Trams in Japan…experience both the old and modern…

Travelling to
Japan?

Every rail enthusiast should includes Trams in Japan in their itinerary and visit at least one tram or light rail system to see a different aspect of Japan railways!

18 cities have tram systems...

In the early 1900s many cities and towns throughout Japan had tram systems, but like many places around the world cars and buses (and of course heavy rail networks) took the place of the trams in most cities. Today 18 cities have tram networks and in many of these cities the tram is a major part of the public transport system.

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City	Operator	Gauge (mm)	No of Lines	Route km	No of trams (April 2023)
Fukui 福井市	Fukui Tetsudō 福井鉄道	1067	1	2.8	16 (+2 Echizen Tetsudo units)
Hakodate 函館市	Hakodate-shi 函館市	1372	4	10.9	32
Osaka 大阪市 & Sakai 堺市	Hankai Denki Kidō 阪堺電気軌道	1435	2	18.3	35
Hiroshima 広島市	Hiroshima Dentetsu 広島電鉄	1435	6	19	134
Matsuyama 松山市	Iyo Tetsudō 伊予鉄道	1067	6	6.9	38
Kagoshima 鹿児島市	Kagoshima-shi 鹿児島市	1435	4	12.6	58
Kyoto 京都市	Keifuku Denki Tetsudō 京福電気鉄道	1435	1	3.8	27
Kumamoto 熊本市	Kumamoto-shi 熊本市	1435	5	12.1	45
Takeoka 高岡市	Man'yōsen 万葉線	1067	2	12.8	11
Nagasaki 長崎市	Nagasaki Denki Kidō 長崎電気軌道	1435	5	11.5	71
Okayama 岡山市	Okayama Denki Kidō 岡山電気軌道	1067	2	4.7	25
Sapporo 札幌市	Sapporo Transportation Service Promotion Corporation. 札幌市交通事業振興公社	1067	4	8.9	36
Tokyo-to 東京都（世田谷区)	Tōkyō Kyūkō Dentetsu (Tōkyū) 東京急行電鉄(東急)	1372	1	5	10
Tokyo-to 東京都(荒川区、北区、豊島区、新宿区)	Tōkyō-to 東京都	1372	1	12.2	33
Kochi 高知市	Tosa Denki Tetsudō 土佐電気鉄道	1067	3	14.1	62
Toyama富山市	Toyama Chihō Tetsudō 富山地方鉄道	1067	6	7.6	30
Toyohashi 豊橋市	Toyohashi Tetsudō 豊橋鉄道	1067	2	5.4	16
Utsunomiya 宇都宮市 Haga Town 芳賀町	Utsunomiya Light Rail 宇都宮ライトレール	1067	1	14.5	17 (Aug 2023)

Showing 1 to 18 of 18 entries

A variety of old and modern trams can be seen...

For consistency, articulated and multi-car trams are counted as 1 unit
Fukui Tetsudo Fukubu Line is mostly heavy rail but for a short section is light rail, however low floor trams are used throughout. Some through services operate with Echizen Tetsudo who have 2 trams units (L series)
Hiroshima Dentetsu (Hiroden) also operates a heavy rail line with trams operating to / from central Hiroshima via Hiroden Nishi Hiroshima through to Miyajimaguchi

Most tram networks in Japan have
both modern and old trams in service.

The Hiroshima Electric Railway ("Hiroden") has trams that are more than 80 years old still in daily operation. The need, however, for trams that provide easy access has meant that many modern trams, often based on European designs, have and continue to be introduced.

Newest tram network debuted in August 2023...

The newest tram network in Japan is the Utsunomiya Light Rail system that started public service on 26th August 2023. The 14.5km route links the main JR railway station to the industrial park areas of Utsunomiya and nearby Haga Town in the norther of the Kanto region.

See our article on Utsunomiya Light Rail (redirects to our main site) Click Here

Interesting tram networks
in Japan

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City	Feature
Fukui	The tram in Fukui city is very short (0.6km) and actually part of the Fukui Tetsudo Fukubu Line. Tram cars only are used throughout the Fukubu Line. There are some through services to the Echizen Mikuni-Awara Line, and Echizen has two low floor tram units for this service
Sapporo & Hakodate	As both cities have a lot of snow, one feature of both cities tram networks are the snow clearing trams.
Tokyo	Both the remaing TOEI Arakawa Line and Tokyu Setagaya Line are the only remaining parts of what were large trams networks in Tokyo.
Toyama	Toyama use to have two tram networks; the original city trams and a one line Toyama Light Railway Toyamako Line, which uses part of the old JR Toyamaki Line. Both the Toyama city Tram and the Toyama light railway were joined and through services started in March 2020, operated by the single Toyama chiho Tetsudo who operated the city tram network.
Takaoka	Takaoka Manyosen Tram oprates a specail Doraemon (anime character) tram.
Osaka	Osaka is another city which had an extensive tram network. today only the Hankai Tram which operates in the southern part of Osaka linking Sakai city remains. One of the northern terminals Ebisucho has a very distinctive old style station. Currently under renovation to be preserved. (A new tram stop teminal was build just short of the old station).
Okayama	Okayama Shiden has a special Chuggington Tram, based on the UK childrens anime character. This train runs special services, primarily for children (adults must be accompanied) which need to be booked in advance.
Nagasaki	Nagasaki has a fairly extensive tram network, and like Hiroshima it is the main rail public transport in the city.
Hiroshima	Hiroshima has the largest tram network, covering 19km and more than 130 tram cars / units. the trams are operated by Hiroshima Electric Railway (“Hiroden”) with trams also operating on heavy rail link between Hiroden Nishi Hiroshima and Miyajimaguchi, popular with tourists.
Kumamoto & Kagoshima	Both Kumamoto and Kagoshima have tram networks, and both have modern tram depots. Kagoshima has a tram museum situated next to the tram depot.

And many tram systems have some special trains

Okayama Shiden has its Chuggington Tram, based on the UK children’s television series. (note to travel on this trade you need to book in advance. It is not used for general services) for more info https://okaden-chuggington.com

Takaoka has its Doraemon tram; many have retro trams (and some have genuinely heritage trams).

For those travelling in a group, why not consider hiring a tram for a party! (TSJR can help arrange).

Even Tokyo and Osaka have remnants of once extensive tram networks...

Tokyo has two trams lines, although one, Tokyu’s Setagaya Line, now only operates on its own dedicated track bed with no running; and the Tokyo Metropolitan Governments (TOEI) Arakawa Line, (known locally as “Toden” and branded Sakura Line) which is a 12.2km line, although only a small part now operates on roadway.

Osaka has the Hankai Tram that links the southern part of Osaka City and Sakai City.

Trams in Japan info...find out more...

For more information on Japan Trams please download our Trams in Japan fact sheet, which also includes links to the various operators websites (unfortunately many are Japanese)

Trams in Japan

Download our Trams in Japan Data Sheet

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