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 Deficit railway lines in Japan have largely been replaced by bus services or transferred to third sector companies, although some replacement bus lines have later been closed due to a lack of users.

## 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 line | Photo | Prefecture | Terminus | Length of closed section | Closure date |
| Aioi Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Bihoro–Kitami-Aioi | 36.8 km (22.9 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Bikō Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Bifuka–Niupu | 21.2 km (13.2 mi) | September 17, 1985 |
| Haboro Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Rumoi–Horonobe | 141.1 km (87.7 mi) | March 30, 1987 |
| Hiroo Line | | Hokkaidō | Obihiro–Hiroo | 84.0 km (52.2 mi) | February 2, 1987 |
| Iburi Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Kutchan–Datemombetsu Kyōgoku–Wakikata | 83.0 km (51.6 mi) 7.5 km (4.7 mi) | November 1, 1986 |
| Iwanai Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Kozawa–Iwanai | 14.9 km (9.3 mi) | July 1, 1985 |
| Kōhin'hoku Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Hama-Tombetsu–Kitami-Esashi | 30.4 km (18.9 mi) | July 1, 1985 |
| Kōhin'nan Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Ōmu–Okoppe | 19.9 km (12.4 mi) | July 15, 1985 |
| Konpoku Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Shiretoko-Shari–Koshikawa | 12.8 km (8.0 mi) | December 1, 1970 |
| Manji Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Shibun–Manji-Tanzan | 23.8 km (14.8 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Setana Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Kunnui–Setana | 48.4 km (30.1 mi) | March 16, 1987 |
| Shihoro Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Obihiro–Tokachi-Mitsumata | 78.3 km (48.7 mi) | March 23, 1987 |
| Shiranuka Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Shiranuka–Hokushin | 33.1 km (20.6 mi) | October 23, 1983 |
| Shokotsu Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Shokotsu–Kitami-Takinoue | 34.3 km (21.3 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Temiya Line | | Hokkaidō | Minami-Otaru–Temiya | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) | November 5, 1985 |
| Tomiuchi Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Mukawa–Hidakachō | 82.5 km (51.3 mi) | November 1, 1986 |
| Yūmō Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Naka-Yūbetsu–Abashiri | 121.8 km (75.7 mi) | March 20, 1987 |
| Sasshō Line | | Hokkaidō | Shin-Totsukawa–Ishikari-Numata Hokkaidō-Iryōdaigaku–Shin-Totsukawa | 34.9 km (21.7 mi) 47.6 km (29.6 mi) | June 19, 1972 April 17, 2020 |
| Chihoku Line | | Hokkaidō | Ikeda–Kitami | 140.0 km (87.0 mi) | Transferred to Hokkaidō Chihoku Kōgen Railway Company on June 4, 1989, then closed on April 21, 2006 |
| Esashi Line | | Hokkaidō | Goryōkaku–Kikonai Kikonai–Esashi | 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 branch | | Hokkaidō | Sunagawa–Kami-Sunagawa | 7.3 km (4.5 mi) | May 16, 1994 |
| Horonai Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Iwamizawa–Ikushumbetsu Mikasa–Horonai | 18.1 km (11.2 mi) 2.7 km (1.7 mi) | July 13, 1987 |
