Hita Hikosan-sen (Part II)

The northern section of the Hita Hikosan-sen 日田彦山線  runs from Jôno 城野 (trains starting at Kokura 小倉) via Yobuno 呼野 - Kawara 香春 - Tagawa Ita 田川伊田 - Tagawa Gotôji 田川後藤寺 - Buzen Kawasaki 豊前川崎 - to Soeda 添田. This section is still in operation (see Hita Hikosan-sen 日田彦山線 Part I), but trains can no longer continue onto the southern section via Buzen Masuda 豊前桝田 to Hikosan 彦山 and through Shakagatake 釈迦岳トンネル tunnel to Chikuzen Iwaya 筑前岩屋 and Yoake 夜明 (continuing over the Kyûdai Honsen to Hita 日田). The section beyond Soeda was completely destroyed on July 5, 2017 by a violent storm and flooding. On August 8, 2023 the full reopening of the southern section in the form of a rapid bus route (BRT, Bus Rapid Transport) is planned. This includes Shakagatake tunnel, which has become a road tunnel.

Kokura　小倉

a Nishi Kokura 西小倉       b Minami Kokura　南小倉

Jôno　城野　　1 Ishida　石田　　2 Shii Kô'en　志井公園

3 Shii　志井　4 Ishiharamachi　石原町　　5 Yobuno　呼野

6 Saidôsho　採銅所　　7 Kawara　香春

8 Ipponmatsu 一本松　　Tagawa Ita　田川伊田

Tagawa Gotôji　田川後藤寺　　9 Ikejiri　池尻

10 Buzen Kawasaki　豊前川崎 　11 Nishi Soeda　西添田

12 Soeda　添田　13 Kanyûsha Hikosan　歓遊舎ひこさん

14 Buzen Masuda　豊前桝田　15 Hikosan　彦山

16 Chikuzen Iwaya　筑前岩屋　　17 Daigyôji　大行司

18 Hôshuyama　宝珠山　　19 Ôtsuru　大鶴

20 Imayama　今山　　Yoake　夜明

Teruoka　光岡　　Hita　日田

0871 Through the rice fields south of Soeda. (2013)

0874 Stopping at Kanyûsha Hikosan. "Kanyûsha" is a building to "entice/invite/induce" people to visit Hikosan Mountain, selling various agricultural products, regional pottery etc. and providing an attractive playground for children. (2013)

0882 Buzen Masuda stop. (2013)

0883 Climbing up to Hikosan station (1). Taken from the rear car KIHA 147-90, with KIHA 147-1081 in front. (2013)

0887 Climbing up to Hikosan station (2). Looking down the valley. (2013)

0888 Climbing up to Hikosan station (3). (2013)

0890 Climbing up to Hikosan station (4). (2013)

0893 Entering Hikosan station. Train KIHA 147-58 + KIHA 147-1057 on its way from Hita to Kokura is waiting at the platform. (2013)

0894 Entering Hikosan station. (2013)

0895 KIHA 147-58 and KIHA 147-1057 crossing at Hikosan station. (2013)

0897 Looking back at Hikosan station, with KIHA 147-58 and KIHA 147-1057 disappearing towards Soeda and Kokura. (2013)

0903 From the train on its way from Hikosan station up to Shakagatake tunnel (1). (2013)

img623 From the train on its way from Hikosan station up to Shakagatake tunnel (2). (2001)

img384 From the train on its way from Hikosan station up to Shakagatake tunnel (3). In 1972, taken from KIHA 58 132.

0915 Coming out of Shakagatake tunnel at Chikuzen Iwaya. This tunnel is now a road tunnel. (2013)

0921 Looking back at Shakagatake tunnel under the Hikosan mountains. (2013)

0920 Chikuzen Iwaya station, at the southern exit of Shakagatake tunnel. (2013)

0924 Looking back as the train moves out of Chikuzen Iwaya station. (2013)

img415 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya (1). In KIHA 58 132. (1972)

0927 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (2), with the Hikosan mountains in the background. (2013)

img661 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (3). (2001)

0928 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (4). (2013)

0930 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (5), with the Hikosan mountains in the background. (2013)

0932 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (6), with the Hikosan mountains in the background. (2013)

0936 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (7). In the region of Daigyôji the train passes high above the village. (2013)

0937 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (8). (2013)

0939 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (9). (2013)

0940 On the way down from Chikuzen Iwaya to Daigyôji halt (10). (2013)

0948 Daigyôji halt. The front car is KIHA 147-1081. Picture taken from the rear car KIHA 147-90. (2013)

img607 Daigyôji halt, looking north from KIHA 147-90. (2001)

0951 Continuing from Daigyôji to Hôshuyama. (2013)

0954 Looking out of the rear cab window of KIHA 147-90 shortly before Hôshuyama. (2013)

0958 The pretty little station of Hôshuyama stood exactly on the border between the Prefectures of Fukuoka and Ôita. (2013)

0963 Between Hôshuyama and Ôtsuru. Looking backwards. (2013)

0965 Ôtsuru halt. (2013)

0967 Imayama halt. Looking backwards. (2013)

0968 After leaving Imayama halt. Looking backwards. (2013)

0969 Between Imayama and Yoake (1). (2013)

0970 Between Imayama and Yoake (2). Children playing. (2013)

0973 Between Imayama and Yoake (3). Taken from the rear car KIHA 147-90, in front is KIHA 147-1081. (2013)

img611 Between Imayama and Yoake (4). Shortly before joining the Kyûdai Honsen at Yoake, in the October sunshine. (2001)

img603 Between Imayama and Yoake (5). Taken from KIHA 147-90. (2001)

0978 The train has arrived at Yoake and meets the Kyûdai Honsen here. (2013)

0979 For the last 8,5 km of its run the Hiko Hikosan-sen train runs over the Kyûdai Honsen, here alongside the Mikomagawa River. (2013)

0982 In the region of Teruoka the bridge over the Kagetsugawa River was torn away in July 2017. It took a full year to rebuild. (2013)

0986 Entering Hita. (2013)

img630 Hita Hikosan-sen KIHA 147-90 at Hita, beside the yellow KIHA 125-25. (2001)

0999 Never again will a Hita Hikosan train reach the endstop at Hita on the Kyûdai Honsen. On the right stands a local train with KIHA 47-8088, on the left Hita Hikosan-sen train KIHA 147-90 + KIHA 147-1081 is waiting at the platform. The yellow KIHA 125-22 will form a local service up the Kyûdai Honsen to Kurume. (2013)