This video captures a 1.5-hour short railway trip originating from Itoigawa Station in Niigata Prefecture.

The journey demonstrates a remarkably tight and well-planned rail loop. Departing Itoigawa on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway (Nihonkai Hisui Line), the trip proceeds to Tsutsuishi Station—a iconic underground station located deep inside a mountain tunnel—allowing for a short exploration before catching the return train back to Itoigawa. With a swift 5-minute connection, the journey seamlessly transitions to the JR Ōito Line, heading south into the mountain valley toward Nechi Station before making a quick turn back to Itoigawa.

The Art of Transfers

The key highlights of this short itinerary lie in its precise timing and dynamic route switching:

• Extremely Efficient Connections: Executing a 5-minute transfer at Tsutsuishi Station and another 5-minute turnaround at Itoigawa Station to maximize the 1.5-hour timeframe.
• Underground to Mountain Route: Transitioning instantly from a dark, subterranean tunnel station on the electrified coastal line to a scenic, diesel-powered rural mountain line.
• Compact Rail Loop: Experiencing two completely different railway atmospheres (coastal/tunnel vs. inland mountain valley) within a minimal, perfectly timed round trip.

Echigo Tokimeki Railway
Departing Itoigawa 1419
Arriving Tsutsuishi 1441
Departing Tsutsuishi 1446
Arriving Itoigawa 1508

Oito Line
Departing Itoigawa 1513
Arriving Nechi 1528
Departing Nechi 1530
Arriving Itoigawa 1545