List of closed railway lines in Japan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Due to motorization beginning in the 1960s, the completion of the Meishin Expressway, the debut of Boeing 727 planes on domestic flights in Japan, and the depopulation of rural areas, many railway lines in Japan have been forced to close down due to lack of riders and increased costs to maintain the lines.[1] With Japanese National Railways (JNR) building more and more infeasible lines, along with additional Shinkansen lines such as the San'yō Shinkansen, nearly all JNR lines – except for those in the Tokyo area and Shinkansen lines – fell into deficit, putting the existence of JNR at risk.[2] This resulted in movements to close such infeasible railway lines owned by the JNR, such as those known as the Deficit 83 Lines and Specified local lines.

The closure of deficit local lines around Japan continues today, post-disbandment of JNR and formation of Japan Railways Group. In November 2016, JR Hokkaido announced that it was unable to maintain most of its railway lines, with the length of unmaintainable sections exceeding 1,200 km.[3][4] Deficit railway lines in Japan have largely been replaced by bus services or transferred to third sector companies, although some replacement bus lines have later been closed due to a lack of users.[5]

Between the mid-1990s and fiscal 2025, approximately 1,366 km of railway track across 68 sections—about 5% of Japan’s total network—were discontinued, according to analysis by Kyodo News. The closures were concentrated in rural and depopulating areas, with around one-third of the total length located in Hokkaido.[6]

Data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism indicate that the rate of closures has increased over time: 387 km were closed by fiscal 2005, 445 km in the following decade, and 534 km by fiscal 2025.[6]

Of the total discontinued track, 680 km were operated by companies formed after the privatisation of Japanese National Railways, while 686 km were run by other railway operators. In Hokkaido, two local railway companies alone accounted for the closure of 140 km and 116 km of lines, respectively.[6]

