List of closed railway lines in Japan

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. 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. 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. Deficit railway lines in Japan have largely been replaced by bus services or transferred to third sector companies, although some replacement bus lines have later been closed due to a lack of users.

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.

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.

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.

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. Name of the linePhoto PrefectureTerminus Length of closed section Closure dateHokkaidō– 36.8 km (22.9 mi) April 1, 1985Hokkaidō– 21.2 km (13.2 mi) September 17, 1985"最終列車 赤字線の象徴 美幸線フィナーレ"『北海道新聞』北海道新聞社 August 17, 1985Haboro LineHokkaidō– 141.1 km (87.7 mi) March 30, 1987Hiroo LineHokkaidō–Hiroo 84.0 km (52.2 mi) February 2, 1987Hokkaidō– –83.0 km (51.6 mi) 7.5 km (4.7 mi) November 1, 1986Hokkaidō– 14.9 km (9.3 mi) July 1, 1985Ishino, Satoshi (1998). 停車場変遷大事典. 国鉄・JR 編 (in Japanese). Japan Travel Bureau. p. 245Hokkaidō– 30.4 km (18.9 mi) July 1, 1985Hokkaidō– 19.9 km (12.4 mi) July 15, 1985Hokkaidō– 12.8 km (8.0 mi) December 1, 1970今尾恵介監修『日本鉄道旅行地図帳』1号 北海道、新潮社、2008, p.43Hokkaidō– 23.8 km (14.8 mi) April 1, 1985Hokkaidō– 48.4 km (30.1 mi) March 16, 1987Hokkaidō– 78.3 km (48.7 mi) March 23, 1987Shiranuka LineHokkaidō– 33.1 km (20.6 mi) October 23, 1983Hokkaidō– 34.3 km (21.3 mi) April 1, 1985Temiya LineHokkaidō– 2.8 km (1.7 mi) November 5, 1985Hokkaidō– 82.5 km (51.3 mi) November 1, 1986Yūmō LineHokkaidō– 121.8 km (75.7 mi) March 20, 1987Sasshō LineHokkaidō– –34.9 km (21.7 mi) 47.6 km (29.6 mi)June 19, 1972 April 17, 2020Chihoku LineHokkaidō– 140.0 km (87.0 mi) Transferred to Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway Company on June 4, 1989, then closed on April 21, 2006Esashi LineHokkaidō– Kikonai–37.8 km (23.5 mi) 42.1 km (26.2 mi)Transferred to South Hokkaido Railway Company on March 26, 2016. May 12, 2014.Hakodate Main Line branchHokkaidō– 7.3 km (4.5 mi) May 16, 1994Hokkaidō– –18.1 km (11.2 mi) 2.7 km (1.7 mi) July 13, 1987Hokkaidō– 50.8 km (31.6 mi) February 1, 1988Nayoro Main LineHokkaidō– –138.1 (85.8 mi) 4.9 km (3.0 mi) May 1, 1989Rumoi Main LineHokkaidō– Rumoi–Ishikari-Numata Ishikari-Numata–Fukagawa16.7 km (10.4 mi) 35.7 km (22.2 mi)December 4, 2016 April 1, 2023 April 1, 2026 Hokkaidō– –69.4 km (43.1 mi) 47.5 km (29.5 mi) April 30, 1989Shinmei LineHokkaidō– 121.8 km (75.7 mi) September 4, 1995Tempoku LineHokkaidō– 148.9 km (92.5 mi) May 1, 1989Hokkaidō– 14.5 km (9.0 mi) April 25, 1988Hokkaidō– 1.6 km (1.0 mi) April 1, 1992Sekishō Line Yūbari branch lineHokkaidōYūbari–Shin-Yūbari 16.1 km (10.0 mi) March 31, 2019Nemuro Main Line (Partial)Hokkaidō– 81.7 km April 1, 2024Akita– – 2.8 km (1.3 mi) 8.9 km (5.5 mi)December 1, 1967 April 1, 1973Yamagata– –10.4 km (6.4 mi) 5.2 km (3.2 mi)October 1, 1968 November 18, 1974Yamagata– 2.6 km (1.6 mi) September 10, 1970Akita– 15.3 km (9.5 mi) July 20, 1971Iwate– 8.2 km (5.0 mi) February 16, 1972Fukushima– 12.2 km (7.6 mi) May 14, 1972Yamagata– 11.4 km (7.1 mi) November 18, 1974Yamagata– 12.3 km (7.6 mi) April 1, 1975Fukushima–11.6 km (7.2 mi) April 1, 1984Kōnan Railway Kuroishi LineAomori–6.2 km (3.9 mi) April 1, 1998Aomori–18.0 km (11.2 mi) April 1, 2001Nanbu Jūkan Railway Nanbu Jūkan Railway LineAomori– 20.9 km (13.0 mi) August 1, 2002Kurihara Den'en Railway LineMiyagi–25.7 km (16.0 mi) April 1, 2007Kosaka Smelting & Refining Kosaka LineAkita– 22.3 km (13.9 mi) April 1, 2009Towada Kankō Electric