Saiin Station

Saiin Station
西院駅
Location Ukyō, Kyoto, Kyoto
Japan
Operated by Hankyu Corporation
Line(s) Hankyu Kyoto Main Line
Platforms 2
Tracks 2
Construction
Structure type Underground
Other information
Station code HK-83
History
Opened 1928
Previous names Kyoto Saiin (until 1931)
Traffic
Passengers (FY2015[1]) 16.1 million
Sai Station
西院駅
Location Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Japan
Operated by Keifuku Electric Railroad
Line(s) Randen Arashiyama Line
Platforms 2
Tracks 2
Construction
Structure type At-grade
Other information
Station code A2
History
Opened 1910
Traffic
Passengers (FY2015[1]) 1.7 million

Hankyu Saiin Station (西院駅, Saiin-eki) is the 22nd station along the Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line, which departs from Osaka's Umeda Station and terminates at Kyoto's Kawaramachi Station. It is the 4th to last station before reaching Kawaramachi station.

Saiin Station is serviced by local (普通, futsū), semi express (準急, junkyū), rapid express (快速急行, kaisoku kyūkō), and "commuter" limited express (通勤特急, tsūkin tokkyū) trains, while limited express (特急, tokkyū) trains do not service the station. The subterranean station is windy, as it had only one entrance, and arriving and departing trains force air up and down the station's narrow pair of staircases.

Many travellers stop at Saiin Station in order to take the #205 city bus to Kinkakuji and Randen Sai Station (Keifuku Electric Railroad Co., Ltd., written in the same kanji, 西院駅) local train to Arashiyama.

Location

Hankyu Saiin Station Entrance

Saiin station's singular entrance is situated on the southwest corner of Shijo street and Nishioji street in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Saiin Station is located in Saiin Kōzanji-chō, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto.

History

Saiin Station opened as Kyoto Saiin Station (京都西院駅, Kyōto-Saiin-eki) on November 1, 1928. At the time of opening, the station was the terminus of the Shinkeihan Railway, a former operator of the Hankyu Kyoto Line. On March 31, 1931, when the underground extension from Saiin to Keihan Kyoto Station (present-day Ōmiya Station) was completed, the station was moved from the ground level to the underground facilities and renamed Saiin Station.

At the time of the construction, a plan was tabled to link Saiin Station with the smaller and older Sai Station (located one-minute walking distance east on Shijo street) by means of an underground path, but the plan was eventually scrapped, due to strong opposition from people living in the area. The underground path was under construction until 2017.[2]

Usage

In fiscal 2015, the Hankyu station was used by 16,087,000 passengers annually (both exiting and entering passengers). Over the same year, the Randen station was used by 1,674,000 passengers annually (both exiting and entering passengers). For historical data, see the table below.[1][3]

Hankyu
Fiscal yearAnnual total
(in thousands)
BoardingTotal
20018,05516,569
20027,86915,990
20037,79915,923
20047,62915,665
20057,75515,737
20067,69115,483
20077,93515,810
20088,39416,697
20097,55415,698
20107,61915,376
20117,59515,436
20127,66715,494
20157,99316,087

Attractions

Dining

A variety of quaint restaurants, izakaya, and fast food locations lie within short walking distance of the station. These fast food locations include McDonald's, Mos Burger, Baskin Robbins 31, Matsuya and Yoshinoya.

Retail

A few large retail outlets and a variety of small shops line the streets surrounding Saiin Station. These large retail outlets include: Æon Mall Kyoto Gojō, and Joshin Electronics. A 100 yen shuttle bus stops in front of Saiin Station and carries passengers directly to the Æon Mall shopping center.

A Watts 100 yen store is located directly above Saiin station's entrance.

There are many convenience stores within a 2 or 3 minute walk of Saiin Station, such as Lawson, 7 Eleven, Circle K, and Family Mart.

Hotels

The Rhino hotel[4] is located directly beside Saiin Station.

Historical sites

Kōzan-ji, a small Buddhist temple, is located directly across from Saiin Station, on the northeast corner of Nishioji street and Shijo Street, less than one-minute walking distance.

Gaming

Several pachinko parlors are located within walking distance of Saiin Station.

Adjacent stations

« Service »
Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line
Nishi-Kyōgoku   Local   Ōmiya
Nishi-Kyōgoku   Semi-Express   Ōmiya
Katsura   Rapid Service   Ōmiya
Katsura   Rapid Express   Ōmiya
Limited Express: Does not stop at this station
Katsura   Commutation Limited Express   Ōmiya
Limited Express "Kyo-Train", "Ogura": Does not stop at this station
Randen Arashiyama Line
Shijō-Ōmiya - Nishiōji-Sanjō

References

  1. 1 2 3 第8章 都市施設 [Chapter 8: Urban facilities]. 京都市統計書 [Statistics of Kyoto City] (in Japanese). City of Kyoto. 2017.
  2. ↑ 西院駅のご利用が便利になりました (in Japanese). Hankyu Corporation. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ Statistics of Kyoto Prefecture(in Japanese)
  4. ↑ Rhino hotel kyoto

Coordinates: 35°0′13″N 135°43′57″E / 35.00361°N 135.73250°E / 35.00361; 135.73250

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