Saga-Arashiyama Station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saga-Arashiyama Station 嵯峨嵐山駅 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South side of the station | ||||||||||||||||
| General information | ||||||||||||||||
| Location | 11-1, Saga-Tenryuji Kurumamichicho, Ukyō, Kyoto, Kyoto （京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺車道町11-1） Japan | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°1′7.47″N 135°40′52.71″E / 35.0187417°N 135.6813083°E | |||||||||||||||
| Operated by | JR West | |||||||||||||||
| Line | Sagano Line | |||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 Island platforms | |||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | |||||||||||||||
| Connections |
| |||||||||||||||
| Construction | ||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground level | |||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | |||||||||||||||
| Other information | ||||||||||||||||
| Station code | JR-E08 | |||||||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1897 | |||||||||||||||
| Previous names | Saga (until 1994) | |||||||||||||||
| Passengers | ||||||||||||||||
| FY 2023 | 17,080 daily[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Services | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Saga-Arashiyama Station (嵯峨嵐山駅, Saga-Arashiyama-eki), formerly known as Saga Station, is a railway station situated in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, operating on the Sanin Main Line (Sagano Line) under the management of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It serves as the starting point for the Sagano Scenic Railway.
Saga-Arashiyama Station holds historical significance as one of Kyoto's southernmost railway stations.[2] Originally established as the eighth stop along the San'in Main Line, linking Kyoto and Sonobe, it operates as a minor transportation hub for sightseeing, facilitating connections between light rail, bus, and tram services.[3][4]
Adjacent to Saga-Arashiyama Station is the Arashiyama Station. Originally part of the Keifuku Electric Railroad, Saga-Arashiyama Station was absorbed into the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) on March 25, 1910. At that time, the station served an average of 6,000 passengers daily.
Saga-Arashiyama Station is surrounded by notable landmarks, including the Kyoto Prefectural Kitasaga High School to the north, the Saga University of Arts Hombu Campus to the south, and the Kyoto Prefectural Sagano High School to the east. To the west lie temples and a shrine. The station is closely linked to the Sagano Scenic Railway to the west and Randen-Saga Station to the south.
Saga-Arashiyama Station was established in early 1897 as Saga Station, serving as the terminus of the first line of the Kyoto Railway, which ran between Nijō and Saga. This line, precursor to the San'in Main Line, commenced operations on February 15, 1897. Following the nationalization of the Kyōto Railway, it was renamed the "Kyoto line," and subsequently, the San'in Main Line. The extension of the line towards Sonobe was completed in 1899. On September 4, 1994, the station was renamed Saga-Urashima Station.[2]
With the privatization of the Japanese National Railways and the division of its assets, the Kyoto line came under the management of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The renaming of Saga Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station in 1994 was intended to associate it with the renowned district of Arashiyama, located in the western area of Kyoto Prefecture,[5] thereby enhancing its tourism appeal.
Saga-Arashiyama Station stands as the sole JR station nearest to the western suburbs of Kyoto, as well as to the iconic Togetsu-kyō Bridge spanning the Katsura River.[6] However, It is important not to confuse its location with that of the Arashiyama area. In local context, Saga-Arashiyama Station lies on the north shore of Katsuragawa Station, commonly referred to as Sagano. Conversely, the south shore encompasses the true Arashiyama, home to renowned attractions such as the UNESCO World Heritage site, Tenryu-Ji Temple,[7] all within walking distance from Saga-Arashiyama Station, making it a significant hub for tourists.
The currently operational building structure at Saga-Arashiyama Station is the 2nd generation, which was completed and fully functional by the end of 2008.[8] Prior to this, the station utilized the 1st generation building, which has been in continuous use since the inauguration of the Kyoto Railway in 1897. However, the original building, serving as the earliest service center under the West Japan Railway Company (JR West), was eventually demolished.[8]
The main terminal, Arashiyama Main Station, of the Arashiyama Honsen Line is situated a few blocks south of the station (approximately 300 meters away), making it easily accessible by foot. In contrast, the terminal Hankyu Arashiyama Station of the Hankyu Arashiyama Line is located on the southern side of Katsura, necessitating a 20-minute walk to reach the Togetsu-kyō Bridge.
Station numbering was implemented in March 2018, with Saga-Arashiyama designated as station number JR-E08.[9][10]
Station layout
Saga-Arashiyama Station features two island platforms accommodating four train routes in total,[11] along with ground-level and overhead crossing equipment. Platforms 1 and 2 serve trains heading in the upward direction towards Kyoto, while platforms 3 and 4 serve trains heading downward towards Sonobe. There are no transfer platforms for other train lines at Saga-Arashiyama Station.[12]
| 1, 2 | ■ Sagano Line | for Kyōto |
| 3, 4 | ■ Sagano Line | for Kameoka, Sonobe and Fukuchiyama |
Platforms
The Saga-Arashiyama Station underwent a redesign by the West Japan Railway Company in the late 1990s. Originally intended to serve as a transfer station along the Sagano Line, its significance heightened following the surge in Kyoto tourism since 1994,[2] coinciding with the renaming of Arashiyama Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station.
To date, the station has welcomed over 7.4 million foreign passengers, drawn to Saga-Arashiyama for its attractions. Including domestic tourists, the station has served more than 50 million visitors, a remarkable figure considering Kyoto's population stands at just 1.7 million.