A KiHa 140 DMU operating from Hayato to Yoshimatsu
The Hisatsu Line (Japanese: 肥薩線, Hepburn: Hisatsu-sen) is a railway line in Kyushu, Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects Yatsushiro on the Kagoshima Main Line to Hayato station, Kirishima on the Nippo Main Line. From 1909 the line was the original rail connection from Yatsushiro to Kagoshima (and via the Kitto Line, Miyazaki) until the Yatsushiro – Kagoshima coastal route via Sendai opened in 1927.
As of November2025[update], due to two separate flood/heavy rainfall incidents, no trains are operating on the Hisatsu Line.[1][2]
Since 4 July 2020, no trains have operated on the 86.8 km section of the line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu, due to catastrophic damage caused by the 2020 Kyushu floods.[3] Limited taxi replacement services are operating on weekdays only between Yatushiro and Hitoyoshi.[4]
Since 6 August 2025, no trains have operated on the 37.4km section of the line between Yoshimatsu and Hayato, due to damage caused by heavy rainfall. Limited bus replacement services are operating on weekdays only.[1][2][5]
The major part of the line is in the mountainous Kirishima range. No through trains are operated on this line, rather, trains go from Yatsushiro to Hitoyoshi, from Hitoyoshi to Yoshimatsu, and from Yoshimatsu to Hayato. Until 2000, some trains operated direct from Kumamoto to Miyazaki via the Yatsushiro to Yoshimatsu section of the line.
The entire line was built by the government railways. The Hayato – Yoshimatsu section was opened in 1903, followed by the Yatsushiro – Hitoyoshi section in 1908. When the line names were officially designated in October 1909, the former became a part of the Kagoshima Main Line and the latter the Hitoyoshi Main Line. In November 1910, with the Hitoyoshi – Yoshimatsu section (which included the Okoba switchback and spiral) opening, both sections were connected and the Hitoyoshi Main Line was merged to the Kagoshima Main Line.[7]
In 1927, following the opening of the current 'west coast' Kagoshima Main Line via Sendai, the line was renamed the Hitatsu Line.[7]
Freight services ceased the day the line (and the entire JNR system) was privatised in 1987.
Former connecting lines
Kurino station – the Yamano Line junctioned here. The first 24km section of the Yamano Line was opened to Yamano in 1921. The 14km Minamata (on the Kagoshima Main Line) – Kugino section opened in 1934, and the 10km Yamano – Satsuma-Fuke section the following year. In 1937, the 8km Kugino – Satsuma-Fuke section, including the Okawa spiral opened, connecting the two sections. Freight services ceased in 1986, and the line closed in 1988.[7]
Flood damage
Since 4 July 2020, no trains have operated on the 86.8 km section of the line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu, due to catastrophic damage caused by the 2020 Kyushu floods, including much of the track being completely destroyed, especially in areas where the line runs directly parallel to the Kuma River.[3] Limited taxi replacement services are operating on weekdays only between Yatushiro and Hitoyoshi.[4]
JR Kyushu has not announced a set date for resumption of rail service on this section, apart from stating that services would be suspended for an indefinite period. JR Kyushu's president Toshihiko Aoyagi has stated that the restoration cost can not be determined until agreements have been made amongst local communities, prefectures and the national government, regarding management of the Kuma River. On 17 March 2022, the restoration cost was estimated to be about 23 billion yen.[3]
The citizens' support group Hisatsu Line-again (肥薩線again) are campaigning and raising support and awareness for the line's full restoration and return to service.
Since 6 August 2025, no trains have operated on the 37.4km section of the line between Yoshimatsu and Hayato, due to damage caused by heavy rainfall. Combined with the above closure, no trains are running on the entire Hisatsu Line. Limited bus replacement services are operating on weekdays only.[1][2][5]
In popular culture
The track section between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu was featured in Microsoft Train Simulator. A Hisatsu Line-based layout is available for the Japanese model train simulator VRM.[8]
References
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
123"肥薩線の復旧費230億円 ＪＲ九州試算 熊本地震被害を大きく上回る"[23 billion yen for restoration of the Hisatsu Line - JR Kyushu estimate, damage from the Kumamoto earthquake far exceeds the cost of restoring the line]. kumanichi.com (in Japanese). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022. ２０２０年７月豪雨で被災し、熊本県内の全区間が不通になっているＪＲ肥薩線の復旧費について、ＪＲ九州が概算で２３０億円と試算していることが１７日、関係者への取材で分かった。豊肥線などが被災した１６年の熊本地震時の総額約９０億円を大きく上回り、同社の災害復旧費としては過去最大となる ["On July 17, JR Kyushu estimated the cost of restoring the JR Hisatsu Line, which was damaged by the July 2020 torrential rains and has been closed for the entire length of the line in Kumamoto Prefecture, to be 23 billion yen. On July 17, we learned from an interview with an official that JR Kyushu estimates the cost of restoring the JR Hisatsu Line, which was damaged by the July 2020 torrential rains that have crippled all sections in Kumamoto Prefecture, at 23 billion yen. This is significantly higher than the 9 billion yen spent at the time of the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2004, when the Hohi Line and other lines were damaged, and is the largest ever spent by the company for disaster restoration."]
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