Ishizaka Tunnel (Second Tunnel) — Kyushu's Oldest Active Railway Tunnel
Deep in the wooded hills on the border of Aka Village and Miyako Town in Fukuoka Prefecture, a small red-brick portal arches quietly over a single-track railway line. Trains of the Heisei Chikuhō Railway have been slipping through this 75-meter tunnel for more than 130 years. Completed in 1895 during the Meiji era, the Second Ishizaka Tunnel is the oldest surviving railway tunnel in all of Kyushu — and it is still in daily service. For anyone fascinated by the golden age of industrial heritage, this modest yet dignified portal offers a rare chance to witness living history, where 19th-century German engineering and Japanese craftsmanship continue to carry passengers through the Chikuhō countryside.
A Historical Gateway to the Chikuhō Coalfields
The story of the Second Ishizaka Tunnel begins with coal. In the late 19th century, the Chikuhō region of Fukuoka was one of Japan's most important coal-producing areas, fueling the nation's rapid industrialization. To move this "black gold" from the interior mountains to the port at Yukuhashi on the Suō Sea, local business leaders of the Chikuhō and Keichiku regions founded the Hōshū Railway Company (豊州鉄道), and construction of a rail line between Yukuhashi and Tagawa-Ita began in the early 1890s.
The line opened for service in 1895 (Meiji 28), and the two Ishizaka tunnels — excavated through the granite slopes of Mount Ōsakayama near Ishizaka Pass — were among its most technically demanding works. The longer of the pair, the Second Ishizaka Tunnel, has been in continuous use ever since. In 1901, the Hōshū Railway merged into the larger Kyushu Railway, and the line was later nationalized as the Japanese National Railways (JNR) Tagawa Line. In 1989, operations were transferred to the current third-sector operator, Heisei Chikuhō Railway, which continues to run local trains through the tunnel today.
Why the Tunnel Was Designated a Cultural Property
On November 18, 1999, the Second Ishizaka Tunnel was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) by the Japanese government. The designation recognizes both its historical significance as Kyushu's oldest surviving railway tunnel and its unique engineering character.
The tunnel is a remarkable fusion of two traditions. It was built under the guidance of the Prussian-born engineer Hermann Rumschöttel, who had been invited from Germany to serve as chief technical advisor to the Kyushu Railway. Rumschöttel introduced German railway practices to a country where British-style engineering had previously dominated — even specifying that the line adopt the metric system, unusual for Japanese railways of the era. The engineer directly responsible for the Ishizaka tunnels was Nobeji Hisaki, a Japanese engineer who would later become the Kyushu Railway's first chief engineer.
The result is a structure that retains almost all of its original 1895 fabric: a 75-meter curved alignment of red brick, with a cut-granite portal whose arch is finished in brick. Its flat horseshoe-shaped cross-section was designed wide enough for two tracks, though only a single track was ever laid — a fossilized ambition of Meiji-era planners still visible to every passing traveler.
Highlights and Things to See
One of the most striking aspects of a visit is the quiet realization that the tunnel is still working. Standing near the portal as a two-car diesel train rattles out from the darkness, visitors experience a sense of continuity that few other Meiji-era structures can offer. The tunnel has not been preserved as a museum piece — it has simply never stopped doing its job.
Architecturally, the portal itself is the main attraction. The lower structure is built of carefully dressed granite blocks, rising to an arch composed of red brick laid in multiple courses. At the edges of the portal, the granite projects slightly outward in a door-pillar motif that gives the entrance a dignified, almost classical feel. Looking inside, the careful brick lining curves gently to one side — evidence of the tunnel's originally planned double-track width, now a spacious walkway for the single set of rails.
Nearby, the First Ishizaka Tunnel (33.2 meters long) stands as a companion piece. Though not individually registered, it was built in the same year with similar techniques and completes the "Ishizaka Tunnels" as a pair. Together, they form a fascinating field classroom of Meiji-era civil engineering.
The tunnel is best appreciated from the bridge just outside Genjii-no-Mori Station, where the line, the tunnel portal, and the wooded hillside compose naturally for photographs. Railway photographers regard this as one of the most atmospheric spots on the entire Tagawa Line, particularly in early morning mist or when autumn colors drape the surrounding slopes.
Access and Visitor Information
The Second Ishizaka Tunnel is remarkably easy to reach for a piece of working infrastructure in a rural valley. Genjii-no-Mori Station on the Heisei Chikuhō Railway Tagawa Line is only about a one-minute walk from the tunnel's Aka Village portal. The Tagawa Line runs between Yukuhashi Station (connected to JR Nippō Main Line) and Tagawa-Ita Station, with single-car diesel trains running several times a day.
Viewing the tunnel is free of charge and possible year-round. However, since the tunnel is an active railway line, visitors must never walk on the tracks or enter the tunnel itself. All viewing should be done from the surrounding roads, footpaths, and the bridge above. The nearby Hotaru-kan Hall at Genjii-no-Mori has a small exhibit with a model train and interpretive panels about the tunnel's history.
