The Isumi Railway Isumi Line is a local railway line in Chiba Prefecture, connecting Ohara Station in Isumi City with Kazusa-Nakano Station in Otaki Town, Isumi District. The line runs through peaceful rural landscapes, forests, and small communities, offering travelers a chance to experience a quieter side of the Boso Peninsula.
Originally operated as the Kihara Line, a former Japanese National Railways local railway line, it was later transferred to Isumi Railway and continues to serve as an important means of transportation for local residents.
For visitors, however, the railway is more than just a transportation route. The changing scenery from the train windows, especially the rice fields, rivers, mountains, and seasonal flowers, makes the Isumi Line an appealing destination in its own right.
The Isumi Line is a 26.8-kilometer single-track, non-electrified railway. Trains operate at a maximum speed of 65 km/h, allowing passengers to enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace.
The line has 14 stations, and the railway’s train depot is located at Otaki Station. All services use one-person operation, with ordinary local trains forming the main service.
Route length: 26.8 km
Track gauge: 1,067 mm
Number of stations: 14
Double-track sections: None; the entire line is single track
Electrification: None; the entire line is non-electrified
Maximum speed: 65 km/h
One of the greatest attractions of the Isumi Line is its peaceful rural scenery. The railway passes through rice-growing areas and mountainous countryside, providing views that are very different from the busy urban landscape of Tokyo and central Chiba.
Parts of the route run along the Isumi River, where the scenery changes with the seasons. Cherry blossoms add color to the landscape in spring, while autumn brings warm foliage to the surrounding mountains and countryside.
The countryside around the railway offers something different throughout the year. Spring is especially attractive for cherry blossoms, while the green rice fields of early summer create a classic rural Japanese landscape.
In autumn, colorful foliage appears along the route, providing excellent opportunities for photography. Locations such as the Nittano Cherry Tree-lined Road are also known as scenic spots for photographers.
Ohara Station is the western starting point of the Isumi Line and an interchange with the JR Sotobo Line. It provides convenient access to the railway for travelers arriving from other parts of Chiba and the Boso Peninsula.
Kuniyoshi Station is located in the former center of Isumi Town. The station area is also used for local community events, making it a useful place to experience the atmosphere of the surrounding town.
Otaki Station is one of the main sightseeing stations on the line. It serves as an access point for Otaki Castle and is particularly popular with visitors exploring the historic town of Otaki.
Kazusa-Nakano Station is the eastern end of the Isumi Line and an interchange with the Kominato Railway Line. The station is therefore an important gateway for travelers wishing to cross the Boso Peninsula by local railway.
The railway’s history dates back to a railway construction plan established under the Railway Construction Act in 1922. The line opened in 1930 as the Kihara Line.
The original plan was more ambitious than the railway that exists today. The intention was to connect the line with the Kururi Line and ultimately create a railway route between Ohara and Kisarazu. However, construction beyond Kazusa-Nakano was never completed, leaving the line in its present form.
Following the privatization and breakup of Japanese National Railways in 1987, the Kihara Line was transferred to JR East. However, the line was facing continued financial difficulties as a loss-making local railway.
In 1988, the Kihara Line was scheduled for closure. Following strong requests from local residents, a decision was made to preserve the railway as a regional line, and Isumi Railway took over its operation.
This transition allowed the railway to continue serving local communities while also developing its potential as a tourism resource.
From 2011, tourist express trains operated mainly on weekends and public holidays. These services used historic KiHa 52 and KiHa 28 railcars transferred from West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
The vintage diesel railcars offered passengers a nostalgic railway experience and became a popular attraction for railway enthusiasts and travelers who wanted to experience an old-fashioned Japanese train journey.
However, the tourist express service ended in March 2024.
Some of the former sightseeing train cars were also used for “Restaurant KiHa,” which served meals prepared with local ingredients.
One popular service was the “Sake BAR Train,” which combined Japanese sake with dishes made using ingredients from the Boso region. This service eventually ended in 2022.
Isumi Railway has faced financial challenges for many years as a local railway with a limited passenger base. At the same time, efforts have been made to improve the railway’s financial position and strengthen its role within the community.
Measures have included selling station naming rights and developing new stations. The railway has also continued to explore ways of making the line more attractive to both local residents and visitors.
For travelers, these efforts are reflected in the railway’s distinctive character as a small regional line where transportation, local life, and tourism come together.
The Isumi Line offers a chance to experience a side of Japan that can be difficult to discover by traveling only between major cities. Instead of high-speed trains and large urban stations, passengers encounter rice fields, small stations, rivers, forests, and traditional rural communities.
The relatively slow pace of the train makes the journey itself part of the sightseeing experience. Simply sitting by the window and watching the countryside pass by can be a relaxing way to experience the Boso Peninsula.
Travelers can combine a ride on the Isumi Line with sightseeing around stations such as Otaki, known for its historic castle, or continue their journey from Kazusa-Nakano via the Kominato Railway.
This makes the railway particularly suitable for visitors who enjoy local trains, traditional towns, rural scenery, and slower-paced travel.
The Isumi Railway Isumi Line is an important local railway and also a distinctive way to discover the countryside of Chiba. From Ohara to Kazusa-Nakano, the 26.8-kilometer route passes through landscapes of rice fields, mountains, rivers, and seasonal vegetation.
Although the railway has undergone significant changes since its days as the Kihara Line, its role as a regional railway remains important. The former tourist express trains and restaurant services have ended, but the ordinary trains continue to provide travelers with an opportunity to experience the scenery and atmosphere of rural Boso.
For international visitors looking beyond Japan’s major metropolitan destinations, a ride on the Isumi Line can be a memorable way to slow down, enjoy the countryside, and discover a more local side of Chiba.