The abandoned Kurayoshi Railway Line was one of our favourite little detours in Tottori Prefecture. It is not a big polished tourist attraction, and that is exactly why we loved it. Old rails disappear into the countryside, the former Taikyuji Station still feels half-forgotten, and the bamboo grove looks like something from a Studio Ghibli scene.
We visited in the morning and did it as a half-day trip from Kurayoshi. It takes a little planning by public transport, but it is absolutely worth the effort if you like quiet places, old railway lines, and finding something that still feels genuinely hidden.
If you’re staying in town, pair this with our full Kurayoshi travel guide for the old town, pear museum, cafés and where we stayed.
What Is the Abandoned Kurayoshi Railway Line?
The old Kurayoshi Line once connected Kurayoshi Station with Yamamori Station, running for around 20 kilometres through the Sekigane area. The line closed in 1985, but parts of the track, platforms and railway remains are still visible today.
The most atmospheric section is around the former Taikyuji Station ruins, where the old track continues towards the bamboo grove and Yamamori Tunnel. The rails are still there, but nature has slowly taken over, which is what makes the place so special.
You can walk freely around the Taikyuji Station ruins and bamboo grove area, but Yamamori Tunnel itself is not normally open to walk through unless you join an official event or guided tour.
Where Is the Abandoned Kurayoshi Railway Line?
The section most people visit is near the former Taikyuji Station ruins in Sekigane, outside central Kurayoshi.
Google Maps link: Former Kurayoshi Line / Taikyuji Station area
Useful search terms for Google Maps:
旧国鉄倉吉線 泰久寺駅跡357-5 Sekiganecho Taikyuji, Kurayoshi, Tottori 682-0404, Japan
How to Get There by Bus from Kurayoshi Station
Start at Kurayoshi Station bus terminal. Buses for the Sekigane area usually leave from platform 2.
The most useful route is the Nihon Kotsu Sekigane Line. The easiest direct option is to take the bus towards Akedaka / Sekigane and get off at Taikyuji, but this is not always convenient because direct buses to Taikyuji are very limited during the day, so check the local timetable.
The easiest and most flexible option (which we took) is to take the bus from Kurayoshi Station to Sekigane Chosha-mae, which is the stop for the Kurayoshi City Hall Sekigane Branch area.
Google Maps link: Kurayoshi City Hall Sekigane Branch
From Kurayoshi Station to Sekigane Chosha-mae / City Hall the bus takes around 45 minutes.
From there, allow roughly 30 minutes on foot to reach the former Yamamori Station, depending on your pace and how many photos you stop for.
From Yamamori Station, walk behind and left along the old tracks to Taikyuji Station ruins, allow another 5 minutes or so to walk along the railway line towards the bamboo grove.
So, as a simple morning route:
- Kurayoshi Station to Sekigane area by bus: around 45 minutes
- Sekigane City Hall area to Yamamori Station ruins: around 30 minutes on foot
- Yamamori Station to Taikyuji Station (which then ruins to bamboo grove: around 20 minutes on foot)
- Time exploring and taking photos: 45–90 minutes
- Total trip: half a day
If you can line up the bus times well, this works nicely as a morning trip from Kurayoshi. Just remember to check the departure times before you leave the City Hall bus stop. Google Maps will also help you with transport times.
The Route We Took
We started from Kurayoshi Station and took the bus out towards Sekigane. Once you leave the town behind, the journey quickly becomes rural, with small villages, rice fields and mountains.
After getting off near the Sekigane City Hall area, we walked towards the former railway line. It’s a straight, flat road that continues past the gas station. It’s not a difficult walk, but it does feel like you are heading further and further away from the obvious tourist route. That is part of the charm.
The first main goal is the former Yamamori Station. From there you need to walk about 20 minutes to the Taikyuji Station. This is where the abandoned railway atmosphere really begins. You can see the old platform area, rails and signs, and it already feels wonderfully quiet. Walk behind the old station and turn left and begin walking along the tracks.
