This diesel worked branch off the Kagoshima main line is 25, 6 km long and runs from Uto (south of Kumamoto) onto the Uto Peninsula to its southwestern tip at Misumi. At first trains follow the northern coast of Uto Peninsula and then cross the pass over to the southern coast and to Misumi. All trains run to and from the city of Kumamoto, 10, 9 km up the line from Uto.
The Misumi-sen was opened in 1899 and used to be part of the access to the Amakusa islands, a major archipelago off the west coast of Kyûshû (around 1000 km², 126'000 inhabitants). However, since the opening of the five impressive road bridges linking Amakusa to Kyûshû mainland and the introduction of direct express bus services the Misumi-sen has lost its importance. In addition, Amakusa Airport gives much faster access to the islands than the railway line.
Local trains over the Misumi-sen run roughly every hour, with three express services on certain days.
