Japan is already one of the safest countries in the world for humans, and now it seems it’s about to get a lot safer for turtles too…
The West Japan Railway Company and Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe have teamed up to make trains a whole lot safer for the slower, smaller, more-reptilian local population: the turtles.
The Suma Aqualife Park is a giant aquarium/beach in Kobe that attracts plenty of tourists and families, most of whom get there by train. However, due to the park’s proximity to the ocean, every year several turtles get stuck in the train tracks and cause delays, malfunctions, or even damage to the trains themselves.
The most common way for the turtles to get stuck is when they try crawling over the railroad tracks and become trapped between the two high metallic rails. Since they can’t climb out, they’re forced to follow along the track, until eventually they either get run over by a train or get stuck in a part of the rail-switching mechanism. The switch would crush the turtle at some point, typically getting damaged in the process and forcing trains to stop until it was fixed.
So in order to keep both train-riding humans and rail-stuck turtles happy, Japan Railways has implemented this solution: creating escape ditches for the turtles along the railroad. Here’s a photo of it in action:
▼ Left: What used to happen with turtles getting stuck in the rail switch.
Right: Now with the turtles have a nice, easy escape route under the track.
This new turtle escape route has been implemented since April this year, and from then to August there were 10 turtles observed making use of them to leave the tracks. That means that in addition to 10 turtle lives saved, potentially 10 accidents have been prevented, which is a pretty big deal in terms of time and money saved fixing up afterward.
Will this turtle-saving innovation be implemented around the world in other heavily reptile-populated areas? It would certainly be cause for turtles all over the world to shell-ebrate if so.
Source: Suma Aqualife Park
Featured/top image: Flickr/Taro Taylor
Crushed turtle on tracks delays train in Japan, problem “not uncommon”
JR West comes up with brilliant plan to save turtles and prevent train delays, touches netizens
Turtle spotted riding Tokyo subway makes commuting in Japan’s busiest city adorable【Video】
Why deer are drawn to train tracks, and how Japan is solving the problem with this simple block
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Pokémon Centers across Japan cancel April events after stabbing in Tokyo
Can a downtown Tokyo super sento bathhouse beat a hotel for a one-night stay?
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Create a tiny Ghibli anime world on your bookshelf with new miniature papercraft art kits
Half-Chinese woman undergoes extensive cosmetic surgery to become the next living Barbie doll
Man arrested for threatening a shrine in Kyoto because they used AI art
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Two food hacks take Japan’s convenience store fried chicken to amazing new sandwich heights
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says