Closed railway lines

  • This list does not include industrial lines and lines that were transferred to 3rd sector companies that still operate as a railway line.
  • Station names use names at the time of line closure.
More information Name of the line, Photo ...
Name of the line Photo Prefecture Terminus Length of closed section Closure date
Aioi Line [ja]
Hokkaidō BihoroKitami-Aioi 36.8 km (22.9 mi) April 1, 1985[7]
Bikō Line [ja]
Hokkaidō BifukaNiupu 21.2 km (13.2 mi) September 17, 1985[8]
Haboro Line
Hokkaidō RumoiHoronobe 141.1 km (87.7 mi) March 30, 1987[9]
Hiroo Line
Hokkaidō ObihiroHiroo 84.0 km (52.2 mi) February 2, 1987[10]
Iburi Line [ja]
Hokkaidō KutchanDatemombetsu
KyōgokuWakikata
83.0 km (51.6 mi)
7.5 km (4.7 mi)
November 1, 1986[11]
Iwanai Line [ja]
Hokkaidō KozawaIwanai 14.9 km (9.3 mi) July 1, 1985[12]
Kōhin'hoku Line [ja]
Hokkaidō Hama-TombetsuKitami-Esashi 30.4 km (18.9 mi) July 1, 1985[13]
Kōhin'nan Line [ja]
Hokkaidō ŌmuOkoppe 19.9 km (12.4 mi) July 15, 1985[14]
Konpoku Line [ja]
Hokkaidō Shiretoko-ShariKoshikawa 12.8 km (8.0 mi) December 1, 1970[15]
Manji Line [ja]
Hokkaidō ShibunManji-Tanzan 23.8 km (14.8 mi) April 1, 1985[16]
Setana Line [ja]
Hokkaidō KunnuiSetana 48.4 km (30.1 mi) March 16, 1987[17][18]
Shihoro Line [ja]
Hokkaidō ObihiroTokachi-Mitsumata 78.3 km (48.7 mi) March 23, 1987[19]
Shiranuka Line
Hokkaidō ShiranukaHokushin 33.1 km (20.6 mi) October 23, 1983[20]
Shokotsu Line [ja]
Hokkaidō ShokotsuKitami-Takinoue 34.3 km (21.3 mi) April 1, 1985[21]
Temiya Line
Hokkaidō Minami-OtaruTemiya 2.8 km (1.7 mi) November 5, 1985[22]
Tomiuchi Line [ja]
Hokkaidō MukawaHidakachō 82.5 km (51.3 mi) November 1, 1986[23]
Yūmō Line
Hokkaidō Naka-YūbetsuAbashiri 121.8 km (75.7 mi) March 20, 1987[24]
Sasshō Line
Hokkaidō Shin-TotsukawaIshikari-Numata
Hokkaidō-IryōdaigakuShin-Totsukawa
34.9 km (21.7 mi)
47.6 km (29.6 mi)
June 19, 1972[25]
April 17, 2020[26]
Chihoku Line
Hokkaidō IkedaKitami 140.0 km (87.0 mi) Transferred to Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway Company on June 4, 1989, then closed on April 21, 2006[27]
Esashi Line
Hokkaidō GoryōkakuKikonai
Kikonai–Esashi
37.8 km (23.5 mi)
42.1 km (26.2 mi)
Transferred to South Hokkaido Railway Company on March 26, 2016.[28]
May 12, 2014.[29]
Hakodate Main Line branch
Hokkaidō SunagawaKami-Sunagawa 7.3 km (4.5 mi) May 16, 1994[30]
Horonai Line [ja]
Hokkaidō IwamizawaIkushumbetsu
MikasaHoronai
18.1 km (11.2 mi)
2.7 km (1.7 mi)
July 13, 1987[31]
Matsumae Line [ja]
Hokkaidō KikonaiMatsumae 50.8 km (31.6 mi) February 1, 1988[32]
Nayoro Main Line
Hokkaidō NayoroEngaru
Naka-YūbetsuYūbetsu
138.1 (85.8 mi)
