Yashima Cable Car

The Yashima Cable Car opened in 1929, one of Japan's earliest, built to carry pilgrims and tourists from the foot of Yashima up to Yashimaji Temple. During World War II, portions of the track were removed, and though it reopened in 1950, a paved road for cars eventually took the traffic. Service stopped in 2004 and the line closed for good in 2005. Both stations, the cars themselves, and the tracks have been left in place exactly as they were. The upper station has an art deco-inspired facade now slowly being reclaimed by dense vegetation, giving the site a quietly atmospheric quality somewhere between ruin and monument.