Kurama-dera Cable

The Kurama-dera Cable is a funicular line operated by Kurama-dera, a famous Buddhist temple in Mount Kurama, Sakyō, Kyoto, Japan. The line is officially called Mount Kurama Cable Railway.

Description

The funicular line serves for the visitors to the Kurama-dera temple. As the temple resides in the heart of the Mount Kurama, it takes roughly 30 minutes on foot from the main gate while the funicular line links the same route in just 2 minutes. The temple recommends its visitors not to use the funicular, but to walk on foot if possible to feel stronger impressions.
As a legally recognized Japanese railway line, this is the only one operated by a Japanese religious institution. This is also the shortest line in the country, with a length of 207 meters. The line was initially free to ride, with usage limited to believers of the temple's religion. The temple began requesting donations as a form of fare for the funicular when the line was made available to the public. The line has only single car, counterbalanced by a weight.

History

The line opened on January 1, 1957, as an ordinary iron-wheeled funicular with two cars, gauge. The line was nearly abandoned in 1974, when deterioration of infrastructure was found during routine checkups. It later resumed operations in January 1976 as the current rubber-tired system with gauge. The line was severely damaged by the Typhoon Jebi in 2018, with about 180 fallen trees blocking the funicular after the typhoon has passed. The line resumed operations after 50 days.