4.9 km (3.0 mi)
May 1, 1989[33]
Rumoi Main Line
Hokkaidō RumoiMashike
Rumoi–Ishikari-Numata
16.7 km (10.4 mi)
35.7 km (22.2 mi)
December 4, 2016[34][35]
April 1, 2023[36]
Shibetsu Line [ja]
Hokkaidō ShibechaNemuro-Shibetsu
Naka-ShibetsuAttoko
69.4 km (43.1 mi)
47.5 km (29.5 mi)
April 30, 1989[37]
Shinmei Line
Hokkaidō FukagawaNayoro 121.8 km (75.7 mi) September 4, 1995[38]
Tempoku Line
Hokkaidō OtoineppuMinami-Wakkanai 148.9 km (92.5 mi) May 1, 1989[39]
Utashinai Line [ja]
Hokkaidō SunagawaUtashinai 14.5 km (9.0 mi) April 25, 1988[40]
Hakodate Transportation Bureau Shinonome Line [ja]
Hokkaidō Horai-ChōMatsukaze 1.6 km (1.0 mi) April 1, 1992[41]
Sekishō Line Yūbari branch line
Hokkaidō YūbariShin-Yūbari 16.1 km (10.0 mi) March 31, 2019[42]
Nemuro Main Line (Partial)
Hokkaidō FuranoShintoku 81.7 km April 1, 2024[43]
Ugo Kōtsū Ogachi Line [ja]
-
Akita NishimonaiFumoto
YuzawaNishimonai
2.8 km (1.3 mi)
8.9 km (5.5 mi)
December 1, 1967[44]
April 1, 1973[44]
Yamagata Kōtsū Takahata Line [ja]
Yamagata TakahataNiijyuku
NukanomeTakahata
10.4 km (6.4 mi)
5.2 km (3.2 mi)
October 1, 1968[45]
November 18, 1974[45]
Yamagata Kōtsū Obanazawa Line [ja]
-
Yamagata ŌishidaObanazawa 2.6 km (1.6 mi) September 10, 1970[46]
Ugo Kōtsū Ousyou Line [ja]
-
Akita YokoteNumadate 15.3 km (9.5 mi) July 20, 1971[47]
Hanamaki Dentetsu Line [ja]
Iwate HanamakiHanamaki-Onsen 8.2 km (5.0 mi) February 16, 1972[48]
Kawamata Line [ja]
Fukushima MatsukawaIwashiro-Kawamata 12.2 km (7.6 mi) May 14, 1972[49]
Yamagata Kōtsū Sanzan Line [ja]
Yamagata Uzen-TakamatsuMazawa 11.4 km (7.1 mi) November 18, 1974[50]
Shōnai Kōtsū Yunohama Line [ja]
Yamagata TsuruokaYunohama-Onsen 12.3 km (7.6 mi) April 1, 1975[51]
Niccyū Line [ja]
Fukushima KitagataAtsushio 11.6 km (7.2 mi) April 1, 1984[52]
Kōnan Railway Kuroishi Line
Aomori KawabeKuroishi 6.2 km (3.9 mi) April 1, 1998[53]
Shimokita Kōtsu Ōhata Line [ja]
Aomori ShimokitaŌhata 18.0 km (11.2 mi) April 1, 2001[54]
Nanbu Jūkan Railway Nanbu Jūkan Railway Line
Aomori NohejiShichinohe 20.9 km (13.0 mi) August 1, 2002[55]
Kurihara Den'en Railway Line
Miyagi IshikoshiHosokura Mine Park Mae 25.7 km (16.0 mi) April 1, 2007[56]
Kosaka Smelting & Refining Kosaka Line
Akita ŌdateKosaka 22.3 km (13.9 mi) April 1, 2009[57]
Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line
Aomori MisawaTowadashi 14.7 km (9.1 mi) April 1, 2012[58][59]
Iwaizumi Line
Iwate MoichiIwaizumi 38.4 km (23.8 mi) April 1, 2014[60]
Ōfunato Line (Partial)
Iwate KesennumaSakari 43.7 km (27.1 mi) April 1, 2020[61]
Kesennuma Line (Partial)
Miyagi YanaizuKesennuma 55.3 km (34.3 mi) April 1, 2020[61]
Agatsuma Line branch line