| Matsumae Line [ja] | — | Hokkaidō | Kikonai–Matsumae | 50.8 km (31.6 mi) | February 1, 1988 |
| Nayoro Main Line | | Hokkaidō | Nayoro–Engaru Naka-Yūbetsu–Yūbetsu | 138.1 (85.8 mi) 4.9 km (3.0 mi) | May 1, 1989 |
| Rumoi Main Line | | Hokkaidō | Rumoi–Mashike Rumoi–Ishikari-Numata | 16.7 km (10.4 mi) 35.7 km (22.2 mi) | December 4, 2016 April 1, 2023 |
| Shibetsu Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Shibecha–Nemuro-Shibetsu Naka-Shibetsu–Attoko | 69.4 km (43.1 mi) 47.5 km (29.5 mi) | April 30, 1989 |
| Shinmei Line | | Hokkaidō | Fukagawa–Nayoro | 121.8 km (75.7 mi) | September 4, 1995 |
| Tempoku Line | | Hokkaidō | Otoineppu–Minami-Wakkanai | 148.9 km (92.5 mi) | May 1, 1989 |
| Utashinai Line [ja] | | Hokkaidō | Sunagawa–Utashinai | 14.5 km (9.0 mi) | April 25, 1988 |
| Hakodate Transportation Bureau Shinonome Line [ja] | — | Hokkaidō | Horai-Chō–Matsukaze | 1.6 km (1.0 mi) | April 1, 1992 |
| Sekishō Line Yūbari branch line | | Hokkaidō | Yūbari–Shin-Yūbari | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) | March 31, 2019 |
| Nemuro Main Line (Partial) | | Hokkaidō | Furano–Shintoku | 81.7 km | April 1, 2024 |
| Ugo Kōtsū Ogachi Line [ja] | - | Akita | Nishimonai–Fumoto Yuzawa–Nishimonai | 2.8 km (1.3 mi) 8.9 km (5.5 mi) | December 1, 1967 April 1, 1973 |
| Yamagata Kōtsū Takahata Line [ja] | | Yamagata | Takahata–Niijyuku Nukanome–Takahata | 10.4 km (6.4 mi) 5.2 km (3.2 mi) | October 1, 1968 November 18, 1974 |
| Yamagata Kōtsū Obanazawa Line [ja] | - | Yamagata | Ōishida–Obanazawa | 2.6 km (1.6 mi) | September 10, 1970 |
| Ugo Kōtsū Ousyou Line [ja] | - | Akita | Yokote–Numadate | 15.3 km (9.5 mi) | July 20, 1971 |
| Hanamaki Dentetsu Line [ja] | | Iwate | Hanamaki–Hanamaki-Onsen | 8.2 km (5.0 mi) | February 16, 1972 |
| Kawamata Line [ja] | | Fukushima | Matsukawa–Iwashiro-Kawamata | 12.2 km (7.6 mi) | May 14, 1972 |
| Yamagata Kōtsū Sanzan Line [ja] | | Yamagata | Uzen-Takamatsu–Mazawa | 11.4 km (7.1 mi) | November 18, 1974 |
| Shōnai Kōtsū Yunohama Line [ja] | | Yamagata | Tsuruoka–Yunohama-Onsen | 12.3 km (7.6 mi) | April 1, 1975 |
| Niccyū Line [ja] | | Fukushima | Kitagata–Atsushio | 11.6 km (7.2 mi) | April 1, 1984 |
| Kōnan Railway Kuroishi Line | | Aomori | Kawabe–Kuroishi | 6.2 km (3.9 mi) | April 1, 1998 |
| Shimokita Kōtsu Ōhata Line [ja] | | Aomori | Shimokita–Ōhata | 18.0 km (11.2 mi) | April 1, 2001 |
| Nanbu Jūkan Railway Nanbu Jūkan Railway Line | | Aomori | Noheji–Shichinohe | 20.9 km (13.0 mi) | August 1, 2002 |
| Kurihara Den'en Railway Line | | Miyagi | Ishikoshi–Hosokura Mine Park Mae | 25.7 km (16.0 mi) | April 1, 2007 |
| Kosaka Smelting & Refining Kosaka Line | | Akita | Ōdate–Kosaka | 22.3 km (13.9 mi) | April 1, 2009 |
| Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line | | Aomori | Misawa–Towadashi | 14.7 km (9.1 mi) | April 1, 2012 |
| Iwaizumi Line | | Iwate | Moichi–Iwaizumi | 38.4 km (23.8 mi) | April 1, 2014 |
| Ōfunato Line (Partial) | | Iwate | Kesennuma–Sakari | 43.7 km (27.1 mi) | April 1, 2020 |
| Kesennuma Line (Partial) | | Miyagi | Yanaizu–Kesennuma | 55.3 km (34.3 mi) | April 1, 2020 |
