This tunnel was dug for the Jōetsu Shinkansen that was to be completed in 1982.

[1] During the construction, a fire created a large amount of smoke in the tunnel, and 16 workers died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

[2][3] When this tunnel was completed, the travel time between Niigata and Tokyo went down to approximately one hour and forty minutes, three hours faster than using the Jōetsu Line.

[4] Also, when this tunnel was built, natural water was found during construction, which is now sold in bottles.

[5] This Asian tunnel-related article is a stub.