Trip in Japan

Going to Doai Station known as the deepest platform in Japan

投稿日:2021-10-03 更新日:

If you plan to go to Tanigawadake Ropeway, I recommend you stop by Doai station.

It is only a 10-15 minute walk from Tanigawadake Ropeway.

Walk from Tanigawadake Ropeway to Doai Station

Walk from Tanigawadake Ropeway to Doai Station (From Google Map)

This Doai station is popular for having the deepest platform in Japan.

You need to take 486 steps (462+24) down from the ticket gate.

It will be 80 meters depth!

It will take more than 10 minutes from the ticket gate to the platform.

When I was planning a trip to Tanigawadake ropeway, I found this Doai station on the map, I decided to stop by.

Related Article:Going to Tanigawadake Ropeway located between Gunma pref. and Niigata pref.

When you walk from Tanigawadake ropeway to Doai station, be careful for the passing cars as there is no sidewalk for the passenger.

There were few cars passing by when I went there, so I could enjoy green trees and small waterfall.

谷川岳ロープウェイから土合駅までの道

This waterfall is called “Yubuki no Taki” (湯吹きの滝). This waterfall was artificially created for blocking sands and muds.

湯吹きの滝

Yubuki no Taki 湯吹きの滝

There is also an auto mobile camping area.

There is a hot spring nearby, so this place might be a good hidden camping area.

土合駅近くのオートキャンプ場

Automobile camp area nearby Doai station

If you pass railroad crossing, Doai station is almost there.

土合踏切の様子

Doai Railroad Crossing

土合駅のトンネル

Tunnel at Doai station

Actually, there is a ground level platform as well at Doai station.

Depending on the destination, you can take either a ground level platform or a deep underground platform.

If you want to try the deep underground platform, you need to take a Joetsu line train heading to Muikamachi (六日町) in Niigata Pref.

奥の右手は土合駅の地上ホーム

Far view of the ground level platform

Then I have finally arrived at Doai station.

日本一のモグラ駅の土合駅

Doai station called the most Mole station in Japan

There is nobody working at the station, but the signboard says “Welcome to Doai station. This is the most deepest mole station in Japan!”.

土合駅前

Speaking of a history of Doai station, it has started in 1931 as branch point.

Then in 1932, it opened only in winter for tourists who enjoy skiing.

There were people working till 1985, but it became no man station.

Station staff will come from the nearby station, Minakami station, only when there is an event.

This is the waiting room.

It is kept clean, but there was nobody.

土合駅の待合室

Waiting Room at Doai station

Here is the ticket office, but currently it is all closed.

閉鎖されている駅窓口

Ticket office is closed

As I mentioned earlier, this is the ground level platform heading to Tokyo.

土合駅の上りホームの案内

Ground level platform entrance

土合駅の上りホーム

Ground level

土合駅の上りホーム改札口への道

To the ticket gate

Then I would go check the deep ground level platform.

There was nobody at the ticket office, and there were few people at Doai station, so it was a very lonely atmosphere.

The wall was bare concrete block, so it reminded me of a jail or something.

It looks a bit scary.

モグラホームへの道

A walk to the deepest platform

下り線の案内版

So dark

Hallway was very dark and quiet.

Then you would finally reach to the entrance of the steps going down 80 meter depth.

You could feel the long history of the station by looking at the rust on the ceiling.

土合駅の下りホーム入口

Start of the 462 steps

At the end of this hallway, you would eventually see the steps which looks like never ending.

Here it is!

土合駅の地下ホームへの階段

This is the steps for the deepest platform at Doai station

There were so many steps that I could not see the end of the steps.

This 462 steps is about 338 meters!

As I was traveling by myself, I did not have a courage to climb down the whole steps.

But I would recommend you take the whole steps down to the deepest point and check out the mole platform in Japan.

If you a climbing up from the bottom, you will see the end of steps like this.

土合駅の462段を登りきるとこんな光景が

This is the end of 462 steps from the bottom

ようこそ土合駅への文字

土合駅の462段目

The last step is 462

Then you would notice the triangle wall at the center of the hallway.

This is to block the air coming from the deepest point.

土合駅の暴風扉

Behind the wall, there was a greeting message from the station.

If you can see this message, it means you have completed the 462 steps!

Congraturations!

土合駅のお疲れ様

Message from Doai station

There is another 24 steps to get to the ticket gate, so it will be 486 steps at the total.

Why I recommend Doai station?

I think the building itself is made before world war 2.

So it is a good chance to see the old architecture in Japan.

Very historical.

Plus, there was a no man station, so it was a bit scary.

It was a totally different atomosphere. Very unusual.

Tourists usually go to the place where they can enjoy the beautiful scenery, but this place is the place to enjoy the scenery which is totally different from the normal life.

It was a bit scary, but I could feel the passion of the Japanese people at that time to create so many steps and the deepest platform before the war.

If you want to go to Doai station directly from Tokyo, you might want to take the local line so that you can arrive at the deepest platform.

For example, take the bullet train, Joetsu Shinkansen for Niigata or Echigo Yuzawa at Tokyo station, and get off at Echigo Yuzawa station.

Then change the train to Joetsu line round for Nagaoka, and get off at Doai station.

Reference: Japan Transit Planner website

Since there are only 6 trains stopping at the deepest platform at Doai station, so plan your trip carefully.

Timetable which stop at Doai Station (From Tokyo to Nagaoka in Niigata pref.). Arriving to Doai station at:

8:37

9:53

11:49

13:49

17:59

20:59

After Doai station, I went to Minakami Onsen for good Onsen (hot spring) and delicious dinner and breakfast!

Related Article:

-Trip in Japan
-, , , , ,

執筆者:

関連記事

Saitama One Day Drive Course

Let’s take a relaxing day trip around Saitama The year 2024 has started. Since the beginning o …

Dormy Inn Osaka Kitahama Review

ドーミーイン北浜HPより出典 I stayed at Dormy Inn Osaka Kitahama for the furst time. The reason why I chose this …

浅草 御宿野乃

“Nono Asakusa” Hotel is located at a central Asakusa. Convenient for sightseeing!

Natural Hotspring Onyado “Nono Asakusa” is only 2-minute walk to “Sensouji” …

別府地獄めぐりがすごい

Tour the “Jigoku Meguri” (hell tour) from Beppu and visit the hot springs in Yufuin!

“Jigoku Meguri” in Beppu and hot springs in Yufuin I want to avoid the crowds and enjoy …

ゆふいんの森 由布院から福岡

(Kyushu)Let’s take JR Special Train “Yufuin-no-mori” operated by JR Kyushu

In Japan, there is a special train called, sightseeing train. The difference between local train and …

Language Switcher