Railway LineAomori– 14.7 km (9.1 mi) April 1, 2012Iwaizumi LineIwate– 38.4 km (23.8 mi) April 1, 2014Ōfunato Line (Partial)Iwate–43.7 km (27.1 mi) April 1, 2020Kesennuma Line (Partial)MiyagiYanaizu– 55.3 km (34.3 mi) April 1, 2020Agatsuma Line branch lineGunma– 5.8 km (3.6 mi) May 1, 1971Chūō Main Line branch linesTokyo– –5.6 km (3.5 mi) 3.8 km (2.4 mi)April 1, 1973 September 20, 1976Itsukaichi Line branch lineTokyo– 2.7 km (1.6 mi) November 15, 1982Sagami Line branch lineKanagawa– 1.5 km (0.9 mi) March 31, 1984Odakyū Mukōgaoka-Yūen Monorail LineKanagawa– 1.1 km (0.6 mi) February 1, 2001Ibaraki–, Ayukawa18.1 km (11.2 mi)April 1, 2005Kashima Railway LineIbaraki–26.9 km (16.7 mi)April 1, 2007Ueno Zoo MonorailTokyo– 0.3 km (0.18 mi) December 27, 2023Fukui Shiga– 26.1 km (16.1 mi) May 11, 1964Niigata– 18.9 km (11.7 mi) April 1, 1984Niigata–12.6 km (7.8 mi) April 1, 1984Shimizukō LineShizuoka–8.3 km (5.2 mi) April 1, 1984Yahiko Line (partial)Niigata–7.9 km (4.9 mi) April 1, 1985Niigata–36.1 km (22.4 mi) April 1, 1993Shin'etsu Main Line (Partial)Gunma Nagano–11.7 km (7.2 mi) October 1, 1997Tokaido Main Line branch line (Partial)Aichi–7.0 km (4.3 mi) March 31, 2001Noto Railway Nanao Line (Partial)Ishikawa–20.4 km (12.6 mi) April 1, 2001Gifu–12.7 km (7.8 mi) October 1, 2001 (~Hon-Ibi) April 1, 2005 (Entire Line)Gifu–7.6 km (4.7 mi) October 1, 2001Gifu–7.3 km (4.5 mi) October 1, 2001Meitetsu Takehana Line (Partial)Gifu–6.7 km (4.1 mi) October 1, 2001 Nagano–50.4 km (31.3 mi) April 1, 2002 (Shinshu-Nakano–Kishima)Fukui–24.6 km (15.2 mi)September 18, 1969 (Kanazuchi–) October 21, 2002 (Higashifuruguchi–Eiheiji)Meitetsu Mikawa Line (Partial)Aichi– –25.0 km (15.5 mi)April 1, 2004Meitetsu Gifu Shinai LineGifu–, 7.6 km (4.7 mi)April 1, 2005Gifu–18.8 km (11.6 mi)April 1, 2005Gifu–1.4 km (0.8 mi)April 1, 2005Noto LineIshikawa–61.0 km (37.9 mi)April 1, 2005Tōkadai Shin-kōtsū Peach LinerAichi–7.4 km (4.6 mi)October 1, 2006Gifu–19.9 km (12.4 mi)December 1, 2006Meitetsu Monkey Park Monorail LineAichi– 1.2 km (0.75 mi) December 28, 2008Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line (Partial)Ishikawa– 2.1 km (1.3 mi) November 1, 2009Nagano– 24.4 km (15.2 mi) April 1, 2012Sasayama LineHyogo– 17.6 km (10.9 mi) March 1, 1972Maizuru Line branch lineKyoto– 3.4 km (2.1 mi) November 1, 1972Wakayama Line (Old route)Wakayama– UnknownOctober 1974Fukuchiyama Line branch lineHyogo– 4.6 km (2.8 mi) February 1, 1984Takasago LineHyogo–8.0 km (4.9 mi) December 1, 1984Bantan Line (Branch line)Hyogo–5.6 km (3.5 mi) October 31, 1986Kajiya LineHyogo– 13.2 km (8.2 mi) April 1, 1990Katamachi Line (partial)Osaka– 0.5 km (0.3 mi) March 8, 1997"片町駅 102年の歴史に幕". 交通新聞 (交通新聞社): p. 3. (March 7, 1997)Wakayamako Line (partial)Wakayama– 2.6 km (1.6 mi) May 26, 2002Wakayama– 5.6 km (3.4 mi) January 1, 2003Miki Railway Miki LineHyogo– 6.6 km (4.1 mi) April 1, 2008Hiroshima– 5.9 km (3.7 mi) April 1, 1972, freight services terminated October 1, 1986.Okayama– –14.5 km (9.0 mi) 16.5 km (10.2 mi)April 1, 1972 January 1, 1991Tottori– 20.0 km (12.4 mi) April 1, 1985Taisha Line (JR West)Shimane– 7.5 km (4.7 mi) April 1, 1990Okayama– 33.8 km (21.0 mi) July 1, 1990Mine Line (branch line)Yamaguchi– 2.8 km (1.7 mi) April 1, 1997歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線 国鉄・JR 7号、21p.Kabe Line (partial)Hiroshima– 46.2 km (28.7 mi) December 1, 2003Sankō LineShimane Hiroshima– 108.1 km (67.1 mi) April 1, 2018Skyrail Midorizaka LineHiroshima– 1.3 km (0.8 mi) May 1, 2024Tokushima– 6.9 km (4.3 mi) January 16, 1972Tokushima– 1.9 km (1.2 mi) March 14, 1985Uchiko Line (Partial)Ehime–0.2 km (0.1 mi) March 2, 1986

