# Toden Arakawa Line

The Toden Arakawa Line, branded as the Tokyo Sakura Tram, is a hybrid tram/light rail line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei). The line is the sole survivor of Tokyo's once-extensive Tokyo Toden tram system and one of the only two light rail lines in Tokyo, besides the Setagaya Line.

## Station list

All stations are located in Tokyo.
| No. | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location |
| No. | Station | Japanese | Between stations | Total | Transfers | Location |
| SA01 | Minowabashi | 三ノ輪橋 | - | 0.0 | H Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (Minowa: H-20) | Arakawa |
| SA02 | Arakawa-itchumae | 荒川一中前 | 0.3 | 0.3 | | Arakawa |
| SA03 | Arakawa-kuyakushomae | 荒川区役所前 | 0.3 | 0.6 | | Arakawa |
| SA04 | Arakawa-nichōme | 荒川二丁目 | 0.4 | 1.0 | | Arakawa |
| SA05 | Arakawa-nanachōme | 荒川七丁目 | 0.4 | 1.4 | | Arakawa |
| SA06 | Machiya-ekimae | 町屋駅前 | 0.4 | 1.8 | KS Keisei Main Line (Machiya: KS04) C Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line (Machiya: C-17) | Arakawa |
| SA07 | Machiya-nichōme | 町屋二丁目 | 0.4 | 2.2 | | Arakawa |
| SA08 | Higashi-ogu-sanchōme | 東尾久三丁目 | 0.3 | 2.5 | | Arakawa |
| SA09 | Kumanomae | 熊野前 | 0.6 | 3.1 | NT Nippori-Toneri Liner (NT04) | Arakawa |
| SA10 | Miyanomae | 宮ノ前 | 0.4 | 3.5 | | Arakawa |
| SA11 | Odai | 小台 | 0.3 | 3.8 | | Arakawa |
| SA12 | Arakawa-yūenchimae | 荒川遊園地前 | 0.3 | 4.1 | | Arakawa |
| SA13 | Arakawa-shakomae | 荒川車庫前 | 0.5 | 4.6 | | Arakawa |
| SA14 | Kajiwara | 梶原 | 0.4 | 5.0 | | Kita |
| SA15 | Sakaechō | 栄町 | 0.5 | 5.5 | | Kita |
| SA16 | Ōji-ekimae | 王子駅前 | 0.5 | 6.0 | JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line (Ōji: JK36) N Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (Oji: N-16) | Kita |
| SA17 | Asukayama | 飛鳥山 | 0.5 | 6.5 | | Kita |
| SA18 | Takinogawa-itchōme | 滝野川一丁目 | 0.4 | 6.9 | | Kita |
| SA19 | Nishigahara-yonchōme | 西ヶ原四丁目 | 0.4 | 7.3 | | Kita |
| SA20 | Shin-koshinzuka | 新庚申塚 | 0.4 | 7.7 | I Toei Mita Line (Nishi-sugamo: I-16) | Toshima |
| SA21 | Kōshinzuka | 庚申塚 | 0.2 | 7.9 | | Toshima |
| SA22 | Sugamoshinden | 巣鴨新田 | 0.5 | 8.4 | | Toshima |
| SA23 | Ōtsuka-ekimae | 大塚駅前 | 0.5 | 8.9 | JY Yamanote Line (Ōtsuka: JY12) | Toshima |
| SA24 | Mukōhara | 向原 | 0.5 | 9.4 | | Toshima |
| SA25 | Higashi-ikebukuro-yonchome | 東池袋四丁目 | 0.6 | 10.0 | Y Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (Higashi-ikebukuro: Y-10) | Toshima |
| SA26 | Toden-zoshigaya | 都電雑司ヶ谷 | 0.2 | 10.2 | | Toshima |
| SA27 | Kishibojimmae | 鬼子母神前 | 0.5 | 10.7 | F Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line (Zoshigaya: F-10) | Toshima |
| SA28 | Gakushuinshita | 学習院下 | 0.5 | 11.2 | | Toshima |
| SA29 | Omokagebashi | 面影橋 | 0.5 | 11.7 | | Shinjuku |
| SA30 | Waseda | 早稲田 | 0.5 | 12.2 | | Shinjuku |

## Rolling stock

* 7700 series (since 31 May 2016)
* 8500 series
* 8800 series
* 8900 series (since 18 September 2015)
* 9000 series
* 7700 series tram 7701 in July 2016
* 8500 series tram 8502 in June 2003
* 8800 series tram 8804 in September 2010
* 8900 series tram 8901 in September 2015
* 9000 series trams 9001 and 9002 in February 2009

### Former rolling stock

* 7000 series (1955 until 10 June 2017)
* 7500 series
* 7000 series tram 7015 in June 2009
* 7500 series tram 7520 in March 2011

## History

The line was originally constructed by the Ōji Electric Tram Company (王子電気軌道, Ōji-denki-kidō) as a part of their extensive network, with the oldest section still operating today opened in 1913. The line was at threat of being shut down along with the rest of Tokyo's streetcar system in the 1960s, but concerted opposition from residents prevented this and parts of lines 27 (Minowabashi-Akabane) and 32 (Arakawa-Waseda) were merged to form the line as it is today. The line was sold to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation in 1974, which renamed it the Toden Arakawa Line.
The Toden Arakawa Line operates between the terminals at Minowabashi Station and Waseda Station. It runs along Meiji Street between Asuka-yama Station and Oji Eki-mae Station. Otherwise, it operates on its own tracks. Presently, single driver-operated cars make the 12.2 km (7.6 mi) trip in 50 minutes. The gauge is 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in). The line is fully double-track, and draws 600 V electrical supply.
Two Toden Arakawa trams (one in revenue earning service, the other undergoing brake testing) collided on 13 June 2006 near the Minowabashi terminus, injuring 27 people.

## Sights

The Toden Arakawa Line operates in northern and eastern Tokyo outside the main tourist areas. The terminus at Minowabashi is near the historical site of Edo's red-light district Yoshiwara which features a completely covered shopping street, several blocks long, in the once common "Ameyoko" style (a shōtengai).

## In literature

In Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood, protagonist Toru Watanabe takes the line to near Ōtsuka Station: "I sat in the last seat and watched the ancient houses passing close to the window. The tram almost touched the overhanging eaves.... The tram snaked its way through this private back-alley world."