Eizan Dentetsu (Eizan Electric Railway)

13Dec/100

Eizan Dentetsu (Eizan Electric Railway)

The Eizan Dentetsu (Official Site [Japanese Only]), known as Eiden for short (a combination of 'Eizan' and 'Dentetsu'), is a private railway in North-East Kyoto, Japan. This railway was originally owned by Keifuku Railways, but is now a wholly-owned subsidary of Keihan Railways. Prior to the purchase, Keihan had extended their Main Line to Demachiyanagi Station where the Eizan Railway starts to increase rider-ship in the Eizan Railway.

Location

The Eizan Electric Railway originally only had one main line from Demachiyanagi Station in the north east to Yase-Heizan-guchi, further north-east. This line was opened in 1925 and provided a gateway to Mount Hiei, a popular tourist destination in Kyoto. The branch to Kurama was opened in 1929 and has proved popular ever since. Both lines terminate at transfer stations where passengers continue travel on cable cars.

From 1978, Demachiyanagi Station was cut off from other forms of connecting transport when the Kyoto City Streetcars stopped running. Fortunately, in 1989 the opening of the Keihan Oto Line through to Demachiyanagi re-connected the Eiden to the wider network and made it easily accessible once more. The Eiden network had seen lower ridership in between 1978 and 1989, but it soon became popular once more.

Rolling Stock

The Eiden's rolling stock inventory consists entirely of EMUs running at 600VDC. The Deo 700 Series is a single-car EMU which usually runs along the Main Line.

The Deo 800 series is a 2-car EMU which usually runs up to Kurama.

And then my favourite, the Deo 'Kirara' 900 Series. This model was released by Kato and I have it in both the Maple Orange and Maple Red. It also received a prize (can't remember the exact name, 'Lauriel?') for it's design. It's internal seating allows the passengers to sit sideways and view the scenery along the route. It also has high observation windows.

Stations and Facilities

Ichiooji Station

Shugakuin Depot

Iwakura Station

Kurama

After getting off at the final stop, passengers transfer onto the Cable car and end up at Kurama. Here you'll find a temple and an onsen. Be careful though, I visited here in Winter of 2005 and it was very slippery and dangerous! (Then again, I'm probably just from Australia and don't understand snow :))