For rail fans, the Heisei Chikuhō Railway offers a one-day unlimited pass called the "Chikumaru Kippu" (ちくまるキップ), priced at 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for elementary schoolchildren — an economical way to combine a ride through the tunnel with exploration of the rest of the Tagawa and Itaonda lines.
Exploring the Surrounding Area
The tunnel sits in the heart of one of Fukuoka's most pleasant rural landscapes, and a single afternoon can easily expand into a full day of slow travel. Immediately adjacent is Genjii-no-Mori (源じいの森), a wooded complex that includes a campground, bungalows, log cabins, and a natural hot-spring bathhouse where day visitors can soak in an outdoor bath surrounded by bamboo groves. The hot spring's building, shaped to evoke a tortoise, has become a local landmark in its own right.
A short distance away stands the Uchida Triple Brick Bridge (内田三連橋梁), another 1895 structure by the same Hōshū Railway and also a registered cultural property. Its three elegant arches make it one of the most photogenic pieces of railway heritage in the region. Fans of disused railways may also enjoy the Akamura Trolley experience (赤村トロッコ), which runs on the abandoned former Yusubaru Line on certain Sundays, offering a rare chance to ride a hand-operated trolley through forest and tunnels.
Other nearby attractions include Mount Ganjakusan, a 456-meter peak with panoramic views of the Tagawa basin; the Imagawa Cycling Road, which follows the river for pleasant flat riding; and the Akamura Specialty Products Center, where visitors can buy fresh local vegetables and rice. In early summer, fireflies (genji-botaru) light up the streams in Aka Village, and the community runs a special "Hotaru Bus" to the best viewing spots.
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Q&A
- Can I walk through the tunnel itself?
- No. The Second Ishizaka Tunnel is an active railway tunnel used daily by Heisei Chikuhō Railway trains. Entering the tunnel or walking on the tracks is strictly prohibited and extremely dangerous. Enjoy the view from the surrounding roads, footpaths, and the bridge near Genjii-no-Mori Station.
- How do I get there from Fukuoka or Kitakyushu?
- From Kitakyushu, take a JR train to Yukuhashi Station, then transfer to the Heisei Chikuhō Railway Tagawa Line and ride to Genjii-no-Mori Station (about 1 hour total). From central Fukuoka, access is easier by car — around 90 minutes via expressway. By car, the tunnel is about 60 minutes from Kitakyushu.
- What makes the Second Ishizaka Tunnel special compared to other old tunnels?
- It is the oldest surviving railway tunnel in Kyushu and remains in active service with almost all of its original 1895 brick and stonework intact. It also reflects the introduction of German railway engineering to Japan through Hermann Rumschöttel, and its double-track cross-section with a single track inside tells an unusual story of Meiji-era industrial ambition.
- Is there an admission fee or specific opening hours?
- Viewing the tunnel from the outside is free and accessible at any time. However, if you wish to ride a train through the tunnel, you will need to purchase a ticket on the Heisei Chikuhō Railway. The nearby Genjii-no-Mori hot spring and campground have their own opening hours and fees.
- When is the best time of year to visit?
- Each season offers a different atmosphere. Spring brings fresh greenery and cherry blossoms, early summer (late May to June) features fireflies in the surrounding village, autumn paints the hillsides in red and gold, and winter mornings often produce atmospheric mist around the portal. Many railway photographers particularly favor early autumn.
Basic Information
| Name | Ishizaka Tunnel (Second Tunnel) / 石坂トンネル（第２隧道） |
|---|---|
| Type | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Registration Date | November 18, 1999 |
| Date of Completion | 1895 (Meiji 28) |
| Structure | Brick-built tunnel with stone-and-brick portal; total length 75 m, width 8.1 m |
| Engineer in Charge | Nobeji Hisaki (野辺地久記) |
| Technical Advisor | Hermann Rumschöttel (Germany) |
| Original Builder | Hōshū Railway Company (豊州鉄道株式会社) |
| Current Owner | Heisei Chikuhō Railway Co., Ltd. (平成筑豊鉄道株式会社) |
| Location | 6938-2 Aka, Aka Village, Tagawa District, Fukuoka Prefecture — to 1506-2 Ishizaka, Sakiyama, Miyako Town, Miyako District, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Nearest Station | Genjii-no-Mori Station (Heisei Chikuhō Railway Tagawa Line), approximately 1 minute on foot |
| Admission | Free (exterior viewing only; entry into the tunnel is prohibited) |
References
- 石坂トンネル（第２隧道） — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/192459
- 国指定文化財等データベース — 文化庁
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00001459
- 第二石坂トンネル — Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/第二石坂トンネル
- 近代化の礎｜赤村の観光
- https://www.akamura.net/sightseeing/kindai.html
- 土木遺産 in 九州：第一石坂トンネル
- https://dobokuisan.qscpua2.com/heritage/fukuoka/fuk23_ishizakatonneru/
- 九州最古の鉄道トンネル — 筑豊百景
- https://chikuhoroman.com/2021/06/18/tunnel-ishisaka-history/
- 平成筑豊鉄道株式会社 公式サイト
- https://www.heichiku.net/
- 源じいの森 公式サイト
- https://www.genjii.com/
Last verified: 2026.04.22