Sangu Line
Encyclopedia
The is a railway line run by Central Japan Railway Company
(JR Central), connecting Taki Station
(Taki, Mie
) with Toba Station
(Toba, Mie
) in Japan
.
The line connects with the Kisei Main Line at Taki Station. From Taki, the line runs parallel to the Kintetsu Yamada Line
and Kintetsu Toba Line
. These lines all serve the Ise-Shima
tourist region.
The name of the line, "Sangū", was chosen because that word is a kanji
abbreviation of a phrase in Japanese that roughly translates to "a pilgrimage to Ise Grand Shrine", and making the pilgrimage to the Shrine easier is exactly why the line was built.
MR Mie Rapid (快速みえ kaisoku-mie)
and JR Central have parallel lines running all the way from Nagoya to Toba that compete heavily. For Kintetsu, this includes their Nagoya Line, Yamada Line
, and Toba Line
, and on the JR side it includes parts of the Kansai Main Line
, the Ise Railway, Kisei Main Line, and the Sangū Line.
Along the Sangū portion of the line, ridership on the parallel Kintetsu lines see much higher ridership. JR has tried to combat this by offering lower prices for monthly train passes between the larger stations, however since the number of trains running on the line is much less than rival Kintetsu, it is only moderately effective. Also, the last train of the day on the Sangū Line runs two hours earlier than the nearby Kintetsu lines, and this further discourages people from choosing JR.
Even though the Sangū Line was at one time the Japanese governments official railway to Ise Grand Shrine, notable figures such as cabinet
members and members of the imperial family typically ride Kintetsu when visiting the Shrine.
and was the first railway built to provide passage to Ise Grand Shrine. Though mostly built by a private company, the line was owned and operated by the Japanese national government for 80 years before becoming part of JR Central
. Since it was the original train route to Ise Grand Shrine, it historically saw more frequent trains and passengers than it does today. However, competition with rival Kintetsu
hurt ridership on the line over the years to the point that some even proposed selling or abandoning the line at times.
, Mie Prefecture became an extremely popular place for pilgrimage
s due to its special significance within Shinto. When Japan started construction of its major train lines during the Meiji Restoration
, there was a call to build a branch line that would connect Ise Grand Shrine with the rest of Japan. Sangū Railway was formed for this purpose, and they began building what is now one of the oldest railroads in Mie Prefecture. The line was built as far as Yamada Station (now ) under Sangū Railway but was then forcibly sold to the national government under the Railway Nationalization Act
of 1906.
. In the first quarter of the 20th century, before the outbreak of World War II
, the Sangū Line came to be considered a major line due to its importance in providing transportation for pilgrims to Ise Grand Shrine. Express trains providing direct service to and from Tokyo, Osaka, and as far away as Uno Station in Okayama Prefecture
were running at this time, and dual tracks were added to many parts of the line to allow for an increase in the frequency of trains. However, through the ownership of the government, these dual tracks were dug up near the end of the war and were used as emergency scrap metal for military operations.
After the war, the Sangū Line saw its first rival train line which was owned by Kintetsu
who offered express service from Osaka and Nagoya. However, the Sangū Line maintained its competitive edge in the 1940s and 1950s because Kintetsu was, at the time, not yet able to offer direct service from Nagoya due to differences in railway gauge, so passengers that were coming to Ise Grand Shrine via Nagoya were forced to change trains during the journey if they took Kintetsu, thus many people opted to take the government-owned Kokutetsu option instead since it was direct.