Closed railway lines in Kyūshū, Okinawa Name of the linePhoto PrefectureTerminus Length of closed section Closure dateFukuoka– 6.2 km (3.9 mi) April 1, 1961Nagasaki– 3.9 km (2.4 mi) September 1, 1967Fukuoka– –7.6 km (4.7 mi) and 2.5 km (1.5 mi) (freight branch)December 8, 1969Karatsu Line branch lineSaga– 4.1 km (2.5 mi)August 20, 1971Nagasaki– 3.8 km (2.4 mi) December 26, 1971Nagasaki– 6.7 km (4.2 mi) December 26, 1971Ōita– 36.1 km (22.4 mi) October 1, 1975Chikuhi Line (Partial)– –YamamotoTBAMarch 22, 1983Makurazaki Line– 49.6 km (30.8 mi) March 18, 1984–19.3 km (12.0 mi) December 1, 1984–26.6 km (16.5 mi) December 1, 1984–3.5 km (2.2 mi) April 1, 1985–11.2 km (7.0 mi) April 1, 1985–12.1 km (7.5 mi) April 1, 1985–13.8 km (8.6 mi) April 1, 1985–19.7 km (12.2 mi) April 1, 1985Kikuchi Line (Partial)–10.6 km (6.6 mi) February 16, 1986 –7.9 km (4.9 mi) April 1, 1986 –66.1 km (41.1 mi) January 10, 1987 –98.3 km (61.1 mi) March 14, 1987 –24.1 km (14.9 mi) March 28, 1987 –38.6 km (24.0 mi) March 28, 1987 –55.7 km (34.6 mi) February 1, 1988 –25.9 km (16.0 mi) September 1, 1988 –5.3 km (3.3 mi) December 23, 1989 –3.5 km (2.2 mi) December 1, 1993 –5.1 km (3.1 mi) November 26, 2000Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line (partial)–9.9 km (6.1 mi)April 1, 2007Takachiho Railway Line–50.0 km (31.1 mi)September 6, 2007 (Nobeoka-Makimine) December 28, 2008 (Rest of the line)Shimabara Railway Line (partial)– 35.3 km (21.9 mi) April 1, 2008

Railway lines to be closed These lines have Kōnan Railway Ōwani Line Ōwani-Chūō-Hirosaki to be indefinitely suspended on April 1, 2028. Hakodate Main Line – 140.2 km (87.1 mi) closing upon the extension of Hokkaidō Shinkansen. Kururi Line - 9.6 km closing at April 2027.

See also Specified local lines Deficit 83 Lines

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– rebuilt and reopened on March 4, 2017.

References

Bibliography