Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway

Three Station Buildings on a Ropeway of 1962

The Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway runs at 806-1 Teranoya, Yushima, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, where 3 station buildings were entered on the register of tangible cultural properties on 27 October 2017. They are registered properties rather than designated ones. All 3 were built in 1962.

The 3 are the foothill station, the Onsenji station and the summit station. They belong to the company that runs the line.

Of the foothill station, the Agency records that it is the starting station of a ropeway laid to give access to the summit of a mountain overlooking the hot spring town.

Written as Start, Middle and End

The 3 are described by their place along one line.

The foothill station is the starting station, the Onsenji station the mid-point station, and the summit station the terminus.

Where each falls on the route opens its entry. They are told apart not by what kind of building they are, but by their part in the line.

At Kannonshoji the buildings divide by the names of the halls; at the Furukawa residence by use, into main house, guest room wing, annex and storehouse.

Here they run in the order of ascent: from the foot, by way of Onsenji, to the summit, a single direction.

All 3 carry the date field mid Showa and the year 1962, and all were registered on 27 October 2017, the line having been laid at one time.

A Roof Form Common to All Three

The roof over the platform is the same in all 3.

Of the foothill station, the Agency records a vaulted roof drawing a gentle curve, with beams carried out to either side to bear the eaves.

Of the Onsenji station, that the platform is open on all sides, with columns lengthened to follow the slope and a vaulted roof above, plain in appearance.

Of the summit station, that the platform is built as at the other stations.

A vault curves like a half-cylinder. The 3 are tied together by one form of roof.

The Manpukuji belfry is said to share its structure with the bell tower at another temple. That is agreement with a building elsewhere. Here the agreement is among stations on one line.

Different Construction at Each Station

The roofs agree; the frames beneath do not.

The foothill station is steel-framed and 2-storeyed, with a single-storeyed reinforced concrete part having 1 basement level, covering 309 square metres. It is recorded as a steel-framed station building with a platform in reinforced concrete.

The Onsenji station is reinforced concrete, 2-storeyed, covering 141 square metres.

The summit station is reinforced concrete, 2-storeyed, covering 187 square metres.

Only the foothill station combines steel with concrete and carries a basement, where a machine room is set to the east of the platform.

The areas differ as well: 309, 141 and 187 square metres. The starting station is the largest.

An Observation Deck at the Summit Station

Only the terminus carries a place made for looking out.

Of the summit station, the Agency records a flat roof on the west side carrying an observation deck.

The roofs of the other 2 are vaulted; on the west of this one the roof is flat, and the deck sits above it.

The record closes that its outward form is mindful of the setting, and shapes the summit's landscape well.

At the Ikinariya storehouse, the reason given was that a view from the road is well loved. There the building is what is looked at.

Here the building is said to shape the landscape of the summit, so it is both looked at and, from the deck, looked out from.

Visiting

The line is at 806-1 Teranoya, Yushima, Kinosaki-cho, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, owned by the company that runs it. All 3 buildings carry the same address.

The foothill and summit stations stand about 659 metres apart, with the Onsenji station between them.

This is a working ropeway, and a ride passes all 3.

At the Onsenji station, platforms are set on the upper floor both at the centre and on the north side towards the temple.

Running times and conditions follow the operator's arrangements. Check before travelling.