Eco-friendly cable car in Umaji Village

Cable cars (also known as funiculars - yes, it’s a real word and I love it) are already one of the world’s most energy-efficient modes of transportation, but the 92.3-meter Umaji Incline is perhaps even more impressive. Exclusively powered by water and gravity, it doesn't even have an engine!

This impressive feat is accomplished by a remarkably simple mechanism. To make the car descend from the mountain, water is poured into a tank attached to the bottom of the car and the rest is left to gravity. When ascending, the water is simply drained. Due to the analog system, operators skillfully adjust the amount of water used depending on the number of passengers! So COOL.

Along with a few other retro trains you can ride in the area, the Umaji Incline is a nostalgic glimpse into the area’s 100-year-old past, when loggers carried nationally-prized Yanase cedar timber across the region.

Now famous for growing yuzu citrus fruits, come visit Umaji Village for an epic, eco-friendly and fun(icular) ride! Plus, a panoramic view of Kochi's quaint countryside awaits you at the top.

Umaji Village is around 90 minutes from Kochi City by car 
The Umaji Incline only runs on Sundays (except for August when it is open daily) 

Learn more about Umaji Village: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/see-and-do/10489