Founded in 1910, the Keihan Railway is one of several private railways in Japan's Kansai Region connecting the cities of Kyoto and Osaka. Its network comprises four train lines in the area between the two major cities, two additional lines in Otsu City, and a cable car on Mount Otokoyama leading to Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine.
While the Keihan Main Line terminates at Demachiyanagi, passengers can transfer here to the Eizan Line in order to continue on to Kibune and the mountain temple of Kurama, or in the opposite direction to Hieizan - both making excellent day-trip options.
Keihan Railway can also be especially useful to visitors traveling directly between Osaka and Kyoto, making it possible to bypass the larger and often crowded JR stations altogether, access the Fushimi district in southern Kyoto, and hop easily between popular sightseeing spots like Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kiyomizudera Temple.
Travel highlights
Nakanoshima
Located just south of Osaka's northern business district, Nakanoshima is a slim, three kilometer strip of land with museums, art galleries, rose gardens and grassy spaces, creating a surprisingly open space in the heart of the city.
Fushimi
Located in the southern part of Kyoto, Fushimi is well known for its sake brewing and for Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine with its extensive grounds and corridors of red torii gates.
Uji
A small city located between the two former capitals of Kyoto and Nara, Uji has been famous for tea production since the 13th century, and boasts several culturally important buildings including the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple, which features on the reverse of the Japanese 10 yen coin.
Lake Biwa
Taking its name from the traditional lute it is said to resemble, Lake Biwa is Japan's largest freshwater lake and a popular getaway from Kyoto during the hot, humid summer. As well as exploring its extensive shoreline, visitors can enjoy various watersports, take a sightseeing cruise or camp out overnight.
Hieizan
Overlooking Kyoto from the northeast, Hieizan is the home of Enryakuji - an extensive temple complex and the center of the Tendai school of Buddhism. Today, the area features around 1000 temple buildings divided across three separate areas, in addition to some pleasant hiking trails with views over the city and surrounding countryside.
Set amongst the mountains of northern Kyoto, Kurama is a rural area with its own hot springs and Kuramadera, a historically important temple with buildings dotting a steep pathway leading up the forested mountainside. Located just to the south, Kibune is home to an important shrine and many restaurants with seating areas built over a river - the perfect way to cool off during the hot summer months.
