this is the second loop subway line built in japan, after toei ōedo line. the ōedo line, however, is not a true loop line as it is operated like a "6" lying on its side, with trains from the western hikarigaoka terminus running anticlockwise around the loop and terminating at tochōmae station and then returning around the loop to hikarigaoka. thus the meijō line is the first (and currently the only) true loop subway line in the nation. the line is longer than the jr ōsaka loop line (), but shorter than the jr yamanote line (). it takes 48 minutes to complete the loop.