Gunma NaganoharaŌshi 5.8 km (3.6 mi) May 1, 1971[62]
Chūō Main Line branch lines
Tokyo KokubunjiTōkyō-Keibajyō-Mae
Kita-FuchūShimogawara
5.6 km (3.5 mi)
3.8 km (2.4 mi)
April 1, 1973[63]
September 20, 1976[63]
Itsukaichi Line branch line
Tokyo Musashi-ItsukaichiMusashi-Iwai 2.7 km (1.6 mi) November 15, 1982[64]
Sagami Line branch line
Kanagawa SamukawaNishi-Samukawa 1.5 km (0.9 mi) March 31, 1984[65]
Odakyū Mukōgaoka-Yūen Monorail Line
Kanagawa Mukōgaoka-YūenMūkōgaoka-Yūen Seimon 1.1 km (0.6 mi) February 1, 2001[66]
Hitachi Dentetsu Line [ja]
Ibaraki ŌmikaJōhoku-Ōta, Ayukawa 18.1 km (11.2 mi) April 1, 2005[67]
Kashima Railway Line
Ibaraki IshiokaHokota 26.9 km (16.7 mi) April 1, 2007[68]
Ueno Zoo Monorail
Tokyo Ueno Zoo EastUeno Zoo West 0.3 km (0.18 mi) December 27, 2023[69]
Yanagase Line [ja]
Fukui
Shiga
TsurugaKinomoto 26.1 km (16.1 mi) May 11, 1964[70]
Akatani Line [ja]
Niigata ShibataHigashi-Akatani 18.9 km (11.7 mi) April 1, 1984[71]
Uonuma Line [ja]
Niigata RaikōjiNishi-Ojiya 12.6 km (7.8 mi) April 1, 1984[72]
Shimizukō Line
Shizuoka ShimizuMiho 8.3 km (5.2 mi) April 1, 1984[73]
Yahiko Line (partial)
-
Niigata Higashi-SanjōEchigo-Nagasawa 7.9 km (4.9 mi) April 1, 1985[74]
Niigata Kōtsū Densya Line [ja]
Niigata Hakusan-MaeHigashi-Sekiya 36.1 km (22.4 mi) April 1, 1993[75]
Shin'etsu Main Line (Partial)
Gunma
Nagano
YokokawaKaruizawa 11.7 km (7.2 mi) October 1, 1997[76]
Tokaido Main Line branch line (Partial)
-
Aichi Nagoya kamotsu TerminalNishi Nagoyakō 7.0 km (4.3 mi) March 31, 2001[77]
Noto Railway Nanao Line (Partial)
Ishikawa NanaoAnamizu 20.4 km (12.6 mi) April 1, 2001[78]
Meitetsu Ibi Line [ja]
Gifu ChūsetsuHon-Ibi 12.7 km (7.8 mi) October 1, 2001 (~Hon-Ibi)
April 1, 2005 (Entire Line)[79]
Meitetsu Tanigumi Line [ja]
Gifu KuronoTanigumi 7.6 km (4.7 mi) October 1, 2001[79]
Meitetsu Yaotsu Line [ja]
Gifu AkechiYaotsu 7.3 km (4.5 mi) October 1, 2001[80]
Meitetsu Takehana Line (Partial)
Gifu EgiraŌsu 6.7 km (4.1 mi) October 1, 2001[81]
Nagano Electric Railways Kato Line [ja]
Nagano YashiroKishima 50.4 km (31.3 mi) April 1, 2002 (Shinshu-Nakano–Kishima)[82]
Keifuku Electric Railroad Eiheiji Line [ja]
Fukui KanazuchiEiheiji 24.6 km (15.2 mi) September 18, 1969 (Kanazuchi–Higashifuruguchi)
October 21, 2002 (Higashifuruguchi–Eiheiji)[83]
Meitetsu Mikawa Line (Partial)
Aichi HekinanKira-Yoshida
SanageNishi-Nakagane
25.0 km (15.5 mi) April 1, 2004[84]
Meitetsu Gifu Shinai Line
Gifu Gifueki-MaeNagarakitamachi, Chūsetsu 7.6 km (4.7 mi) April 1, 2005[79]
Meitetsu Minomachi Line [ja]
Gifu TetsumeichōSeki 18.8 km (11.6 mi) April 1, 2005[85]
Meitetsu Tagami Line [ja]
Gifu TagamiKeirinjo-Mae 1.4 km (0.8 mi) April 1, 2005[86]
