Chiba Rail Lines Stay Closed After Typhoon No. 25, Uchibo Line for 3 Months
Photo: 小林虹輝 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Parts of JR East's rail network in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, are still closed after Typhoon No. 25. The Uchibo Line between Anegasaki and Nagaura is expected to stay shut for at least about three months, counted from 23 September, and JR East has no restart estimate for the Kururi Line between Kururi and Kazusa-Kameyama. The Sobu Main Line between Yachimata and Naruto is due to reopen with the first train on 19 October.[1]
What is closed and what is reopening
- Uchibo Line, Anegasaki to Nagaura: closed for at least about three months from 23 September.[1]
- Kururi Line, Kururi to Kazusa-Kameyama: closed, no restart date yet.[1]
- Sobu Main Line, Yachimata to Naruto: reopens with the first train on 19 October.[1]
- Limited express Sazanami: suspended until the Anegasaki to Nagaura section is restored.[1]
- Limited express Shiosai: only trains 4, 6 and 11 run until 18 October, and all trains run from 19 October.[1]
JR East says restart dates and recovery estimates may change, and that it will publish more details as they become available.[1]
Replacement buses, taxis and bikes
Replacement buses between Anegasaki and Nagaura start at 6:30 a.m. from Anegasaki and 6:10 a.m. from Nagaura, with the last departure at 8:50 p.m. from both stations. They carry only about 10 to 20 percent of the rail capacity, so long waits are possible. Between Yachimata and Naruto, buses leave both stations from 6:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. On the Kururi Line, buses and taxis run to match the train timetable.[1] Since 14 October, a shared bicycle service also supplements the buses between Anegasaki and Nagaura. Details are on the Chiba Prefecture website.[1]
Other lines and what to do
Lines that are open also run fewer trains than usual, and JR East asks passengers to consider teleworking where possible.[1] JR East's English status page, last updated on 15 October at 12:26, still lists partial cancellations on the Uchibo Line between Chiba and Anegasaki, between Nagaura and Kisarazu and between Kisarazu and Awa-Kamogawa. It also lists partial cancellations on the Sobu Line between Chiba and Yachimata and between Naruto and Choshi.[2]
If you plan to reach the Chiba coast by rail, check the live status page on the day, allow extra time and expect queues at the replacement buses. More trip planning help is in our Japan guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Chiba Branch: 台風25号の影響による9月26日（土）以降の千葉県内各線区の運行計画について. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
- [2] East Japan Railway Company (JR East): Train Status Information (Kanto Area). Retrieved October 15, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
JR East expects at least about three months, counted from 23 September. The estimate may change.
JR East plans to restart service with the first train on 19 October.
The Anegasaki to Nagaura buses carry only about 10 to 20 percent of the rail capacity, so long waits are possible.
