The Summit of the Old Line
Of all the bores on the former Hokuriku Line, the Yamanaka Tunnel is the greatest: about 1,170 metres long, straight, and built entirely of brick with a lining five arch-rings thick. Its north portal stands at the summit of the Yamanaka crossing, the highest point on the entire old Hokuriku Main Line. When it was completed in 1896 it ranked among the largest railway tunnels in Japan, and it was finished only after difficult work, a reputation it shares with the Habara Tunnel. It lies in the Motohida district of Tsuruga, about 90 metres northeast of the site of the Iratani Tunnel.
Plaques, Grade and the Banker Locomotives
The tunnel is the heart of what made this railway so hard to run. The climb toward it holds a grade of 25 per thousand, steep enough that trains needed extra banker locomotives pushing from behind, connected and cut off at Tsuruga and Imajo. To mark the achievement, calligraphic plaques were set above the portals, brushed by Kuroda Kiyotaka, then the government's minister of communications: the north mouth read Tokusui-koei and the south Koka-uji. The originals were later moved to the Nagahama Railway Square in Shiga, and replicas have in recent years been placed back at the tunnel, so visitors can once again read the builders' pride at the portal.
Value and Visiting
The whole difficult section was abandoned in 1962 when the long Hokuriku Tunnel opened on an easier alignment, and the summit bore has stood quiet since. Yamanaka was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2016 and is also a Selected Civil Engineering Heritage of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. Locally the dark, long tunnel has a slightly eerie reputation, and the passage through it, over a kilometre with no daylight in the middle, is genuinely atmospheric.
The tunnel sits on the single-lane road along the old alignment. It is the longest and most demanding to pass, so the signals and headlights matter here more than anywhere. Repairs periodically close it, so confirm the current road status with local tourism offices before visiting.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Old Hokuriku Line Yamanaka Tunnel
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Questions and Answers
- Why is the Yamanaka Tunnel important?
- At about 1,170 metres it is the longest tunnel on the former Hokuriku Line and stood at the summit of the line's mountain crossing. It was one of the largest railway tunnels in Japan when built in 1896.
- What are the plaques at the portals?
- Calligraphic plaques brushed by Kuroda Kiyotaka, a Meiji government minister. The originals are now at the Nagahama Railway Square in Shiga; replicas have recently been placed back at the tunnel.
- Why did trains need extra locomotives here?
- The approach climbs at a grade of 25 per thousand. That was too steep for a single locomotive, so banker engines pushed from behind, connected at Tsuruga and Imajo.
- Can I still go through it?
- It lies on the public road following the old line, but it is the longest and darkest bore, single-lane and controlled by signals. It closes periodically for repair, so check the current status before you travel.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Hokuriku Line Yamanaka Tunnel |
|---|---|
| Location | Motohida, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), registered 25 February 2016; JSCE Selected Civil Engineering Heritage |
| Registration No. | 18-0153 |
| Built | 1896 (Meiji 29) |
| Structure | Brick; length 1,170 m, width 3.7 m; lining five arch-rings thick |
| Owner | Fukui Prefecture |
| Access | On the former Hokuriku Line alignment (single-lane public road); obey tunnel signals; confirm road status before visiting |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database — Yamanaka Tunnel
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010961
- Tsuruga City Tourism Association — Former Hokuriku Line Tunnels
- https://tsuruga-kanko.jp/spot/history_culture/hokuriku-line-tunnel/
- Fukui Prefecture Official Travel Guide (Fuku-e.com)
- https://www.fuku-e.com/spot/detail_1640.html
Last verified: 2026.07.09