Japan - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Obscure services

Honshu: Echigo-Yuzawa – Gala-Yuzawa JP1

This 1.8km standard gauge branch operates only during the winter ski season, usually from mid-December to March. Services (shown in the national timetable) are classed as "Limited express" - extensions of Joetsu Shinkansen Tanigawa service of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Reported: January 2010

Honshu: Seibu-Chichibu Station - Ohanabatake Station link lines JP2

These two stations - on, respectively, the Seibu Railway and the Chichibu Railway, are virtually adjacent. Linking tracks are provided in both directions (see sketch). Principal uses:

• Mondays to Fridays two trains in each direction over the "left hand turnout" in the morning and evening, between the Chichibu Railway and Hanno (via Yokose) on the Seibu Railway;
• Saturday and Sunday morning trains between Kagemori (Seibu Railway) and Mitsumineguchi (via Yokose) (Chichibu Railway), and returns in the afternoons, use the "right hand turnout", and reverse at Seibu-Chichibu station.

Hokkaido: Nanae Station - Ōnuma Station JP3

Only 3 northbound services run directly between these stations, all of the other services and all southbound trains use the route via Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Niyama.

			Hakodate – 12:57 Nanae – Oshamambe
			Hakodate – 17:54 Nanae – Oshamambe
			Hakodate – 20:34 Nanae – Oshamambe

Reported: June 2025

Sparse services

None known.

Deletions since last edition

None.