Noto Line
Ishikawa AnamizuTakojima 61.0 km (37.9 mi) April 1, 2005[87]
Tōkadai Shin-kōtsū Peach Liner
Aichi KomakiTōkadai-Higashi 7.4 km (4.6 mi) October 1, 2006[88]
Kamioka Line [ja]
Gifu InotaniOkuhida-Onsenguchi 19.9 km (12.4 mi) December 1, 2006[89]
Meitetsu Monkey Park Monorail Line
Aichi Inuyama-YūenDōbutsuen 1.2 km (0.75 mi) December 28, 2008[90]
Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line (Partial)
Ishikawa TsurugiKaga-Ichinomiya 2.1 km (1.3 mi) November 1, 2009[91]
Yashiro Line [ja]
Nagano YashiroSuzaka 24.4 km (15.2 mi) April 1, 2012[92]
Sasayama Line
Hyogo SasayamaguchiFukusumi 17.6 km (10.9 mi) March 1, 1972[93]
Maizuru Line branch line
Kyoto Higashi-MaizuruNaka-Maizuru 3.4 km (2.1 mi) November 1, 1972[94]
Wakayama Line (Old route)
-
Wakayama TainoseKiwa Unknown October 1974[95]
Fukuchiyama Line branch line
Hyogo TsukaguchiAmazaki-kō 4.6 km (2.8 mi) February 1, 1984[96]
Takasago Line
Hyogo KakogawaTakasago-kō 8.0 km (4.9 mi) December 1, 1984[97]
Bantan Line (Branch line)
Hyogo HimejiShikamakō 5.6 km (3.5 mi) October 31, 1986[98]
Kajiya Line
Hyogo NomuraKajiya 13.2 km (8.2 mi) April 1, 1990[99]
Katamachi Line (partial)
Osaka KyōbashiKatamachi 0.5 km (0.3 mi) March 8, 1997[100]
Wakayamako Line (partial)
Wakayama WakayamakoSuiken 2.6 km (1.6 mi) May 26, 2002[101]
Arita Tetsudo Arita Tetsudo Line [ja]
Wakayama FujinamiKanayaguchi 5.6 km (3.4 mi) January 1, 2003[102]
Miki Railway Miki Line
Hyogo YakujinMiki 6.6 km (4.1 mi) April 1, 2008[103]
Ujina Line (JNR) [ja]
Hiroshima HiroshimaUjina 5.9 km (3.7 mi) April 1, 1972, freight services terminated October 1, 1986.[104]
Shimotsui Dentetsu Shimotsui Line [ja]
Okayama KojimaChayamachi
ShimotsuiKojima
14.5 km (9.0 mi)
16.5 km (10.2 mi)
April 1, 1972[105]
January 1, 1991[105]
Kurayoshi Line [ja]
Tottori KurayoshiYamamori 20.0 km (12.4 mi) April 1, 1985[106]
Taisha Line (JR West)
Shimane IzumoshiTaisha 7.5 km (4.7 mi) April 1, 1990[107]
Katakami Line [ja]
Okayama KatakamiYanahara 33.8 km (21.0 mi) July 1, 1990[108]
Mine Line (branch line)
Yamaguchi Minami-ŌmineŌmine 2.8 km (1.7 mi) April 1, 1997[109]
Kabe Line (partial)
Hiroshima KabeSandankyō 46.2 km (28.7 mi) December 1, 2003[110]
Sankō Line
Shimane
Hiroshima
GōtsuMiyoshi 108.1 km (67.1 mi) April 1, 2018[111]
Skyrail Midorizaka Line
Hiroshima MidoriguchiMidori-Chuo 1.3 km (0.8 mi) May 1, 2024[112]
Kajiyabara Line [ja]
Tokushima ItanoKajiyabara 6.9 km (4.3 mi) January 16, 1972[113]
Komatsushima Line [ja]
Tokushima NakataKomatsushima 1.9 km (1.2 mi) March 14, 1985[114]
Uchiko Line (Partial)
Ehime GorōNiiya 0.2 km (0.1 mi) March 2, 1986[115]
Close