In the 1960s, there was a plan to rebuild the dual tracks that had been taken away by the government during the war but the plan encountered some problems. By 1960, Kintetsu had altered its Nagoya Line to utilize the same gauge as the rest of its lines and therefore direct Kintetsu service was now available. A few years later, Kintetsu acquired its Kyoto Line and thus it was now offering direct service from Kyoto as well as Osaka and Nagoya. Finally, Kintetsu built its Toba Line
, which created competition along the only remaining section of the Sangū Line that had previously had no rival. All this combined led to reduced ridership which in turn led Kokutetsu to revoke the Sangū Line's status as a major line; the line became classified as a local line and the plan to rebuild the dual tracks was abandoned. Kokutetsu was even advised in 1968 to permanently close the Iseshi to Toba section of the line, however they opted instead to discontinue direct express service from various major cities in the following years. This issue of permanently closing the line arose again in the early 1980s, however after a close inspection of the daily number of riders on the line it narrowly avoided being re-classified as a third sector railway and survived the transition to JR
in 1987.
, direct service from Nagoya was resumed for the first time in twenty years to compete with Kintetsu. This train was originally called the Mie Home Liner and, at the time, was only offered seasonally. Direct service was only provided as far as on the Kisei Main Line, however in 1991, the train was renamed to its current name of "Mie Rapid" and service was extended to the Sangū Line to serve , , and . Historically, direct service trains from Nagoya were considered expresses and therefore passengers were subject to additional fees, however the Mie Rapid is officially classified as a "rapid" and thus there are no extra fees above the standard fare; this was done to compete with the Kintetsu Limited Express which charges extra fees. The Mie Rapid has been successful at making JR a more viable option for tourists coming to the Ise-Shima
area, however Kintetsu still maintains superior numbers to this day.
, that "the Sangū Line is a large-scale obstruction and the Iseshi Station depot could hold 1000 cars if turned into a parking lot". The Mayor of Ise decided to request a year-long serious study of ridership on the line before making any decisions. JR Central, of course, opposes Hamada's proposal and the company president has said he has not heard widespread demand for the line to be closed. Hamada himself has even admitted that the proposal is unlikely to be realized.
Central Japan Railway Company
The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
(JR Central), connecting Taki Station
Taki Station (Mie)
is a train station in Taki, Mie Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:-Surrounding area:*Kushida River*National Route 42*Old Ise Grand Shrine pilgrimage road-External links:...
(Taki, Mie
Taki, Mie
is a town in Taki District, Mie, Japan.On January 1, 2006 the village of Seiwa, from Taki District, was merged into Taki.As of 2010 the town has an estimated population of 15,457 and a density of 150 persons per km²...
) with Toba Station
Toba Station
is a train station in Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:*JR Central**Sangū Line*Kintetsu**Toba Line**Shima Line-Layout:...
(Toba, Mie
Toba, Mie
is a city in Mie, Japan.Toba is the site of the Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life....
) in 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...
.
The line connects with the Kisei Main Line at Taki Station. From Taki, the line runs parallel to the Kintetsu Yamada Line
Kintetsu Yamada Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ise-Nakagawa Station and Ujiyamada Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to parts of the JR Central Kisei Main Line and Sangū Line.The line connects with the Toba Line at Ujiyamada Station...
and Kintetsu Toba Line
Kintetsu Toba Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line....
. These lines all serve the Ise-Shima
Ise-Shima
The region, also called the , refers to the areas of eastern Mie Prefecture in or around Ise-Shima National Park, which include the cities Ise, Toba, Shima, and parts of the town of Minami-Ise. The area thrives on tourism, with many resort hotels and beaches awaiting people who come to visit the...
tourist region.
The name of the line, "Sangū", was chosen because that word is a kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
abbreviation of a phrase in Japanese that roughly translates to "a pilgrimage to Ise Grand Shrine", and making the pilgrimage to the Shrine easier is exactly why the line was built.
Service
LO Local (普通 futsū)- For ,
- For ,
- Locals stop at every station.
- All trains are wanman driver-only services.
- Trains run approximately once an hour in each direction.
MR Mie Rapid (快速みえ kaisoku-mie)
- For ; via and
- For ,
- Seat reservations optional.
- Trains run approximately once an hour in each direction.
