is a railway line in Kyoto

Kyoto

is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, operated by Hankyu Railway

Hankyu Railway

is a Japanese private railway that provides commuter and interurban service to the northern Kansai region and is one of major businesses operated by Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc. The railway's main terminal is at Umeda Station in Osaka...

. It runs between Katsura

Katsura, Kyoto

Katsura is a neighborhood in Nishikyo-ku, in the western part of the city of Kyoto, in Japan. It is also a particularly wealthy area, with most residents owning large, free-standing houses. The center includes an onsen, numerous restaurants and shops, and ubiquitous pachinko parlors. In the...

 and Arashiyama

Arashiyama

is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district.Notable tourist sites in Arashiyama include...

 on the west side of the city, connecting the area along the line to the Hankyū Kyōto Main Line that runs east to central Kyoto and south to Osaka

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

.
The line is 4.1 km long.

Trains on the line mainly use 4-car sets of Hankyū 6300 series EMUs

Electric multiple unit

An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...

, which were originally built for limited express services on the main line from 1975 and refurbished for Arashiyama Line services from 2009.

History

The line opened in November 1928. One side of original double track was removed in 1944 for metal collection during the World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Crossing loops

Passing loop

A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...

 at both intermediate stations were built in 1950.

Stations

Station	Distance (km)	Transfer	Places of interest
Katsura Station Katsura Station is a railway station located about 15 kilometers from the center of Kyoto, near the Katsura River. The station provides transportation on the Hankyu Kyoto Line for the residents of Katsura, as well as a hub connecting to the communities along the Hankyu Arashiyama Line...	0.0	Hankyū Kyōto Main Line
Kami-Katsura Station Kami-Katsura Station is a train station in Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:-References:...	1.4		Nishikyo Ward Office, Saihō-ji Saiho-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located in Matsuo, Nishikyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple, which is famed for its moss garden, is commonly referred to as , meaning "moss temple", and is also known as . The temple, primarily constructed to honor Amitabha, was first founded by Gyōki and was later...  Temple
Matsuo Station Matsuo Station (Kyoto) on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line is located a short walk from both the Katsura River and Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto. During the late fall, the Momiji trees that line the station provide a spectacular display of red, orange, and yellow leaves...	2.8		Matsunoo Shrine Matsunoo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located at the far western end of Shijo Street, approximately 1.3 kilometers south of the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, Japan. It is home to a spring at the base of the mountain, Arashiyama, that is believed to be blessed.... , Umemiya Shrine
Arashiyama Station	4.1		Arashiyama Park

All four stations on the line are in Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto

Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto

is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its name means "west capital ward" and it is situated on the western edge of the city, to the south of center. The ward was established on October 1, 1976 separating from Ukyō-ku...

. While the entire line is single track

Single track (rail)

A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....

, both the intermediate stations are equipped with crossing loops.