Streetcars and Trams of Japan

From Tokyo's Toden Arakawa Line to the long network in Hiroshima, Japan's streetcars offer a charming, affordable way to see city life at street level.

Published October 15, 2026 at 11:44 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Japan's streetcars are small electric trams that still run through several cities, offering a slow, scenic ride at street level. Hiroshima has the largest network, and Tokyo's only surviving line is the Toden Arakawa Line. Payment rules differ by city, so check the operator's guide before your first ride.

Beyond bullet trains and subway maps, Japan keeps a charming secret: streetcars. In a number of cities, small electric trams still rattle along city streets, stopping at corner stops and carrying everyone from schoolchildren to sightseers. They are slower than subways, but they are wonderfully scenic, and riding one feels like stepping into a living piece of urban history. This guide introduces the history of trams in Japan, the cities where you can still ride them, how to board and pay, and some tips for turning a streetcar ride into a relaxed sightseeing outing.

A Short History of Japanese Streetcars

Electric streetcars arrived in Japan in the early twentieth century, and many cities built networks that became the backbone of daily transport. According to the English Wikipedia list of town tramway systems in Japan, the Tokyo Toden's electric line opened in 1903, and the line in Kochi opened in 1904. Matsuyama followed in 1911, Hiroshima in 1912, and Hakodate and Sapporo in the following years. Kumamoto's municipal tram service dates to 1924.

Over the decades, many city networks gave way to subways, buses, and cars, but a good number survived and have even been updated with modern vehicles. Some cities now treat their streetcars as part of their identity, and newer systems have joined the family: Utsunomiya Light Rail, opened in 2023, is the newest entry on the Wikipedia list. The result is a delightful mix of historic lines and modern light rail, giving visitors many ways to enjoy the tram experience.

Where You Can Ride Streetcars

Tokyo has one surviving tram line, the Toden Arakawa Line, which runs 12.2 kilometers between Minowabashi and Waseda with 30 stations. It is the sole survivor of the old Toden network and offers a nostalgic ride through residential neighborhoods, passing stops such as Asukayama. In Kyoto, the Keifuku Electric Railroad's Randen line runs between Kyoto and Arashiyama, while Hankai in Osaka also keeps a line.

Hiroshima has the largest and longest streetcar network in the country. Hiroden, founded in 1910, operates 35.1 kilometers of tram line and is nicknamed "The Moving Streetcar Museum" because its trams were built in many parts of Japan and in Europe. Its Miyajima Line runs 16.1 kilometers toward the ferry for Miyajima, one of Japan's most picturesque islands. Elsewhere you can find Kochi's Tosaden, which has more than 25 kilometers of track on three lines, Matsuyama's Iyotetsu lines, Nagasaki's four lines, Kumamoto's five lines, Kagoshima's two routes, and smaller networks in Toyama, Okayama, Fukui, Sapporo, and Hakodate. Sapporo's streetcar links Nishi-Yon-Chome with the entertainment district of Susukino over roughly eight kilometers, and Hakodate has two routes covering about 11 kilometers, which makes both easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. Matsuyama's Iyotetsu lines are numbered one to six, skipping number four, a small quirk that locals and visitors alike enjoy noticing.

How to Board and Pay

The method for boarding and paying differs by city, so take a moment to observe other passengers or read the operator's guide. In Hiroshima, Hiroden explains that you can board through any door, tickets are not sold, and you pay when you get off. When your stop is announced, press the buzzer by the window, then exit through the door near the driver or conductor. Cash goes into the fare box, with a change machine beside it if you need smaller coins, and you can also tap a compatible IC card on the reader.

In Kochi, the Tosaden system asks riders to board through the rear door and take a fare zone ticket from the machine near the entrance, then drop the exact fare into the fare box near the front door when leaving. Drivers do not give change, so use the money changer beside the fare box first if needed. In Kumamoto, the city tram uses a flat fare and accepts cash or transit cards such as Nimoca, ICOCA, Suica, and Pasmo. Because systems vary, it is best to check the operator's guide before your first ride.

Day Passes and Planning

Many operators offer one-day passes that make sightseeing simple. In Hiroshima, for example, a one-day card is shown to the driver or conductor at the door when you exit, with the date visible after scratching it off at first use. Passes can also work out well if you plan to hop on and off several times. Always check which lines or zones a pass covers, and confirm the latest details with the operator or a tourist information center.

Plan on a slower, relaxed pace. Streetcars share the road with traffic and make frequent stops, so allow extra time and avoid cramming too many connections into a tight schedule. They are an excellent way to reach attractions that sit along the line: in Kumamoto, for instance, the tram network has a stop named for Kumamoto Castle and City Hall, making the castle easy to reach. Riding a tram is often as much a sightseeing activity as a means of transport.

Etiquette and Tips on Board

Good manners are simple. Let passengers exit before boarding, keep your voice low, and offer seats to elderly or disabled passengers and those with small children. Take off your backpack or hold it in front of you so there is more space, and hold on to a strap or pole, because trams can brake and start with a jolt. Keep phone calls for later and have your fare or IC card ready before you reach the exit.

Take a moment to enjoy the details. Hiroshima, for example, runs trams that were built in many different places, so the cars you see can be a mix of old and new. Sit by a window and watch the street scene go by, with shop signs, small shrines, and local life framing the view. If you are curious, you can pick a neighborhood stop and wander for a while, then hop on the next tram.

Quick Takeaways

Japan's streetcars are a friendly, affordable way to experience city life, with Hiroshima's network the largest, Tokyo's Toden Arakawa Line the sole surviving line in the capital, and Kochi, Matsuyama, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and others each offering their own character. Learn the boarding and payment style of your city, consider a day pass, and give yourself time to enjoy the ride.

If you can, make a streetcar ride part of your itinerary, even if it is just one stop. The gentle pace and street-level views are a fine reminder that travel does not always have to be fast to be memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you still ride streetcars in Japan?

Streetcars still run in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kochi, Matsuyama, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Toyama, Okayama, Fukui, Sapporo and Hakodate. Hiroshima has the largest and longest network, while Tokyo's sole surviving line is the Toden Arakawa Line, 12.2 kilometers between Minowabashi and Waseda.

How do you pay for a streetcar ride in Japan?

Payment varies by city. In Hiroshima you can board through any door and pay when you get off, with cash in the fare box or a compatible IC card. In Kochi you board at the rear, take a fare zone ticket, and drop exact fare in the box when leaving.

Is a day pass worth it on Japanese streetcars?

Many operators offer one-day passes that make sightseeing simple, and passes can work out well if you plan to hop on and off several times. In Hiroshima, you show the one-day card to the driver or conductor when you exit. Always check which lines or zones a pass covers.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: IC Cards in Japan: Pasmo, Icoca and Friends, Slow Local Trains and Scenic Rail Journeys, Using Google Maps for Japan Transit.