About the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel
The Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel (旧北陸線湯尾トンネル, Kyū Hokurikusen Yunoo Tonneru) is a former railway tunnel in Yunoo, Minami Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture, completed around 1895 and entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 February 2016. It is 368 m long and 4.1 m wide, curving gently through the hill.
It lies about 1.6 km north of Imajō Station, the northernmost of the thirteen structures. It sits beyond the point where the line came down off the pass at Imajō, well away from the cluster of tunnels on the Tsuruga side. It is owned by Minami Echizen Town.
Why the Yunoo Tunnel Was Registered
The Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel was registered with the other twelve structures of the old line, as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country.
Its own story is about people and materials from near and far. Tsuruga City's commentary for the Japan Heritage listing says it was built by Seiyōsha of Morioka in Iwate Prefecture, far to the northeast, and that many of its bricks appear to have come from the Higashidani brickworks, set up locally to supply the construction of the Hokuriku Line. A builder from the Tōhoku region and a brick factory founded for the railway met in this one tunnel, a compact picture of how Meiji railway building moved people and industry.
What to Look for at the Yunoo Tunnel
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, both portals are cut stone of andesite with an Edo-giri finish. The north portal is the more imposing, with parapets reaching far out to either side and four pilasters across its face, one of the finest portals on the old line.
Inside, everything changes to brick, with English bond walls and a stretcher bond vault. Passing from a grey stone portal into a red brick bore is the signature experience of the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel, and knowing that many of those bricks may have been fired nearby makes them worth a closer look.
Visiting the Yunoo Tunnel
The Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel is in use as a road and can be passed through by car or on foot. There is no fee and no reception point. It is a single lane 4.1 m wide with a gentle curve, so walkers should listen and watch for vehicles and keep moving inside.
The four-pilaster north portal is best appreciated head-on from outside at the north end. At about 1.6 km from Imajō Station, the tunnel is within walking distance of the station. When taking photographs, remember that you are on a road and choose a spot that keeps clear of traffic.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel
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Q&A
- How do you read the name of the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel, and where is it?
- It is read Yunoo. The tunnel is in Yunoo, Minami Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture, about 1.6 km north of Imajo Station, the northernmost of the thirteen structures.
- When was the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel built, and when was it registered?
- It was completed around 1895 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 February 2016, together with the other twelve structures of the old line.
- Who built the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel?
- According to Tsuruga City, Seiyosha of Morioka in Iwate Prefecture. Many of the bricks are thought to come from the Higashidani brickworks, founded locally for the Hokuriku Line.
- What is special about the portals of the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel?
- Both are Edo-giri dressed andesite. The north portal has long parapets to either side and four pilasters, while the inside is lined entirely in brick.
- Can you go through the Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel, and is there a fee?
- Yes. It is in use as a road and is open to cars and pedestrians, with no fee or reception. It is a single, gently curving lane, so walkers should take care with traffic.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel |
|---|---|
| Location | Yunoo, Minami Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2016 (Heisei 28), registered |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Length 368 m, width 4.1 m |
| Owner | Minami Echizen Town |
| Public Access | Open to traffic as part of a road; no fee or reception |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010963
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Hokuriku Line Yunoo Tunnel
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/287853
- Japan Heritage Portal: component property Yunoo Tunnel
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4977/
- Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Selected Civil Engineering Heritage: Former Hokuriku Main Line Tunnels
- https://committees.jsce.or.jp/heritage/node/834
Last verified: 2026.10.07
