First Phase Line

The line was opened by the Kagoshima Electric Tramway, a private company. Kagoshima's first tram line had been established earlier, in 1912.

The first section to open was Takenohashi–Yamanokuchi-baba. In 1914 the line was extended to Tenmonkan-dōri on 22 July and on to Asahi-dōri on 3 October. A further extension reached Fudan-kōin — the site of the present-day Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall) stop — on 16 October, and on 20 December the final stretch from Fudan-kōin to Kagoshima-Ekimae opened, completing the through route from Takenohashi to Kagoshima Station.

Kagoshima City took the tramway into public ownership in the late 1920s. The line was transferred to the city's newly established Electric Bureau (鹿児島市電気局) on 1 July 1928, ending its existence as a private undertaking. The municipal operator was then successively reorganised — into the city Transport Section (交通課) in January 1933 and finally into the Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau (鹿児島市交通局) in October 1952, the name it still bears today.

The line lost several stops over its history. Yamanokuchi-chō, Hioki-uramon-dōri and Kinsei-chō stops, all present in the early municipal era, were abolished on 5 May 1943, and two others, Shichō-dōri and Izumiyamachi, closed on dates that are not known. In later years one stop was renamed twice: Kenchō-mae became Kenchō-ato on 6 November 1996, and Kenchō-ato in turn became Suizokukan-guchi in August 1997.

Both of the network's regular tram routes use the First Phase Line. Route 1 (Taniyama–Takenohashi–Kagoshima-Ekimae) runs the whole length of the line, while Route 2 (Kōrimoto–Kagoshima-Chūō-eki-mae–Kagoshima-Ekimae) shares the Takamibaba–Kagoshima-Ekimae section, the two routes alternating along that common stretch.

11 stations tracked on the map, listed alphabetically. Select any to read its page.

• Asahidori朝日通
• Izurodoriいづろ通
• Kagoshimaekimae鹿児島駅前
• Kotochugakko-mae甲東中学校前
• Sakurajimasanbashidori桜島桟橋通
• Shikayusho-mae市役所前
• Shinyashiki新屋敷
• Suizokukanguchi水族館口
• Takamibaba高見馬場
• Takenohashi武之橋
• Tenmonkandori天文館通

• 1913/19143 July: the Kagoshima Electric Tramway opens the first segment of the line, Takenohashi–Yamanokuchi-baba. The year is given as 1913 or 1914.
• 191422 July: the line is extended from Yamanokuchi-baba to Tenmonkan-dōri.
• 19143 October: the line is extended from Tenmonkan-dōri to Asahi-dōri.
• 191416 October: the line is extended from Asahi-dōri to Fudan-kōin (the present-day Shiyakusho-mae / City Hall stop).
• 191420 December: the final section from Fudan-kōin to Kagoshima-Ekimae opens, completing the through route from Takenohashi to Kagoshima Station.
• 19281 July: the line is transferred to the city's newly established Electric Bureau (鹿児島市電気局), ending private operation.
• 1933January: the municipal operator is reorganised into the city Transport Section (交通課).
• 19435 May: the Yamanokuchi-chō, Hioki-uramon-dōri and Kinsei-chō stops are abolished.
• 1952October: the municipal operator is reorganised into the Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau (鹿児島市交通局), its present name.
• 19966 November: the Kenchō-mae stop is renamed Kenchō-ato.
• 1997August: the Kenchō-ato stop is renamed Suizokukan-guchi.