# Doai Station

> An unstaffed JR Joetsu Line station whose down-line platform sits inside the Shin-Shimizu Tunnel, about 70 meters below the station building. Getting out means climbing 462 steps, then another 24, which takes about 10 minutes. Only five trains stop each way per day, so plan around the timetable.

- Prefecture: Gunma
- Type: Landmark
- Address: Minakami, Gunma, Japan
- Official site: https://www.enjoy-minakami.jp/spot/7971/

Doai is two stations in one. The up-line platform, for trains toward Minakami, is an ordinary platform beside the station building. The down-line platform, for trains toward Echigo-Yuzawa, was built inside the Shin-Shimizu Tunnel when that 13,490-meter tunnel opened in 1967, and it sits about 70 meters lower than the building. That is why it is nicknamed Japan's top mole station. Step off a down train and you face a straight, lit stairway of 462 steps running 338 meters up the slope. At the top, a 143-meter passage with 24 more steps crosses the river and Route 291 to the ticket gate. Allow about 10 minutes, more if you stop to look back down, which almost everyone does. The station has had no staff since 1985. The old station office now holds Kissa Mogura, a small café run by DOAI VILLAGE, the camp and glamping site behind the station, and its opening days vary, so check their Instagram before counting on a coffee. The base station of Tanigawadake Yoho (the former Tanigawadake Ropeway) is about 1.5 km uphill, so Doai pairs easily with a trip up Mount Tanigawa.

## FAQ

### How many steps are there at Doai Station, and how long does the climb take?

462 steps on the main stairway (338 meters long) from the down-line platform, then 24 more in the 143-meter connecting passage, 486 in all to the ticket gate. The height difference is about 70 meters, and the climb takes about 10 minutes.

### How often do trains stop at Doai?

Five a day in each direction on JR East's timetable based on the October 2026 JR Timetable, with gaps of around four hours, plus a few trains that run on certain days only. Check the departure back before you get off; the Kan-etsu Kotsu bus to Minakami Station is the backup.

### Can I walk from Doai Station to the Tanigawadake ropeway?

Yes. The base station of Tanigawadake Yoho (the former Tanigawadake Ropeway) is about 1.5 km away along the road, uphill, roughly 20 to 25 minutes on foot. The pavement is narrow in places, so watch for cars. The Kan-etsu Kotsu bus covers it in about 7 minutes.

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Source: Doai Station — Japan Voyage