115-Year-Old Kyoto Streetcar Shines Again After Restoration

The Kyoto Electric Railway streetcar, officially Kyoto City Transportation Bureau Car No 2 and commonly known as the "N‑Den," has been restored. Built in 1911, it is one of the oldest surviving streetcars in Japan and is designated a National Important Cultural Property.

A ceremony and unveiling for officials and guests were held on the grounds of Heian Jingu Shrine in the Sakyo Ward of Kyoto, where the car had been stored for many years.

The repair work took about a year. It restored the exterior of the vehicle, which had developed rust, to the same shine it had roughly 65 years ago when it was in active service. The interior was also repaired while preserving as much of its original condition as possible.

The car will be open to public viewing for free starting April 1.

*The N‑Den streetcar, restored and set to open to the public in April, was blessed by Shinto priests.*

N-Den's Story

The N‑Den is a wooden streetcar built in 1911 for the Kyoto Electric Railway (Kyoden), the company that began Japan's first commercial streetcar service in 1895. After the Kyoto Electric Railway was acquired by the Kyoto City Streetcar system, this car continued to be used by local passengers until the Kitano Line was discontinued in 1961.

After its retirement, Heian Jingu Shrine, which had historical ties to the railway, preserved and displayed the streetcar in its paid garden area. As part of the shrine's 130th-anniversary project, the car was relocated in February 2025 to the west side of Otenmon Gate, a free-access area with considerably more foot traffic. Two cranes were used for the move, which was intended to build public awareness of the restoration while repairs were underway.

Restoration Process

The restoration cost approximately ¥200 million, with funding raised through crowdfunding. Work was carried out in close consultation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs and other experts, with the aim of recreating the N-Den's appearance during active service without compromising its value as a cultural property.

Rust was removed from the car body, and it was repainted in the dark green and cream colors characteristic of the city tram. Inside, damaged hand straps, seats, and other fittings were repaired, while retaining as much of the original material as possible.

*The interior of the restored N‑Den streetcar.*

Noriyoshi Tsuruoka, a professor at Kyoto Women's University specializing in cultural property restoration, oversaw the work. "I believe the repair conveys the appearance the streetcar had while running through Kyoto," he said.

At the commemorative ceremony, Shinto priests performed purification rites. Chief priest Takahisa Washio expressed his hopes that the restoration would draw visitors to the area. "We hope many people will visit Okazaki, where Kyoden ran when the shrine was first established, to see this precious vehicle."

The shrine is also considering future events aimed at railway enthusiasts.