Closed railway lines in Kyūshū, Okinawa

More information Name of the line, Photo ...
Name of the line Photo Prefecture Terminus Length of closed section Closure date
Ashiya Line [ja] Fukuoka OngagawaChikuzen-Ashiya 6.2 km (3.9 mi) April 1, 1961[116]
Yunoki Line [ja] Nagasaki HidariishiYunoki 3.9 km (2.4 mi) September 1, 1967[117]
Koubukuro Line [ja] Fukuoka KotakeFutase
KoubukuroIkisu
7.6 km (4.7 mi) and
2.5 km (1.5 mi) (freight branch)
December 8, 1969[118]
Karatsu Line branch line Saga YamamotoKishitake 4.1 km (2.5 mi) August 20, 1971[119]
Usunoura Line [ja] Nagasaki SazaUsunoura 3.8 km (2.4 mi) December 26, 1971[120]
Sechibaru Line [ja] Nagasaki YoshiiSechibaru 6.7 km (4.2 mi) December 26, 1971[120]
Ōita Kōtsū Yabakei Line [ja] Ōita NakatsuMorizane-Onsen 36.1 km (22.4 mi) October 1, 1975[121]
Chikuhi Line (Partial) HakataMeinohama
NijinomatsubaraYamamoto
TBA March 22, 1983[122]
Makurazaki Line IjūinMakurazaki 49.6 km (30.8 mi) March 18, 1984[123]
Tsuma Line [ja] SadowaraSugiyasu 19.3 km (12.0 mi) December 1, 1984[124]
Miyanoharu Line [ja] EraHigo-Okuni 26.6 km (16.5 mi) December 1, 1984[125]
Katsuki Line [ja] NakamaKatsuki 3.5 km (2.2 mi) April 1, 1985[126]
Muroki Line [ja] OngagawaMuroki 11.2 km (7.0 mi) April 1, 1985[127]
Soeda Line [ja] KawaraSoeda 12.1 km (7.5 mi) April 1, 1985[128]
Katsuta Line [ja] YoshizukaChikuzen-Katsuta 13.8 km (8.6 mi) April 1, 1985[129]
Yabe Line [ja] HainuzukaKurogi 19.7 km (12.2 mi) April 1, 1985[130]
Kikuchi Line
(Partial)
MiyoshiKikuchi 10.6 km (6.6 mi) February 16, 1986[131]
Urushio Line [ja] Shimo-KamooShimo-Yamada 7.9 km (4.9 mi) April 1, 1986[132]
Miyanojyō Line [ja] SendaiSatsuma-Ōkuchi 66.1 km (41.1 mi) January 10, 1987[133]
Ōsumi Line [ja] KokubuShibushi 98.3 km (61.1 mi) March 14, 1987[134]
Saga Line [ja] SagaSetaka 24.1 km (14.9 mi) March 28, 1987[135]
Shibushi Line [ja] Nishi-MiyakonojyōShibushi 38.6 km (24.0 mi) March 28, 1987[136]
Yamano Line [ja] MinamataKurino 55.7 km (34.6 mi) February 1, 1988[137]
Kami-Yamada Line [ja] IizukaBuzen-Kawasaki 25.9 km (16.0 mi) September 1, 1988[138]
Miyada Line [ja] KatsunoChikuzen-Miyada 5.3 km (3.3 mi) December 23, 1989[139]
Hososhima Line [ja] HyūgashiHososhima 3.5 km (2.2 mi) December 1, 1993[140]
Nishi Nippon Railroad Kita-Kyūshū Line [ja] Kurosaki-EkimaeOrio 5.1 km (3.1 mi) November 26, 2000[141]
Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line (partial) Nishitetsu-ShingūTsuyazaki 9.9 km (6.1 mi) April 1, 2007[142]
Takachiho Railway Line NobeokaTakachiho 50.0 km (31.1 mi) September 6, 2007 (Nobeoka-Makimine)
December 28, 2008 (Rest of the line)[143]
Shimabara Railway Line (partial) ShimabarakōKazusa 35.3 km (21.9 mi) April 1, 2008[144]
Close

Railway lines to be closed

These lines have

See also

Notes

1.^ Although Kato Line was closed, the line was technically split into several lines, where the "Yashiro Line" section became an actual line after the closure of the Kato Line and the "Kishima Line" section, and the remaining section was incorporated into Nagano Line. As of 2024, only the section between Suzaka and Yudanaka remains in operation.
2.^ The length of the entire former line, including sections that still operate as a part of Nagano line.
3.^ Kabe–Aki-Kameyama rebuilt and reopened on March 4, 2017.[110]

References

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