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
Is this Tokyo government office still one of the best places in the city for a curry rice lunch?
Starbucks Japan offers special sakura picnics at Reserve Roastery Tokyo beside Meguro River
Tokyo bus line praised for handling of driver’s mental health
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Sakura-flavored ice cream returns to Baskin Robbins in Japan after 24 years!
Mister Donut unveils new sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony in a traditional storehouse
Oh shiitake! How to grow your own with Japan’s super-easy mushroom cultivation kit【Photos】
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
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
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