Japan Station

Japan Transportation Guide

  • Home
  • Shinkansen network
  • Destinations
  • Maps
  • News
  • Japan Rail Pass Value Calculator

Last Run for the Ueno Zoo Monorail?

October 23, 2019

The end of October, 2019 will see the retirement of the railcars currently running on the monorail service at Ueno Zoo. The big question is, will the Ueno Zoo Monorail run again?

Ueno Zoo’s monorail ready for departure

Ueno Zoo’s monorail ready for departure

The Ueno Zoo Monorail (properly called Ueno Kensui-sen or Ueno Suspension Line) connects the east and west sides of the Ueno Zoo, and has been running since December 1957. It is of some historical significance as it was the very first monorail to run in Japan. At the time it must have seemed quite futuristic, but today the colorful railcars provide an attractive 90 second alternative to walking the ten minute route between the two halves of the zoological gardens. An added advantage of the monorail’s elevated route is the pleasant view it presents over the western garden’s Shinobazu Pond.

A view from the monorail over the Zoo’s West Garden

A view from the monorail over the Zoo’s West Garden

The current series #40 railcars are the 4th series to run on the monorail and have been in use since 2001. Unfortunately, their condition has deteriorated with age, and so Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s transportation bureau has decided to suspend all services on the line from November 1st. At this time, it is not clear if the railcars will be replaced with a 5th series, or if the transportation bureau will decide to save on the expense and close the line for good. The official statement is that the opinion of Tokyo’s citizens will be taken into consideration. However, because the monorail is the only one of its kind in Japan, replacing its cars and updating the service would take at least three years and the cost would be considerable.

A driver’s eye view

A driver’s eye view

To mark the occasion of the series #40 retirement, a Last Run Event will be held from 16.30 – 16.50 on October 31st. After the last regular service has finished, 50 lucky applicants will ride a final special monorail service from the West Garden terminal, which will be followed by a photograph event. No doubt there will be a few tears shed as the series #40 cars make their last trip as it could well be the end of an era.

The graceful monorail in action

The graceful monorail in action

While the final decision about the monorail’s future remains under review, an electric automobile will run a free service between the east and west gardens. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the unique monorail service will one day return to Ueno.

Article by Michael Lambe. Photos by Michael Lambe and javao/pixta (4). All rights reserved.

Questions? Ask on our forum

Japan Station NavigationJapan Station Navigation
Station Navigation
  • Shinkansen high-speed trains
  • The Japan Rail Pass
  • Japan Rail Pass Value Calculator
  • Destinations
  • Narita Express
  • IC Prepaid Transport Cards
  • Air Travel in Japan
  • Guide to Rail Travel in Japan
Guide to Rail Travel in Japan by JapanStation.com

Japan Hotel
Deals of the Day

Loading search box ...
Japan Station Hotel

Book Online

  •   Flights to Japan
  •   Hotels in Japan
  •   Car Rental
  •   Tours & Activities in Japan
  •   Sapporo Station
  •   Shinjuku Station
  •   Kyoto Station
  •   Kobe Station
  •   Kanazawa Station
  •   Osaka Station
  •   Hakata Station
  •   Asakusa Station
  •   Shinagawa Station
  •   Shibuya Station
  •   Nara Station
  •   Nagoya Station

Japan Station on Facebook

Japan Station on Facebook

Japan Station on Instagram

The most striking feature of Kanazawa Station is i The most striking feature of Kanazawa Station is its massive wooden torii gate.
.
.
.
#kanazawa #kanazawastation #torii #gate #japan #station #trainstation #japanstation #japantravel #visitjapan
Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad in Kagawa Pre Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad in Kagawa Prefecture is running a special train painted in Ukrainian flag colors. There are also donation boxes for Ukraine at their stations. #Japan #StandWithUkraine
Happy New Year 2022 to all our readers around the Happy New Year 2022 to all our readers around the world!
.
.
.
.
#japan #japanstation #shinkansen #train #railways_of_our_world #railway #japantravel #instatravel #instagood 
Photo by Seventh Heaven / pixta
Come face to face or nose to nose with some of the Come face to face or nose to nose with some of the latest and some of the oldest trains in Japan at the Railway Museum in Omiya. It is about 45 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.
The Keisei Skyliner is a high speed limited expres The Keisei Skyliner is a high speed limited express service operated by Keisei Electric Railway that runs from Keisei Ueno Station to Narita Airport.
.
.
.
Photo by satokenaoon/pixta #keiseiskyliner #naritaairport #ueno #japan #japanstation #travel #keisei #train #trainstation #trainstagram #railway #railways_of_our_world #train_photograph #trainphotography #japantravel #visitjapan
Odakyu Romancecar GSE arriving at Shinjuku Station Odakyu Romancecar GSE arriving at Shinjuku Station

About Us

  • Japan Station on Facebook
  • Japan Station on Twitter
  • Japan Station on Instagram
  • Japan Station on Pinterest
  • Japan Station Forum

Copyright © 2022 · Japan Station. Netmobius publication. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact