On March 24, JR East notified the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of the discontinuation of its railroad business between Shin-Nakakakuni Signal Station and Mimaya Station on the Tsugaru Line in accordance with Article 28-2 of the Railway Business Act.
The section between Kanida Station and Mimaya Station (28.8 km), including this section, has been suspended due to the heavy rains that occurred in August 2022, and the cost of restoring the railroad was expected to be at least 600 million yen.
In the areas along the line, JR’s agency buses, “wan-taku” shared-ride cabs, and town buses operated by the towns of Sotogahama and Imabetsu are in operation.
In January 2026, a non-profit organization, Imabetsu Sotogehama Kotsu, will be established to operate a “new automobile transportation system” that integrates these modes of transportation.
© Source travel watch