Keihan Keishin Line

Operated by Keihan Electric Railway, the Keishin Line connects Kyoto and Otsu, running between Misasagi Station in Kyoto City and Biwako-Hamaotsu Station in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

What makes the Keishin Line especially distinctive is the chance to experience completely different modes of operation along a single route. Departing Biwako-Hamaotsu, trains first run as streetcars on sections shared with road traffic, then enter a mountainous area marked by steep gradients and sharp curves. The stretch between Kamisakaemachi and Otani is particularly notable, with gradients reaching up to 61‰-one of the steepest sections in Japan’s railway network. West of Misasagi, the line transitions into underground tunnels. Because passengers can enjoy street-level, mountain, and underground running all on the same line, it is often referred to as “Japan’s only theater-like railway line.”

The line also offers rich railway heritage. Between Otani and Oiwake, for example, overhead line poles made from rails dating back to the line’s original opening in 1910 are still in use today, providing rare and fascinating glimpses into Japan’s railway history.