Continue along the old line towards the bamboo grove. The actual line breaks up a bit, but you can see where it goes. There’s a road crossing, so go right up a little hill and re-join the line at the old station. The rails run into the trees, then the bamboo closes in around the track, and it feels completely different from the rest of Kurayoshi. We had the place entirely to ourselves.
It is not a long walk, but it is slow in the best way. You will want to stop constantly for photos.
Can You Walk Through Yamamori Tunnel?
No. It’s sealed up, there is a locked door.
The Yamamori Tunnel is beyond the bamboo grove, but it is not normally open for casual visitors to walk through. According to the official Kurayoshi tourism information, you need to join an organised walking event or guided tour if you want to enter the tunnel.
For most visitors, the Taikyuji Station ruins and bamboo grove are the main reason to come anyway. You still get the abandoned railway feeling without needing to enter the tunnel.
What to Bring
You do not need hiking gear, but this is not a city stroll either.
Bring:
- Comfortable shoes
- Water
- A snack, especially if you are doing it in the morning
- Sun protection in warmer months
- A light rain jacket if the weather looks changeable
- Offline maps or the location saved in Google Maps
- A portable charger
- Cash (you’re in Japan afterall)
- Your camera or phone with plenty of battery
The walking is not technically difficult, but the ground can be uneven around the tracks. Watch your step, especially if it has been raining.
How Long Do You Need?
We did this as a half-day morning trip from Kurayoshi, and that felt about right.
If you only want to see the old station ruins and bamboo grove, you do not need a full day. The main thing is timing the buses properly, because public transport is not as frequent as it is in bigger Japanese cities.
A relaxed half-day plan would look something like this:
- Morning bus from Kurayoshi Station
- Walk to the former Yamamori Station , then to Taikyuji Station
- Continue to the bamboo grove
- Take photos and explore slowly
- Walk back towards Sekigane
- Bus back to Kurayoshi
- Lunch or coffee back in town
If you are travelling by car, it is much easier and quicker, but going by bus made it feel like more of a little adventure.
Is It Worth the Effort?
100% Yes, if you like quiet, unusual places.
This is not somewhere with big crowds, souvenir shops or polished attractions. It is a peaceful abandoned railway walk in the countryside, and that is exactly what makes it memorable.
For us, it was one of those small Japan moments that stuck with us more than expected. A quiet bus ride, a rural walk, an old station, and railway tracks disappearing into bamboo. Simple, but brilliant.
Practical Tips for Visiting
Check the bus times before you go, ideally the day before. The direct bus to Taikyuji is limited, so you may need to travel via the Sekigane City Hall area instead.
Save the map location before leaving Kurayoshi Station. Mobile signal may be fine, but this is not the place to start guessing.
Go in the morning if you can. It gives you more breathing room with buses and means you can be back in Kurayoshi for lunch or coffee afterwards.
Do not enter Yamamori Tunnel unless it is part of an official open day or guided tour.
Wear proper shoes. The route is easy, but the railway area is uneven in places.
Where We Stayed in Kurayoshi
We stayed at Hotel St Palace Kurayoshi, just opposite Kurayoshi Station.
The location was very convenient for arriving and leaving by train, but it did mean we needed to catch a bus into the old town area. That trade-off worked fine for us, especially as Kurayoshi’s buses were straightforward enough once we knew where we were going.
Final Thoughts
Finding the abandoned Kurayoshi Railway Line took a bit more effort than simply visiting Kurayoshi’s old town, but that is what made it feel special. It was quiet, slightly odd, beautiful in a forgotten sort of way, and completely different from the usual Japan sightseeing stops.
If you are spending two nights in Kurayoshi, this is one of the best little half-day trips you can do.
This stop was part of our wider slow travel route through western Japan. You can read the full journey here: 23 Day Japan Slow Travel Itinerary by Train
