The Turtle Tunnel That Keeps Japan’s Trains Running on Time
Japan is known for punctual trains. But a surprising little creature was messing that up—turtles. They kept wandering onto the tracks, slipping into the spaces around switches, and stopping trains.
JR West decided enough was enough. Instead of ignoring the problem, they built a fix that’s both smart and kind. They call it a “turtle rescue device.” Most people just call it the turtle tunnel.
Why Turtles Were Causing Delays
Between 2002 and 2014, at least 13 train disruptions happened in Kyoto and Nara. The culprit? Turtles getting stuck in switch points.
It sounds funny until you think about the damage: dead turtles, stressed staff, and thousands of passengers running late.
That’s when JR West teamed up with Suma Aqualife Park (today it’s Kobe Suma Sea World). Together, they came up with an idea no one expected.
How the Turtle Tunnel Works
The “tunnel” isn’t fancy. It’s a U-shaped concrete channel, about 24 cm wide and deep, placed right before the switch.
If a turtle falls in, it walks safely along the trench until staff scoop it out. Some stations even put a bucket at the end to make collection easier.
Installation is cheap—materials cost under ¥10,000, and staff can put one in overnight. It’s one of those rare cases where simple really is brilliant.
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It’s funny, it’s honest, and if you’ve ever owned a turtle who glares at you like you’re the problem—you’ll feel seen.
The Results So Far
The first tunnels went in at Goidō and Wakigami Stations on the JR Wakayama Line. In just one season back in 2015, at least 10 turtles were saved. That also meant 10 potential train delays avoided.
The rescued turtles are then handed over to the aquarium team. Most of the ones found so far have been red-eared sliders and Chinese pond turtles.
Word spread fast. In 2020, JR West’s Okayama branch showed off their own turtle tunnel on social media, and the photos went viral. By then, the system had already proven it worked.
More Than Just Trains
This isn’t only about keeping Japan’s trains on schedule. It’s also about respect for wildlife. Instead of writing off turtles as “track hazards,” JR West found a way to share space with them.
That’s a mindset the rest of the world could learn from.
The turtle tunnels might look small, but they carry a big message: even simple fixes can save lives, prevent problems, and keep the world moving.
About Author
Muntaseer Rahman started keeping pet turtles back in 2013. He also owns the largest Turtle & Tortoise Facebook community in Bangladesh. These days he is mostly active on Facebook.