Competition with Kintetsu
KintetsuKintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
and JR Central have parallel lines running all the way from Nagoya to Toba that compete heavily. For Kintetsu, this includes their Nagoya Line, Yamada Line
Kintetsu Yamada Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ise-Nakagawa Station and Ujiyamada Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to parts of the JR Central Kisei Main Line and Sangū Line.The line connects with the Toba Line at Ujiyamada Station...
, and Toba Line
Kintetsu Toba Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line....
, and on the JR side it includes parts of the Kansai Main Line
Kansai Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company and the West Japan Railway Company with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.The section...
, the Ise Railway, Kisei Main Line, and the Sangū Line.
Along the Sangū portion of the line, ridership on the parallel Kintetsu lines see much higher ridership. JR has tried to combat this by offering lower prices for monthly train passes between the larger stations, however since the number of trains running on the line is much less than rival Kintetsu, it is only moderately effective. Also, the last train of the day on the Sangū Line runs two hours earlier than the nearby Kintetsu lines, and this further discourages people from choosing JR.
Even though the Sangū Line was at one time the Japanese governments official railway to Ise Grand Shrine, notable figures such as cabinet
Cabinet of Japan
The of Japan is the executive branch of the government of Japan. It consists of the Prime Minister and up to fourteen other members, called Ministers of State. The Prime Minister is designated by the Diet, and the remaining ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister...
members and members of the imperial family typically ride Kintetsu when visiting the Shrine.
Stations
- Legend
- ● Trains stop here
- ○ Some trains stop here
- ¤ Trains stop here only during special times of the year
| Station | Dist (km) | Connections | LO | MR | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 多気 | 0.0 | Kisei Main Line | ● | ● | Taki Taki, Mie is a town in Taki District, Mie, Japan.On January 1, 2006 the village of Seiwa, from Taki District, was merged into Taki.As of 2010 the town has an estimated population of 15,457 and a density of 150 persons per km²... |
Mie Prefecture Mie Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province.... |
|
| 外城田 | 3.3 | ● | ○ | ||||
| 田丸 | 7.0 | ● | ○ | Tamaki Tamaki, Mie is a town located in Watarai District, Mie, Japan.As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 15,268 and a density of 373 persons per km². The total area is 40.94 km².... |
|||
| 宮川 | 11.0 | ● | ○ | Ise Ise, Mie , formerly called Ujiyamada , is a city located in eastern Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shintō Shrine in Japan, and is thus a very popular destination for tourists. The city has a long-standing nickname—Shinto —that roughly means... |
|||
| 山田上口 | 13.2 | ● | ○ | ||||
| 伊勢市 | 15.0 | Kintetsu Yamada Line Kintetsu Yamada Line The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ise-Nakagawa Station and Ujiyamada Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to parts of the JR Central Kisei Main Line and Sangū Line.The line connects with the Toba Line at Ujiyamada Station... |
● | ● | |||
| 五十鈴ヶ丘 | 17.9 | ● | ○ | ||||
| 二見浦 | 21.4 | ● | ● | ||||
| 松下 | 23.7 | ● | ○ | ||||
| 池の浦シーサイド | 25.4 | ¤ | ¤ | ||||
| 鳥羽 | 29.1 | Kintetsu Toba Line Kintetsu Toba Line The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line.... , Kintetsu Shima Line Kintetsu Shima Line The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Toba Station and Kashikojima Station in Japan.The line connects with the Toba Line at Toba Station... |
● | ● | Toba Toba, Mie is a city in Mie, Japan.Toba is the site of the Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life.... |
||
Overview
The Sangū Line is one of the oldest train lines in Mie PrefectureMie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
and was the first railway built to provide passage to Ise Grand Shrine. Though mostly built by a private company, the line was owned and operated by the Japanese national government for 80 years before becoming part of JR Central
Central Japan Railway Company
The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
. Since it was the original train route to Ise Grand Shrine, it historically saw more frequent trains and passengers than it does today. However, competition with rival Kintetsu
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
hurt ridership on the line over the years to the point that some even proposed selling or abandoning the line at times.
