Explore Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji with the Keio Inokashira Line, a 12-kilometer railway connecting Shibuya Station with Kichijoji in western Tokyo.
The line features five-car local and express trains that leave from platforms 1 and 2 in Keio’s Shibuya Station, located in the Shibuya Mark City shopping complex, connected to the main Shibuya Station via pedestrian bridge.
With 17 stations, the Inokashira Line is named for Inokashira Pond, the source of Tokyo’s Kanda River.
Don’t miss out on the coolest neighborhood in the world, Shimokitazawa Station, with its used record shops, vintage toy stores, independent cafes and second-hand clothing boutiques, as well as a healthy dose of live music venues.
Kichijoji Station, the terminus for the Inokashira Line, is also a stop on the JR Chuo Main Line, connecting Shinjuku, Nagano, and Nagoya.
Here you can exit for Inokashira Park, known for its flowering cherry trees (sakura) and the scenic Inokashira Pond.
Make sure to visit the Ghibli Museum, a shrine to the beloved anime films of Hayao Miyazaki and his collaborators, located in the southwest part of the park.
Discover Tokyo’s Western Suburbs with the Keio Inokashira Line
The Keio Inokashira Line (京王井の頭線, Keiō Inokashira-sen) is a railway line connecting Shibuya in Tokyo with Kichijōji in Musashino City.
Operated by Keio Corporation, the line is a vital link for anyone looking to explore the western suburbs of Tokyo.
The line features both Local (各停, Kakutei) and Express (急行, Kyūkō) services, with one local and one express running every eight minutes during off-peak hours.
While not physically connected to the Keio Main Line Network, transfers are available at Meidaimae Station.
It’s worth noting that the line gauge for the Inokashira Line is different from other Keio lines, with the former using 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge.
Opened in 1933, the line was originally owned by the Teito Electric Railway (帝都電鉄, Teito Dentetsu), part of the Odakyu Group.
The line was extended to Kichijōji in 1934 and was renamed the Inokashira Line after a merger with Odakyu Electric Railway.
After World War II, the line came under Keio ownership.
Travelers should take note of the many stops along the line, including the famous Shimokitazawa Station, known for its trendy boutiques and live music venues.
Kichijōji Station is another popular stop, providing access to the beautiful Inokashira Park, which boasts blooming cherry trees and the Ghibli Museum, a shrine to the anime films of Hayao Miyazaki and his collaborators.
The Daita Link Line (代田連絡線, Daita-renraku-sen) was a former railway line that connected Daita-nichōme Station (now Shindaita Station) on the Inokashira Line with Setagaya-Nakahara Station (now Setagaya-Daita Station) on the Odakyū Odawara Line, but it closed in 1952.
Although some remnants of the trackbed remain, the track and overhead wires were entirely removed in 1953.
Tōdaimae Station (東大前駅, Tōdaimae-eki) and Komaba Station (駒場駅, Komaba-eki) closed in July 1965 and were replaced by Komaba-Tōdaimae Station.
Air-conditioned trains were introduced on the Inokashira Line from 25 February 1969, after the voltage was increased to 1500 V DC.
In addition, the 3000 series trains were extended to 5-cars from 30 April 1971, and limited-stop ‘Express’ services started from 15 December 1971.
On 22 February 2013, station numbering was introduced on Keio lines, with Inokashira Line stations numbered with the prefix ‘IN’.
The Keio 1000 series (京王1000系) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type used by Keio Corporation for commuting in Tokyo, Japan.
These trains were introduced on 9 January 1996 and built by Tokyu Car Corporation and Nippon Sharyo in six batches, with a total of 29 five-car sets used on the Keio Inokashira Line.
The fleet consists of three variants, which include Sets 1701 to 1710 with two motor and three trailer cars, Sets 1711 to 1715 with three motor and two trailer cars and raised driver’s position, and Sets 1721 to 1734 with three motor and two trailer cars, beadless stainless steel bodysides, full-colour LED destination indicator panels, and 17-inch colour LCD information panels in the interior.
The first ten sets of the Keio 1000 series were formed with two motored and three non-powered trailer cars, each equipped with a single-arm pantograph, designated mildly air-conditioned, and with a wheelchair space.
The refurbished sets have three motored and two non-powered trailer cars.
The Keio 1000 series is a type of commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by Keio Corporation in Tokyo, Japan.
The first 1000 series train was introduced on the Keio Inokashira Line on 9 January 1996, making it the first new rolling stock on the line in 30 years.
This train type features 20-meter long cars with four pairs of doors per side.
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