Picture this: You’re waiting to board Japan’s oldest commercial cable railway line. The first glimpse of the train takes you by surprise. After all, it’s not your regular train but a cute cat-shaped bogey that welcomes you with its cuteness. The next in line is a dog-shaped one almost greeting you in the most pawesome manner! That’s Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Car, Japan’s oldest cable car that comes with a dash of cuteness and oodles of whimsicalness.
Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Car Offers The Cutest Cat & Dog-Shaped Bogeys
Built in 1928, Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Car ferries passengers across the steep mountain leading to Hozanji Temple and Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park. While the railway network started out with regularly designed trains, they were later replaced as recently as 2000 with kitsch-style cable cars. Bogeys shaped like dogs, cats and even cakes now adorn the railway network.
Two cable cars will ferry passengers to Hozanji Temple, a shrine of a Hindu-Buddhist deity known for having an elephant head. The Hozanji Temple is believed to be the abode of a deity inspired by Lord Ganesha. A deity whose presence is linked to prosperity, success, wisdom and joy. A place of worship often frequented by business folks.
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A Whimsical & Fun Journey!
To reach the temple, a steep 30-minute climb up a mountain is an option. Or the other option is hitching a cute animal-shaped cable car from Kintetsu Ikoma Station. The Hozanji Line 1 is known for the cat-shaped “Mike” train and the dog-faced “Bull” train. At the Sanjo Line, foodies can hungrily hop on the cake-shaped “Sweet” and organ-shaped “Doremi” bogey. The adorable Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Cars run every 20 minutes, much to the delight of adults and children.
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While visitors enjoy the stunning countryside views and the whimsical vibes on the trains, they can also tap their feet to pleasant music that adds to the vibe. The cutesy cable cars also ferry holidaymakers to Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park. Sitting at an altitude of 642 m, this amusement park overlooks the Osaka plain and the Nara Basin. The sprawling rides, thrills and other attractions surrounded by scenic views add to its allure. The journey on a cat and dog-shaped cable car is as beautiful as the destination itself!
So, have you added Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Car to your Japan itinerary already?
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikipedia