Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Mountain funicular railway in Hakone, Japan
The Hakone Tozan Cable Car is a funicular railway in Hakone, Japan, linking Gora Station with Sounzan Station over a distance of roughly 1.2 kilometers and climbing a gradient of up to 20 percent. It stops at four stations along the mountainside and carries passengers daily between the different elevations of the area.
The funicular began service in January 1922 and was the first installation of its kind in the region. It formed part of the development of the mountain landscape and extended the railway network that already ran into the valley.
The red, white, and black cars climb the steep route every day, linking stations in the valley with higher parts of the mountain. Travelers and locals rely on this line as part of their daily routes or as access to museums and hot springs along the way.
The funicular runs all year round and operates at short intervals, so waiting times usually remain brief. The cars are designed for different weather conditions and provide stability and comfort on the steep route.
During the ride, the railway rises by roughly 214 meters (702 feet), opening up views across the surrounding valleys and mountain slopes. Passengers pass by park spaces, art houses, and hot springs that are linked by paths and smaller roads.
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