| Agatsuma Line branch line | | Gunma | Naganohara–Ōshi | 5.8 km (3.6 mi) | May 1, 1971 |
| Chūō Main Line branch lines | | Tokyo | Kokubunji–Tōkyō-Keibajyō-Mae Kita-Fuchū–Shimogawara | 5.6 km (3.5 mi) 3.8 km (2.4 mi) | April 1, 1973 September 20, 1976 |
| Itsukaichi Line branch line | | Tokyo | Musashi-Itsukaichi–Musashi-Iwai | 2.7 km (1.6 mi) | November 15, 1982 |
| Sagami Line branch line | | Kanagawa | Samukawa–Nishi-Samukawa | 1.5 km (0.9 mi) | March 31, 1984 |
| Odakyū Mukōgaoka-Yūen Monorail Line | | Kanagawa | Mukōgaoka-Yūen–Mūkōgaoka-Yūen Seimon | 1.1 km (0.6 mi) | February 1, 2001 |
| Hitachi Dentetsu Line [ja] | | Ibaraki | Ōmika–Jōhoku-Ōta, Ayukawa | 18.1 km (11.2 mi) | April 1, 2005 |
| Kashima Railway Line | | Ibaraki | Ishioka–Hokota | 26.9 km (16.7 mi) | April 1, 2007 |
| Ueno Zoo Monorail | | Tokyo | Ueno Zoo East–Ueno Zoo West | 0.3 km (0.18 mi) | December 27, 2023 |
| Yanagase Line [ja] | | Fukui Shiga | Tsuruga–Kinomoto | 26.1 km (16.1 mi) | May 11, 1964 |
| Akatani Line [ja] | | Niigata | Shibata–Higashi-Akatani | 18.9 km (11.7 mi) | April 1, 1984 |
| Uonuma Line [ja] | | Niigata | Raikōji–Nishi-Ojiya | 12.6 km (7.8 mi) | April 1, 1984 |
| Shimizukō Line | | Shizuoka | Shimizu–Miho | 8.3 km (5.2 mi) | April 1, 1984 |
| Yahiko Line (partial) | - | Niigata | Higashi-Sanjō–Echigo-Nagasawa | 7.9 km (4.9 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Niigata Kōtsū Densya Line [ja] | | Niigata | Hakusan-Mae–Higashi-Sekiya | 36.1 km (22.4 mi) | April 1, 1993 |
| Shin'etsu Main Line (Partial) | | Gunma Nagano | Yokokawa–Karuizawa | 11.7 km (7.2 mi) | October 1, 1997 |
| Tokaido Main Line branch line (Partial) | - | Aichi | Nagoya kamotsu Terminal–Nishi Nagoyakō | 7.0 km (4.3 mi) | March 31, 2001 |
| Noto Railway Nanao Line (Partial) | | Ishikawa | Nanao–Anamizu | 20.4 km (12.6 mi) | April 1, 2001 |
| Meitetsu Ibi Line [ja] | | Gifu | Chūsetsu–Hon-Ibi | 12.7 km (7.8 mi) | October 1, 2001 (~Hon-Ibi) April 1, 2005 (Entire Line) |
| Meitetsu Tanigumi Line [ja] | | Gifu | Kurono–Tanigumi | 7.6 km (4.7 mi) | October 1, 2001 |
| Meitetsu Yaotsu Line [ja] | | Gifu | Akechi–Yaotsu | 7.3 km (4.5 mi) | October 1, 2001 |
| Meitetsu Takehana Line (Partial) | | Gifu | Egira–Ōsu | 6.7 km (4.1 mi) | October 1, 2001 |
| Nagano Electric Railways Kato Line [ja] | | Nagano | Yashiro–Kishima | 50.4 km (31.3 mi) | April 1, 2002 (Shinshu-Nakano–Kishima) |
| Keifuku Electric Railroad Eiheiji Line [ja] | | Fukui | Kanazuchi–Eiheiji | 24.6 km (15.2 mi) | September 18, 1969 (Kanazuchi–Higashifuruguchi) October 21, 2002 (Higashifuruguchi–Eiheiji) |
| Meitetsu Mikawa Line (Partial) | | Aichi | Hekinan–Kira-Yoshida Sanage–Nishi-Nakagane | 25.0 km (15.5 mi) | April 1, 2004 |
| Meitetsu Gifu Shinai Line [ja] | | Gifu | Gifueki-Mae–Nagarakitamachi, Chūsetsu | 7.6 km (4.7 mi) | April 1, 2005 |
| Meitetsu Minomachi Line [ja] | | Gifu | Tetsumeichō–Seki | 18.8 km (11.6 mi) | April 1, 2005 |
| Meitetsu Tagami Line [ja] | | Gifu | Tagami–Keirinjo-Mae | 1.4 km (0.8 mi) | April 1, 2005 |
| Noto Line | | Ishikawa | Anamizu–Takojima | 61.0 km (37.9 mi) | April 1, 2005 |
