Amaterasu Railway was a third sector company located in Takachiho Town in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture. However, in 2005 the line was severely damaged by a typhoon causing all services to cease. Following the closure, local supporters reopened the line as a tourist spot. The main attraction of the line is a refurbished mini truck that runs through a beautiful green landscape before crossing a 105m high railway bridge (the highest in Japan). See how Amaterasu Railway has been attracting visitors from all over Japan. Then, in "Trains in Focus" join us on JR's "Umisachi-Yamasachi" tourist train that also operates in Miyazaki Prefecture.

On April 1, 2019, the Yubari branch of JR Hokkaido's Sekisho Line is sadly coming to an end. Back in the days, Yubari was a prosperous mining town and the line was a major route for transporting coal. But from the 1970's the mines began to close and the city started to decline. In recent years, the line only operated 5 round trips per day. With news of the line's closing, many railfans came to ride the line and the locals showed their appreciation by gifting handcrafted souvenirs. See the last moments of this beloved line and the challenges local lines are facing in Japan.