An otherworldly, unmanned station awaits at the end of a staircase leading underground

#0yentravel "Doai Station" on the JR Joetsu Line in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture is a unique station known as "Japan's No. 1 Mole Station". As its name suggests, the outbound platform is located in the Shin-Shimizu Tunnel, about 70 meters underground, and it takes about 10 minutes to descend 486 steps from the ticket gate to the platform. There are no elevators or escalators, so you can enjoy an experience that feels like an underground adventure.   A sign reading "Welcome to Japan's No. 1 Mole Station, Doai" is posted on the station building to welcome visitors. The walls of the waiting room on the underground platform are covered with messages left by visitors, engraved with memories of their travels. It is an unmanned station and IC cards cannot be used, but there is a boarding certificate issuing machine.