Sangū Railway
The line was originally conceived and partially built by the in the late 19th century during the Meiji era. During the Edo era, Ise Grand Shrine in what is now IseIse, Mie
, formerly called Ujiyamada , is a city located in eastern Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shintō Shrine in Japan, and is thus a very popular destination for tourists. The city has a long-standing nickname—Shinto —that roughly means...
, Mie Prefecture became an extremely popular place for pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
s due to its special significance within Shinto. When Japan started construction of its major train lines during the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, there was a call to build a branch line that would connect Ise Grand Shrine with the rest of Japan. Sangū Railway was formed for this purpose, and they began building what is now one of the oldest railroads in Mie Prefecture. The line was built as far as Yamada Station (now ) under Sangū Railway but was then forcibly sold to the national government under the Railway Nationalization Act
Railway Nationalization Act
The brought many of Japan's private railway lines under national control. The Diet of Japan promulgated the Act on March 31, 1906. The Act was repealed by Article 110 of the Japan National Railway Reform Act of 1988, which formed the modern Japan Railways Group....
of 1906.
Government ownership
Under ownership of the government, the line was extended to its present endpoint of Toba StationToba Station
is a train station in Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:*JR Central**Sangū Line*Kintetsu**Toba Line**Shima Line-Layout:...
. In the first quarter of the 20th century, before the outbreak of 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...
, the Sangū Line came to be considered a major line due to its importance in providing transportation for pilgrims to Ise Grand Shrine. Express trains providing direct service to and from Tokyo, Osaka, and as far away as Uno Station in Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
were running at this time, and dual tracks were added to many parts of the line to allow for an increase in the frequency of trains. However, through the ownership of the government, these dual tracks were dug up near the end of the war and were used as emergency scrap metal for military operations.
After the war, the Sangū Line saw its first rival train line which was owned by Kintetsu
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
who offered express service from Osaka and Nagoya. However, the Sangū Line maintained its competitive edge in the 1940s and 1950s because Kintetsu was, at the time, not yet able to offer direct service from Nagoya due to differences in railway gauge, so passengers that were coming to Ise Grand Shrine via Nagoya were forced to change trains during the journey if they took Kintetsu, thus many people opted to take the government-owned Kokutetsu option instead since it was direct.
In the 1960s, there was a plan to rebuild the dual tracks that had been taken away by the government during the war but the plan encountered some problems. By 1960, Kintetsu had altered its Nagoya Line to utilize the same gauge as the rest of its lines and therefore direct Kintetsu service was now available. A few years later, Kintetsu acquired its Kyoto Line and thus it was now offering direct service from Kyoto as well as Osaka and Nagoya. Finally, Kintetsu built its Toba Line
Kintetsu Toba Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line....
, which created competition along the only remaining section of the Sangū Line that had previously had no rival. All this combined led to reduced ridership which in turn led Kokutetsu to revoke the Sangū Line's status as a major line; the line became classified as a local line and the plan to rebuild the dual tracks was abandoned. Kokutetsu was even advised in 1968 to permanently close the Iseshi to Toba section of the line, however they opted instead to discontinue direct express service from various major cities in the following years. This issue of permanently closing the line arose again in the early 1980s, however after a close inspection of the daily number of riders on the line it narrowly avoided being re-classified as a third sector railway and survived the transition to JR
Japan Railways
The Japan Railways Group, more commonly known as , consists of seven for-profit companies that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned Japanese National Railways on April 1, 1987...
in 1987.
