# Slope car

A slope car (スロープカー, surōpukā) is a small automated monorail, or a fusion between monorail, people mover, inclined elevator and rack railway. It is a brand name of Kaho Manufacturing [ja]. Since this mode of transportation is relatively unknown, it lacks widely accepted generic name, other than the simple "monorail". The system is different from normal modern monorails in many ways. It is a development from industrial monorails used in 1960s orchards. Slope cars are installed in more than 80 places in Japan and South Korea.

## Overview

The system is introduced generally when there are steep slopes or stairs between entrance gates and buildings. Slope cars generally function as amenities that provide accessibilities for elderly or handicapped people visiting particular places, such as parks, golf courses, or hotels. As most lines move fairly slowly, people without disabilities often find it faster to walk the same routes on foot, rather than to use slope cars. However, there are also places where slope cars climb very steep slopes which people without disabilities can not climb unless there are stairs. In Japan, slope cars are not legally considered as railways.

## System

There is a type that is 3 m (9 ft 10 in) long, having a 4 to 8 passengers capacity, and another type that is 6 m (19 ft 8+1⁄4 in) long, having around 30 passengers capacity. Some slope cars are "trainsets" consisting of two cars. Most slope cars are straddle-beam monorails, but there are suspended monorail slope cars as well. Normal monorails generally use rubber tyres running on a concrete beam, while slope cars use a steel beam with a rack rail on one side. As such, slope cars can climb 100% (45°) slopes at maximum speed. The system is powered by a "third rail" on the other side of the beam.
The system does not require a driver. A car starts when a user pushes a button, and it automatically stops at the selected destination.

## History

In 1966, Yoneyama Industory, an agricultural machinery maker in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, invented "Monorack" (モノラック, Monorakku), a freight-only rack monorail system. It soon became widespread in mikan citrus orchards in the prefecture, and in other parts of Japan. Other makers also started to build similar systems. Later in 1990, a company called Chigusa developed a passenger rack monorail system. These rack monorails were first used to transport workers in construction sites or forests. However, from 1990s, public facilities such as parks also started to use the system. Kaho Manufacturing [ja] started to sell their "slope cars" in 1990.
Similar systems were designed for vineyards in Switzerland and Germany in the 1960s. These were also transporting workers from the start. The brand name Monorack is used here for the Garaventa Monorackbahn since 1976. The main difference is the type of rail being used - the Japanese systems use 4 cm (1.6 in) and the European systems use 6 cm (2.4 in) square tubing. The cooperation between Nikkari in Japan and Habegger in Switzerland started in 1975, so the Monorack tractors are mostly identical.

## Other names

As "slope car" is the brand name of Kaho Manufacturing, similar, if not the same, concepts are called differently by different manufacturers.
* Ansaku makes Trans Mobile (トランスモービル, Toransu Mōbiru).
* Chigusa makes Raxcar (ラックスカー, Rakkusukā).
* Monorail Industry makes Monorider (モノライダー, Monoraidā).
* Senyō Kōgyō makes Mountain Liner (マウンテンライナー, Maunten Rainā).
* EMTC of Korea makes the Mountain Type (which has two rails) and the monorail Inclined Type and Locomotive Type
* Doppelmayr Garaventa makes the Monorack for agricultural use. They say they have installed 650 systems worldwide.
Slope cars are similar in some ways to personal rapid transit systems in that they offer on-demand service for individuals or small numbers of passengers.

