Nankai Koyasan Cable Car from Koyasan to Gokurakubashi Funicular Railway Train Review
I headed back down from Koyasan early as I did not want an immediate connection to my Limited Express Koya 2, instead I wanted to visit the vicinity of Gokurakubashi Station. I took 2 trains earlier than my supposed connection, which is the connecting Koyasan Cable Car train to the Express bound for Namba.
Koyasan Station
The façade of Koyasan Station.
The concourse of Koyasan Station is compact with a small area and a small gate line.
Nankai Koyasan souvenirs are on sale at Koyasan Station.
A ticket counter is available at Koyasan Station.
The timetable of the Koyasan Cable Car heading down from Koyasan.
The gate line is compact with 2 ticket gates and 1 manual gate.
The departure sign at Koyasan Station is translucent and changes colour.
With 7 minutes to spare before my train’s departure, I headed upstairs for a quick look inside Koyasan Station.
A history board of the new Nankai N10/20 Type Passenger Cars is on display ion front of the toilets, doubling up as a privacy panel.
There is also a mini museum with train models.
A lookout point with seats and tables is also available.
The view out of the lookout point.
Koyasan Cable Car
I headed down the platform just in time for my Koyasan Cable Car departure.
The attendant was standing on the platform to look out for passengers planning to board the Koyasan Cable Car. Boarding is done from the rear door only.
Looking down at the interior of the Koyasan Cable Car. As usual, I headed to the front of the train, now below.
Information screens are available on board the Koyasan Cable Car.
The front view out of the Koyasan Cable Car on the downhill end.
My Koyasan Cable Car departed from Koyasan Station on time at 10.37am.
The attendant is seated at the front of the control panel in case of any emergencies. Train control is done at Koya Station.
Curving left towards the Abt Passing Loop.
Approaching the Abt Passing Loop.
Crossing with the opposing Koyasan Cable Car train.
Heading back on to the single track.
Curving right to Gokurakubashi Station.
Approaching Gokurakubashi Station.
Gokurakubashi Station
The Koyasan Cable Car slowed down considerably early when approaching Gokurakubashi Station. It will be the same for the opposing Koyasan Cable Car as well on the upper end.
Crawling into Gokurakubashi Station.
The buffer stop at Gokurakubashi Station.
Looking back up at the empty interior of the Koyasan Cable Car.
Seats are arranged in facing bays of 4 seats, one bay on each level.
Heading down and out of the platforms.
Looking back at the Koyasan Cable Car train at Gokurakubashi Station.
Heading down the ramp at Gokurakubashi Station.
There is a 5 minutes transfer time between the Koyasan Cable Car and connecting Express train to Namba.
The Koyasan Cable Car and Koya Line are within the same paid area. There is no need to go through any ticket gates for this transfer. Tracks are perpendicular to each other, with the concourse an L-shape.
Looking out to Gokurakubashi from the transfer path at Gokurakubashi Station.
The main Koya Line concourse at Gokurakubashi.
The Express and Limited Express Koya 2 at Gokurakubashi Station.
The platform to my booked Limited Express Koya 2 was roped off as it was not yet time to depart.
A rather different arrangement here at Gokurakubashi Station, ticket counters are located inside the paid area. Passengers at Gokurakubashi Station would most likely already have a ticket, and the function here would be primarily to sell Limited Express reserved seat tickets instead of travelling fare tickets.
Nevertheless, there is still automatic ticket gates integrated with a manual lane if passengers were to want to walk in (in the middle of the forest) to buy a ticket.
Gokurakubashi Station souvenirs are on sale at Gokurakubashi Station.
A notice with regards to the reduced services of the Limited Express Koya is also displayed. The full Limited Express Koya has since been reinstated.
The fare chart of trains from Gokurakubashi Station.
The façade of Gokurakubashi Station.
The footpath outside Gokurakubashi Station has a sign to warn of bears.
A small road leads to Gokurakubashi Station.
The surroundings of Gokurakubashi Station is rather peaceful with the sound of water falling on stones in the river.
Walking to Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge).
Passing under the transfer bridge between the Koyasan Cable Car and Koya Line.
Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge)
Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge) can be seen already beside Gokurakubashi Station.
Looking back up to Gokurakubashi Station.
Looking at Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge). The path ahead after Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge) is a pilgrimage path to climb up Koyasan.
Gokurakubashi (Gokuraku Bridge) also offers a nice vantage point for trainspotting at Gokurakubashi Station.