SAKAMOTO CABLE

ABOUT SAKAMOTO CABLE

- Longest railway in Japan: 2,025 m

Starting operation in 1927, this cable car railway has since that time been the main route connecting Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple, a World Heritage Site, and the Sakamoto area, which flourished as a temple town of Enryaku-ji Temple and is known for its stone walls. Our two European-style cable cars, the En-go (meaning “bond car”) and the Fuku-go (meaning “happiness car”), have attracted many passengers.

This cable car railway is very unique with two stations along the way.
You can enjoy a varied view of seven bridges and two tunnels from the window. As the cable car climbs up the mountain, you will have a wonderful view of Lake Biwa. In an era without modern technology or heavy machinery, our forefathers had to suffer many hardships to build this cable car railway.
This 2,025-meter-long cable car railway, built upon our forefathers’ passion and hardship, is the longest cable car railway in Japan.

To the sacred mountain,
Mt. Hieizan.

This is one of the most significant sacred places for Buddhism in Japan,
and was opened by Saicho, the founder of the Tendai School.
The temple here on Mt. Hieizan is well-known as the headquarters of the Tendai School.
About seven-minute walk from Cable Enryaku-ji Station will take you to the Konpon-chudo Hall,
the central building of Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple.
Although the hall is undergoing a large-scale renovation,
which is scheduled to be completed in around 2026, you can see inside the hall.
Visit Hieizan Enryaku-ji Temple to appreciate its majestic and solemn atmosphere.

To Horaioka and Motateyama

Visit a sacred place in the quiet forest: stone Buddha statues in the sacred cavern.
Visit the land loved by Lord Ki-no-Tsurayuki, who compiled the Kokin Wakashu anthology.
Find something on your way.
Horaioka Station is the newest station of Sakamoto Cable Car Railway, and was built at the same time as the sacred cavern. Near Motateyama Station there is Ki-no-Tsurayuki’s tomb.
Many people from Kochi visit here to pay homage to his writing of the Tosa Nikki (The Tosa Diary), which introduced the culture of Tosa (today’s Kochi) to the world.

To Sakamoto, the town of
Anou-shu Zumi stone walls

The streets of Sakamoto are lined with stone walls known as Anou-shu Zumi stone walls.
This is where these beautiful solid old, stone walls still exist.
Walking along the street lined with the Anou-shu Zumi stone walls, you will reach Cable Sakamoto Station.
There are many tourist spots on the way to the station.