## List of slope cars
### Japan

| Facility, line name | Function | Diagonal line length (m) | Diagonal line length (ft) | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Maximum gradient | Passenger capacity | Opening year | Location |
| Aburagi Dam | Dam | 87 | 285 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 45° | 6 | 2002 | Soeda, Fukuoka |
| Aburayama Golf Course | Golf course | 96 | 315 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 21° | 4 | 2004 | Fukuoka, Fukuoka |
| Akagi Kōgen Highland Pasture Kronenberg | Zorbing | 70 | 230 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 11° | | 2003 | Shibukawa, Gunma |
| Ashikita Kaihin Sōgō Park | Zorbing | 140 | 460 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 15° | | 2003 | Ashikita, Kumamoto |
| Amanohashidate Viewland | Park | 393 | 1,289 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 25° | 40 | | Miyazu Bay, Kyoto |
| Ashikita Kaihin Sōgō Park | Zorbing | 153 | 502 | 5.1 | 3.2 | 11°40′ | | 2005 | Ashikita, Kumamoto |
| Bay Hill View Chayagadai | Diagonal elevator | 30 | 98 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 24° | 4 | 1999 | Ōita, Ōita |
| Bukkō-ji Temple | Accessibility | 38 | 125 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 29 | 6 | 2005 | Kyōto, Kyōto |
| Bukkoku-ji Temple | Accessibility | 90 | 300 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 15° | 4 | 2004 | Sendai, Miyagi |
| Cactus Herb Park | Park | 191 | 627 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 19°30′ | 30 | 1995 | Nichinan, Miyazaki |
| Funaoka Castle Park | Park | 305 | 1,001 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 18° | 40 | 1996 | Shibata, Miyagi |
| Garden Sight Sakurajima, Sakurajima-gō | Diagonal elevator | 27 | 89 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 32°30′ | 8 | 2001 | Kagoshima, Kagoshima |
| Gassan Dam | Dam | 166 | 545 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 35°32′ | 8 | 1994 | Tsuruoka, Yamagata |
| Genkai Island | Accessibility | 47 | 154 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 33° | 2 | 1998 | Fukuoka, Fukuoka |
| Gifu Prefectural Museum, Rakuraku-gō | Diagonal elevator | 87 | 285 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 13° | 8 | 2002 | Seki, Gifu |
| Grandee Nasu Shirakawa Golf Club | Golf course | 50 | 160 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 17° | 6 | 2005 | Nishigō, Fukushima |
| Hamamatsu Flower Park | Park | 59.8 | 196 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 25° | 16 | 2020 | Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka |
| Hanatateyama Onsen | Park | 99 | 325 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 15° | 8 | 2004 | Chikuzen, Fukuoka |
| Hanawa Ski Resort | Ski resort | 212 | 696 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 28° | 10 | 1996 | Kazuno, Akita |
| Hayakuchi Dam | Dam | 200 | 660 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 45° | 2 | 2003 | Ōdate, Akita |
| Hinokidai Danchi | Accessibility | 87 | 285 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 22° | 6 | 2000 | Sasebo, Nagasaki |
| Hotel Hatsuhana | Park | 30 | 98 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 29°50′ | 6 | 2005 | Hakone, Kanagawa |
| Iiyama Ski Jump | Ski resort | 136 | 446 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 27° | 8 | 1999 | Iiyama, Nagano |
| Iizuka City Chikuho Community Center | Accessibility | 17 | 56 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 29° | 3 | 1997 | Iizuka, Fukuoka |
| Ikawa X Park | Zorbing | 82 | 269 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 18° | | 2004 | Miyoshi, Tokushima |
| Inaniwa Castle Konjakukan | Park | 237 | 778 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 33°30′ | 24 | 1993 | Yuzawa, Akita |
| Iya Onsen | Diagonal elevator | | | 3.0 | 1.9 | 42° | | 2004 | Miyoshi, Tokushima |
| Jōō-ji Temple | Accessibility | 31 | 102 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 29° | 4 | 2002 | Taku, Saga |
| Kannondaki Park, Kajika-kun | Park | 202 | 663 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 13° | 10 | 1997 | Satsuma, Kagoshima |
| Kayase Dam | Dam | 231 | 758 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 45° | 2 | 1999 | Isahaya, Nagasaki |
| Kunimi Forest Park | Park | 800 | 2,600 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 35° | 40 | 2006 | Shisō, Hyōgo |
| Maruoka Park | Park | 236 | 774 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 15° | 10 | 2005 | Kirishima, Kagoshima |
| Mashiki Country Club | Golf course | 73 | 240 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 24° | 4 | 1992 | Mashiki, Kumamoto |
| Masutani Dam | Dam | 172 | 564 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 36° | 2 | 2003 | Minamiechizen, Fukui |
| Minami Kiyosato Flower Park | Park | 185 | 607 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 25°30′ | 20 | 2000 | Hokuto, Yamanashi |
| Minamihata Dam | Dam | 79 | 259 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 28° | 6 | 2003 | Nakagawa, Fukuoka |
| Minaminooka Memorial Park | Accessibility | 52 | 171 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 24°30′ | 6 | 2004 | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
| Misawa Adonis Golf Club | Golf course | 99 | 325 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 33° | 4 | 1994 | Ena, Gifu |
| Miyamoto residence | Accessibility | 19 | 62 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 28° | 2 | 1992 | Hisayama, Fukuoka |
| Mizutori-gō | Accessibility | 60 | 200 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 29° | 2 | 2002 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki |
| Moritate Construction | Accessibility | 14 | 46 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 45° | 2 | 1999 | Fukuoka, Fukuoka |