Mie Rapid
In 1988, under new ownership by JR CentralCentral Japan Railway Company
The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
, direct service from Nagoya was resumed for the first time in twenty years to compete with Kintetsu. This train was originally called the Mie Home Liner and, at the time, was only offered seasonally. Direct service was only provided as far as on the Kisei Main Line, however in 1991, the train was renamed to its current name of "Mie Rapid" and service was extended to the Sangū Line to serve , , and . Historically, direct service trains from Nagoya were considered expresses and therefore passengers were subject to additional fees, however the Mie Rapid is officially classified as a "rapid" and thus there are no extra fees above the standard fare; this was done to compete with the Kintetsu Limited Express which charges extra fees. The Mie Rapid has been successful at making JR a more viable option for tourists coming to the Ise-Shima
Ise-Shima
The region, also called the , refers to the areas of eastern Mie Prefecture in or around Ise-Shima National Park, which include the cities Ise, Toba, Shima, and parts of the town of Minami-Ise. The area thrives on tourism, with many resort hotels and beaches awaiting people who come to visit the...
area, however Kintetsu still maintains superior numbers to this day.
2007 closure proposal
In May 2007, the chairman of the Akafuku group, Masutane Hamada, suggested that the Sangū Line be closed and the train inspection depot at Iseshi Station be transformed into a parking lot. This plan was put forth in hopes of alleviating traffic jams caused by pilgrims coming to Ise in 2013 to celebrate the rebuilding of Ise Grand Shrine. Hamada has tried to point out to other leaders in the area, including the Mayor of IseIse, Mie
, formerly called Ujiyamada , is a city located in eastern Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shintō Shrine in Japan, and is thus a very popular destination for tourists. The city has a long-standing nickname—Shinto —that roughly means...
, that "the Sangū Line is a large-scale obstruction and the Iseshi Station depot could hold 1000 cars if turned into a parking lot". The Mayor of Ise decided to request a year-long serious study of ridership on the line before making any decisions. JR Central, of course, opposes Hamada's proposal and the company president has said he has not heard widespread demand for the line to be closed. Hamada himself has even admitted that the proposal is unlikely to be realized.
Timeline
- December 12, 1893 - Tsu to Miyagawa section opens. Trains are operated by Sangū Railway.
- November 11, 1897 - Miyagawa to Yamada (now Iseshi) sections opens.
- October 1, 1907 - Line sold to Japanese national government under the Railway Nationalization ActRailway Nationalization ActThe brought many of Japan's private railway lines under national control. The Diet of Japan promulgated the Act on March 31, 1906. The Act was repealed by Article 110 of the Japan National Railway Reform Act of 1988, which formed the modern Japan Railways Group....
. - February 21, 1909 - Second track opens on the Sujikaibashi (now Yamada-Kamiguchi) to Yamada section.
- October 12, 1909 - Origin of the line changes from Tsu to Kameyama. Kameyama to Yamada officially named Sangū Line.
- December 30, 1909 - Second track opens on the Ōka (now Taki) to Miyagawa section.
- July 21, 1911 - Yamada ~ Toba extension opens. Toba becomes terminus of the line.
- October 10, 1917 - Sujikaibashi Station officially renamed Yamada-Kamiguchi Station.
- March 20, 1923 - Ōka Station officially renamed Ōka-guchi Station.
- August 1, 1944 - Second track closes on all sections. Metal given to the military for war efforts.
- July 15, 1959 - Ōka-guchi Station officially renamed Taki Station. Yamada Station officially renamed Iseshi Station. Kameyama to Taki section, originally part of the Sangū Line, is reclassified as part of the Kisei Main Line. Sangū Line becomes only the Taki to Toba section.
- April 1, 1963 - Tokida, Isuzugaoka, and Matsushita stations open.
- July 1, 1969 - Ise to Toba freight service ends.
- October 1, 1982 - Miyagawa to Ise freight service ends.
- December 21, 1983 - Centralized traffic controlCentralized traffic controlCentralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
signaling system activated. - April 1, 1986 - Taki to Miyagawa freight service ends.
- April 1, 1987 - Kokutetsu becomes JR Group. Line becomes part of JR Central.
- March 11, 1989 - Wanman driver-only train service begins.
- March 21, 1990 - Ikenoura Seaside Station opens.
- March 16, 1991 - Mie Rapid service begins.