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The tourist spot most famous along “Lake Biwa Canal,” completed in the Meiji Period and still being used today.
Lake Biwa Canal is a man-made waterway that connects Otsu and Kyoto. Although it was made in the Meiji Period, it is still being used and made up of the roughly 20 km-long 1st Canal, the 7.4km-long 2nd Canal, and 3.3km-long Canal Branch, etc.
Shiga, Otsu, Kyoto, Yamashina, and Okazaki, each has their own characteristic scenery. Keage Area has a number of historical buildings such as the 1st Keage Power Plant, which began producing power in 1981 to the general public with Japan’s first hydro plant and the national tangible cultural property “the former imperial water pomp room.” Many come to visit Keage.
Keage Incline is the prominent historical site in this area and one of Kyoto’s tourist sites. Keage Incline is the 582m-long former railroad on a slope that connects Keage Pier and Nanzenji Pier. The railroad is preserved and you can freely walk along the area to see “Nejiri Manpo,” the tunnel that goes under the Incline or Nanzenji Temple’s canal bridge “Suirokaku.” There is a lot to see here. Stop by in your meandering.
In spring, cherry trees bloom on either side of the railroad, attracting many visitors Photo by Kyoto City Water Supply and Sewerage Bureau
Keage Incline (Photo provider: pixta)
Keage Incline (Photo provider: pixta)
Some reviews are AI-translated.
Kyoto’s **Keage** area is a historic and scenic district in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, known for its unique industrial heritage and beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.
Main attractions
Keage Incline: This is the area’s most famous attraction. This abandoned railway was built during the Meiji period to connect two sections of the Lake Biwa Canal with a significant difference in elevation, allowing boats to be transported between them. It is now a popular walking path, especially in spring when the Yoshino cherry trees lining both sides are in full bloom, creating a beautiful “cherry blossom tunnel.” It is also a great place to see the fall foliage.
Lake Biwa Canal Museum: Located near the end of the incline, the museum introduces the history and engineering of the Lake Biwa Canal.
Nanzenji Temple: This famous Zen temple is about a 10-minute walk from Keage Station and is known for its magnificent Sanmon Gate and the distinctive red-brick Suirokaku Aqueduct.
Philosopher’s Path: Beginning near Nanzenji Temple, this walking path follows the canal and is another famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms and fall foliage.
Heian Jingu Shrine: A little farther away, but still near the Okazaki Park area, it features striking vermilion buildings and a beautiful Japanese garden.
Transportation
The most convenient way to reach Keage is via the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line:
Get off at **Keage Station**, then walk about 3–5 minutes from the station to the entrance of the incline.
From Kyoto Station:
Take the subway Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station, then transfer to the Tozai Line toward Rokujizo and get off at Keage Station. The entire trip takes about 17 minutes.
Alternatively, take JR to Yamashina Station and transfer to the subway Tozai Line to Keage Station, which lets you avoid congestion in central Kyoto.
The Keage area combines historic sites, natural beauty, and cultural attractions, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll. Visiting during cherry blossom season or fall foliage season is especially recommended.
Cherry trees with only buds
stood along both sides of the tracks,
creating a bleak and chilly atmosphere.
The Keage Incline 🚞 is a must-see spot for cherry blossoms in Kyoto. The old railway bridge and the cherry trees together create a scene you won't find anywhere else... It's truly beautiful.
![[Kyoto Cherry Blossom Viewing Tour] Spring in full bloom!](https://static.gltjp.com/glt/data/article/21000/20242/20230302_124808_ae25aeb2_w640.webp)
![[Nanzen-ji Travel Guide] Explore a serene and beautiful space where history and nature exist in harmony](https://static.gltjp.com/glt/data/article/21000/20450/20230929_094348_e326797b_w640.webp)
