Monkey Park Monorail Line
| Company type | Monorail system |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | March 21, 1962 |
| Defunct | December 27, 2008 |
| Fate | Ceased operations due to declining ridership and outdated infrastructure |
| Headquarters | Inuyama , Japan |
Area served | Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture |
| Products | Passenger monorail service |
| Owner | Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) |
The was a monorail system located in Inuyama, Aichi, linking Japan Monkey Park with Inuyama-yūen Station under the management of Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu). Spanning 1.2 km, the route included steep gradients reaching up to 9.7% and traversed an artificial gorge. The journey typically took around four minutes.
History
Inaugurated on 21 March 1962, this monorail was the inaugural Hitachi Monorail constructed using the ALWEG track design.
Operations ceased on 27 December 2008 due to Meitetsu’s concerns over declining passenger numbers and outdated infrastructure. By 2006, the daily average ridership had dropped to approximately 645 users.
Trains
Service utilized two trains, each comprised of three cars, which could be coupled together to accommodate more passengers. Powered by a 1,500 V DC system, these trains achieved maximum speeds of 35 km/h.
Two specific cars—end car 101 and intermediate car 201—were preserved near the former Dōbutsuen Station starting in March 2009, retaining their original silver, red, and white paint scheme. Another car is exhibited at Spa Resort Yunohana, where guests can explore both the interior and exterior of the vehicle. The former Dobutsuen Station remains as the sole surviving structure from the line, accompanied by a segment of track and one preserved train; all other parts of the monorail have been dismantled.
Additionally, the Meitetsu monorail is featured in the Japanese train simulation game Densha de Go! Nagoya Railroad, alongside various other Meitetsu rolling stock.