| Tōkadai Shin-kōtsū Peach Liner | | Aichi | Komaki–Tōkadai-Higashi | 7.4 km (4.6 mi) | October 1, 2006 |
| Kamioka Line [ja] | | Gifu | Inotani–Okuhida-Onsenguchi | 19.9 km (12.4 mi) | December 1, 2006 |
| Meitetsu Monkey Park Monorail Line | | Aichi | Inuyama-Yūen–Dōbutsuen | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) | December 28, 2008 |
| Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line (Partial) | | Ishikawa | Tsurugi–Kaga-Ichinomiya | 2.1 km (1.3 mi) | November 1, 2009 |
| Yashiro Line [ja] | | Nagano | Yashiro–Suzaka | 24.4 km (15.2 mi) | April 1, 2012 |
| Sasayama Line | | Hyogo | Sasayamaguchi–Fukusumi | 17.6 km (10.9 mi) | March 1, 1972 |
| Maizuru Line branch line | | Kyoto | Higashi-Maizuru–Naka-Maizuru | 3.4 km (2.1 mi) | November 1, 1972 |
| Wakayama Line (Old route) | - | Wakayama | Tainose–Kiwa | Unknown | October 1974 |
| Fukuchiyama Line branch line | | Hyogo | Tsukaguchi–Amazaki-kō | 4.6 km (2.8 mi) | February 1, 1984 |
| Takasago Line | | Hyogo | Kakogawa–Takasago-kō | 8.0 km (4.9 mi) | December 1, 1984 |
| Bantan Line (Branch line) | | Hyogo | Himeji–Shikamakō | 5.6 km (3.5 mi) | October 31, 1986 |
| Kajiya Line | | Hyogo | Nomura–Kajiya | 13.2 km (8.2 mi) | April 1, 1990 |
| Katamachi Line (partial) | | Osaka | Kyōbashi–Katamachi | 0.5 km (0.3 mi) | March 8, 1997 |
| Wakayamako Line (partial) | | Wakayama | Wakayamako–Suiken | 2.6 km (1.6 mi) | May 26, 2002 |
| Arita Tetsudo Arita Tetsudo Line [ja] | | Wakayama | Fujinami–Kanayaguchi | 5.6 km (3.4 mi) | January 1, 2003 |
| Miki Railway Miki Line | | Hyogo | Yakujin–Miki | 6.6 km (4.1 mi) | April 1, 2008 |
| Ujina Line (JNR) [ja] | | Hiroshima | Hiroshima–Ujina | 5.9 km (3.7 mi) | April 1, 1972, freight services terminated October 1, 1986. |
| Shimotsui Dentetsu Shimotsui Line [ja] | | Okayama | Kojima–Chayamachi Shimotsui–Kojima | 14.5 km (9.0 mi) 16.5 km (10.2 mi) | April 1, 1972 January 1, 1991 |
| Kurayoshi Line [ja] | | Tottori | Kurayoshi–Yamamori | 20.0 km (12.4 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Taisha Line (JR West) | | Shimane | Izumoshi–Taisha | 7.5 km (4.7 mi) | April 1, 1990 |
| Katakami Line [ja] | | Okayama | Katakami–Yanahara | 33.8 km (21.0 mi) | July 1, 1990 |
| Mine Line (branch line) | | Yamaguchi | Minami-Ōmine–Ōmine | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) | April 1, 1997 |
| Kabe Line (partial) | | Hiroshima | Kabe–Sandankyō | 46.2 km (28.7 mi) | December 1, 2003 |
| Sankō Line | | Shimane Hiroshima | Gōtsu–Miyoshi | 108.1 km (67.1 mi) | April 1, 2018 |
| Skyrail Midorizaka Line | | Hiroshima | Midoriguchi–Midori-Chuo | 1.3 km (0.8 mi) | May 1, 2024 |
| Kajiyabara Line [ja] | | Tokushima | Itano–Kajiyabara | 6.9 km (4.3 mi) | January 16, 1972 |
| Komatsushima Line [ja] | | Tokushima | Nakata–Komatsushima | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) | March 14, 1985 |
| Uchiko Line (Partial) | | Ehime | Gorō–Niiya | 0.2 km (0.1 mi) | March 2, 1986 |

## Closed railway lines in Kyūshū, Okinawa

| Name of the line | Photo | Prefecture | Terminus | Length of closed section | Closure date |
| Ashiya Line [ja] | | | Ongagawa–Chikuzen-Ashiya | 6.2 km (3.9 mi) | April 1, 1961 |