| Mount Hiko, Mount Hiko Slope Car | Park | 849 | 2,785 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 18° | 80 | 2005 | Soeda, Fukuoka |
| Muya Bus Stop, Sloppy | Diagonal elevator | 161 | 528 | 9.6 | 6.0 | 5°40′ | 20 | 2002 | Naruto, Tokushima |
| Mount Inasa (Inasa-yama), Nagasaki Inasa Mountain Slope Car[ja] English website | Park, Lookout, Observation Deck | 521 | 1,709 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 21° | 40 | 2020 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture |
| Nagasaki Subtropical Botanical Garden | Park | 380 | 1,250 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 10° | 20 | 1996 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki |
| Nakadake Dam | Dam | 125 | 410 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 35° | 2 | 2006 | Soo, Kagoshima |
| Nanakura Dam | Dam | 96 | 315 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 45° | 4 | 1993 | Ōmachi, Nagano |
| Nanreku Shōken-yama Park | Park | 203 | 666 | 6.0 | 3.7 | 11°30′ | 12 | 1990 | Ainan, Ehime |
| Ogasayama Sports Park Ecopa | Park | | | | | | | | Fukuroi, Shizuoka |
| Okuhagi Honjin Garden | Park | 453 | 1,486 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 25° | 24 | 1990 | Hagi, Yamaguchi |
| Okutadami Dam | Dam | 228 | 748 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 21° | 40 | 1997 | Uonuma, Niigata |
| Otaki Dam | Dam | 101 | 331 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 50° | 6 | 1997 | Kawakami, Nara |
| Passage Kinkai Island Golf Club | Golf course | 95 | 312 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 22° | 5 | 1997 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki |
| Rusutsu Resort | Ski resort | 480 | 1,570 | 10.8 | 6.7 | 9°30′ | 36 | 1998 | Rusutsu, Hokkaidō |
| Saga Sōgō Ground | Accessibility | 8 | 26 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 35° | 2 | 1999 | Saga, Saga |
| Sakura-gō | Accessibility | 50 | 160 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 33° | 2 | 2003 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki |
| Sanbōdai Schanze | Ski resort | 145 | 476 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 28° | 8 | 1997 | Shibetsu, Hokkaidō |
| Sanda Onsen Kumano no Sato | Park | 43 | 141 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 14° | 8 | 2006 | Sanda, Hyōgo |
| Sazanka Kōgen Pincnic Park, Kōgen Monorail | Park | 402 | 1,319 | 6.0 | 3.7 | 17° | 20 | 1995 | Isahaya, Nagasaki |
| Sazanka Kōgen Pincnic Park, Kōgen Monorail | Park | 280 | 920 | 6.0 | 3.7 | 14° | 16 | 1993 | Isahaya, Nagasaki |
| Shin Takasegawa Dam | Dam | 102 | 335 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 30° | 4 | 1996 | Ōmachi, Nagano |
| Shirahama Mermaid Town | Accessibility | 69 | 226 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 24° | 4 | 2000 | Shirahama, Wakayama |
| Shōkaien Care House Toyonosato | Accessibility | 48 | 157 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 36°9′ | 16 | 2001 | Mizumaki, Fukuoka |
| Siesta Patio | Park | 213 | 699 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 16° | 15 | 2000 | Taku, Saga |
| Soeda Park, Sakura | Park | 181 | 594 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 17° | 16 | 1991 | Soeda, Fukuoka |
| Sugiyama residence, Noboru-kun | Accessibility | 20 | 66 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 28° | 2 | 1996 | Shizuoka, Shizuoka |
| Sun Village Akane | Ski resort | 46 | 151 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 30° | 12 | 1995 | Iizuka, Fukuoka |
| Tachibana Thermal Power Plant | Accessibility | 27 | 89 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 27° | 2 | 2000 | Anan, Tokushima |
| Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden | Park | 250 | 820 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 9°30′ | 40 | 2003 | Ōita, Ōita |
| Takasegawa Dam | Dam | 104 | 341 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 45° | 4 | 1994 | Ōmachi, Nagano |
| Takayama Dam | Dam | 72 | 236 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 42° | 8 | 2006 | Minamiyamashiro, Kyōto |
| Takeo Onsen Hoyōmura, Skybus Noboru-kun | Park | 488 | 1,601 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 23° | 16 | 1993 | Takeo, Saga |
| Tenjin Dam | Dam | 96 | 315 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 45° | 2 | 1999 | Miyakonojō, Miyazaki |
| Tenjin-kun | Accessibility | 60 | 200 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 29° | 2 | 2002 | Nagasaki, Nagasaki |
| Tsunagi Onsen Shikisai | Park | 56 | 184 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 32°30′ | 6 | 1994 | Tsunagi, Kumamoto |
| Ueda Women's Junior College Tea House | Accessibility | 58 | 190 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 22° | 2 | 2005 | Ueda, Nagano |
| Urayama Dam | Accessibility | 216 | 709 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 45° | 2 | 1998 | Chichibu, Saitama |
| Wakato Hospital | Diagonal elevator | 94 | 308 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 9°15′ | 4 | 1992 | Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka |
| Watanabe residence | Accessibility | 25 | 82 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 31° | 2 | 1998 | Minoo, Ōsaka |
| Wespa Tsubakiyama | Park | 572 | 1,877 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 25° | 40 | 2000. Ceased operation October 31, 2020. | Fukaura, Aomori |
| Yamano Hotel | Park | 36 | 118 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 36° | 6 | 2004 | Takayama, Gifu |
| Yoichi Ski Jump | Ski resort | 129 | 423 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 30° | 8 | 1999 | Yoichi, Hokkaidō |
| Zaō Ski Jump | Ski jump | 200 | 660 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 35° | 10 | 2001 | Yamagata, Yamagata |

