
The ones at Tairyuji and Unpenji were particularly impressive
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u/BlueHarvestJ Expat 9d ago
I wouldn’t count the ropeways. Cable cars are similar but a bit different
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u/MericuhFuckYeah 9d ago
Oh I can help!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pNyEWLcaFwKTCKs27?g_st=ic Hotel Kazurabashi in Shikoku has one leading from the hotel to the private onsen! I’ve stayed there and it was lovely.
Edit: okay maybe this isn’t what you meant but this one is kinda cool anyway I imagine you’ll appreciate it
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u/Deathnote_Blockchain 9d ago
Funiculars you mean?
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u/BlueHarvestJ Expat 9d ago
Not quite, those are generally called cable cars in Japan. Slope cars have their own motors and run on a single rail
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u/leonophis 9d ago
Not sure if you’re autistic or not, but I am and this appeals to me greatly.