| Yunoki Line [ja] | | | Hidariishi–Yunoki | 3.9 km (2.4 mi) | September 1, 1967 |
| Koubukuro Line [ja] | | | Kotake–Futase Koubukuro–Ikisu | 7.6 km (4.7 mi) and 2.5 km (1.5 mi) (freight branch) | December 8, 1969 |
| Karatsu Line branch line | | | Yamamoto–Kishitake | 4.1 km (2.5 mi) | August 20, 1971 |
| Usunoura Line [ja] | | | Saza–Usunoura | 3.8 km (2.4 mi) | December 26, 1971 |
| Sechibaru Line [ja] | | | Yoshii–Sechibaru | 6.7 km (4.2 mi) | December 26, 1971 |
| Ōita Kōtsū Yabakei Line [ja] | | | Nakatsu–Morizane-Onsen | 36.1 km (22.4 mi) | October 1, 1975 |
| Chikuhi Line (Partial) | | | Hakata–Meinohama Nijinomatsubara–Yamamoto | TBA | March 22, 1983 |
| Nansatsu Line [ja] | | | Ijūin–Makurazaki | 49.6 km (30.8 mi) | March 18, 1984 |
| Tsuma Line [ja] | | | Sadowara–Sugiyasu | 19.3 km (12.0 mi) | December 1, 1984 |
| Miyanoharu Line [ja] | | | Era–Higo-Okuni | 26.6 km (16.5 mi) | December 1, 1984 |
| Katsuki Line [ja] | | | Nakama–Katsuki | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Muroki Line [ja] | | | Ongagawa–Muroki | 11.2 km (7.0 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Soeda Line [ja] | | | Kawara–Soeda | 12.1 km (7.5 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Katsuta Line [ja] | | | Yoshizuka–Chikuzen-Katsuta | 13.8 km (8.6 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Yabe Line [ja] | | | Hainuzuka–Kurogi | 19.7 km (12.2 mi) | April 1, 1985 |
| Kikuchi Line (Partial) | Miyoshi–Kikuchi | 10.6 km (6.6 mi) | February 16, 1986 |
| Urushio Line [ja] | | | Shimo-Kamoo–Shimo-Yamada | 7.9 km (4.9 mi) | April 1, 1986 |
| Miyanojyō Line [ja] | | | Sendai–Satsuma-Ōkuchi | 66.1 km (41.1 mi) | January 10, 1987 |
| Ōsumi Line [ja] | | | Kokubu–Shibushi | 98.3 km (61.1 mi) | March 14, 1987 |
| Saga Line [ja] | | | Saga–Setaka | 24.1 km (14.9 mi) | March 28, 1987 |
| Shibushi Line [ja] | | | Nishi-Miyakonojyō–Shibushi | 38.6 km (24.0 mi) | March 28, 1987 |
| Yamano Line [ja] | | | Minamata–Kurino | 55.7 km (34.6 mi) | February 1, 1988 |
| Kami-Yamada Line [ja] | | | Iizuka–Buzen-Kawasaki | 25.9 km (16.0 mi) | September 1, 1988 |
| Miyada Line [ja] | | | Katsuno–Chikuzen-Miyada | 5.3 km (3.3 mi) | December 23, 1989 |
| Hososhima Line [ja] | | | Hyūgashi–Hososhima | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) | December 1, 1993 |
| Nishi Nippon Railroad Kita-Kyūshū Line [ja] | | | Kurosaki-Ekimae–Orio | 5.1 km (3.1 mi) | November 26, 2000 |
| Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line (partial) | | | Nishitetsu-Shingū–Tsuyazaki | 9.9 km (6.1 mi) | April 1, 2007 |
| Takachiho Railway Line | | | Nobeoka–Takachiho | 50.0 km (31.1 mi) | September 6, 2007 (Nobeoka-Makimine) December 28, 2008 (Rest of the line) |
| Shimabara Railway Line (partial) | | | Shimabarakō–Kazusa | 35.3 km (21.9 mi) | April 1, 2008 |

## Railway lines to be closed

* Rumoi Main Line
** Fukagawa–Ishikari-Numata 14.4 km (8.9 mi) closing in April 2026
* Hakodate Main Line
** Oshamanbe–Otaru 140.2 km (87.1 mi) closing upon the extension of Hokkaidō Shinkansen.
* Kururi Line
** Kururi-Kazusa-Kameyama 9.6 km closing at an unknown date.