### South Korea

| Facility, line name | Function | Diagonal line length (m) | Diagonal line length (ft) | Speed (km/h) | Speed (mph) | Maximum gradient | Passenger capacity | Opening year | Location |
| 168 stairs Monorail | Accessibility | 60 | 200 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 42° | 8 | 2016 | Choryang-dong, Dong District, Busan, South Korea |
| Changwon Country Club | Golf course | 60 | 200 | | | | | 1997 | Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea |
| Gohan-eup Monorail | Accessibility | 206 | 676 | 3.53 | 2.19 | 16° | 12 | 2009 | Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, South Korea |
| Haenam Ttangkkut | Park | 8 | 26 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 26°50′ | | 2005 | Haenam, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| Haenam Ttangkkut | Park | 395 | 1,296 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 23°30′ | 40 | 2005 | Haenam, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| Hamyang Daebongsan monorail | Park | 3,930 | 12,890 | | | | | 2020 | Hamyang County, South Korea |
| Hwaam Cave | Park | 527 | 1,729 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 20° | | 2003 | Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, South Korea |
| Hwanseongul Cave | Park | 600 | 2,000 | | | | | 2006 | Samcheok, Gangwon-do, South Korea |
| Kwangju Country Club | Golf course | 70 | 230 | | | | | 2002 | Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| Naengcheon Country Club | Golf course | 110 | 360 | | | | | 2003 | Daegu, South Korea |
| Namgwangju Country Club | Golf course | 40 | 130 | | | | | 2001 | Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| Ulsan Country Club | Golf course | 32 | 105 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 12° | 6 | 2005 | Ulsan, South Korea |
| Ulsan Country Club | Golf course | 135 | 443 | | | | | 1993 | Ulsan, South Korea |
| Yeongju-dong Oreumgil Monorail | Accessibility | 70 | 230 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 20° | 8 | 2014 | Yeongju-dong, Jung District, Busan, South Korea |
| Yong-in Country Club | Golf course | 100 | 330 | | | | | 2001 | Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea |
| Yong-in Country Club | Golf course | 78 | 256 | | | | | 2001 | Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea |