Ōhikage Tunnel

South entrance to the tunnel

The Ōhikage Tunnel (大日影トンネル^?) is a preserved tunnel located near Katsunuma-budōkyō Station on the Chūō Main Line in Kōshū, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Description

Inside the tunnel

The Ōhikage Tunnel was first constructed from 1896 to 1903 as part of the overall construction of the Chūō Main Line. It is located somewhere between Kai-Yamato and Katsunuma-budōkyō Station, with the northern exit located very near the latter.

The gradual increase in railway traffic on the Chūō Line starting from 1931 lead to the construction of a double track, which was completed in 1968.

In 1997, the tunnel was closed in anticipation of the opening of the Shin-Ōhikage Tunnel, its modern counterpart. By the 1990s, the Ōhikage Tunnel was considered outdated and the Shin-Ōhikage Tunnel was constructed as its replacement.

After 1997, sections of the tunnel were used to store wine from the vineyards around Kōshū. From 2005 to 2007, renovations were undertaken on various sections in and outside the tunnel to turn it into a tourist destination. In March 2007, the tunnel opened for tours. At the same time, the industrial importance of the tunnel was recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.^[1]

Details

• Overall length - 1.367km
• Width - 3.57m - 3.74m
• Height - 4.90m
• Operating Hours - 09:00 to 15:00 hrs

References

1. ^ 経済産業省・近代化産業遺産認定遺産リスト. Retrieved 5 November 2009.