Yudanaka Station

Yudanaka Station (湯田中駅, Yudanaka-eki) is a railway station in the town of Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan, operated by the private railway operating company Nagano Electric Railway. Yudanaka Station is a gateway to seasonal mountain and outdoor activities, including hiking and skiing or snowboarding, and to Jigokudani Monkey Park where Japanese macaques soak in an outdoor hot spring.

Jigokudani Monkey Park in Yamanouchi
Yudanaka Station

湯田中駅
Yudanaka Station in July 2009
Location3227-2 Hirao, Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchi-machi, Nagano-ken 381-0401
Japan
Coordinates36°44′30.0″N 138°24′53.0″E
Elevation499.76 meters
Operated by Nagano Electric Railway
Line(s)■ Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line
Distance33.2 km from Nagano
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks1
Other information
StatusStaffed
Station codeN24
WebsiteOfficial website
History
Opened28 April 1927
Traffic
Passengers (FY2015)646 daily
Location
Yudanaka Station
Location within Nagano Prefecture
Yudanaka Station
Yudanaka Station (Japan)

An indoor Japanese hot spring named Kotonoyu (楓の湯) is located in the former station building, standing beside the current station. The former station building itself is registered as tangible cultural property.

At the train's arrival, the song "The beauty of Shigakōgen" (美わしの志賀高原, Biwashi no Shigakōgen), composed by Akira Nishizawa, Masao Koga, and Atsuo Okamoto plays.[1] On departure, a regular train bell rings.

Lines

Yudanaka Station is the terminus of the Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line and is 33.2 kilometers from the opposing terminus of the line at Nagano Station. Yudanaka is 1.4 km from Kamijō Station, its nearest station on the local line, and 9.9 km from Shinshūnakano Station, its nearest station on the limited express.

Station layout

The station consists of one ground-level side platform serving a single dead-headed track. The station formerly had two opposed side platforms, but one side platform is no longer in use. The manned station building includes a station office, waiting room, tourist information center, and automatic ticket machines.

Adjacent stations
« Service »
Nagano Electric Railway
Shinshū-Nakano   Express-A   Terminus
Shinshū-Nakano   Express-B   Terminus
Kamijō   Local   Terminus

History

The station opened on 28 April 1927. Previously, there were plans to extend from Yudanaka a further 2 kilometers to Shibu Onsen (渋温泉). Two stations were built, two licenses were acquired, but the worked to lay the rails never commenced. Those licenses expired in 1931 and in 1958.

In January 1937, a Japanese National Railways (JNR) train arrived for the first time via Nagano Station, and in July of the same year a JNR trained arrived via Yashiro Station.

In 1958, the current station building was completed. In 1971, freight operations ended. JNR operated the Shiga train between Yudanaka and Ueno Station in Tokyo using the Shinetsu Line. This service to Yudanaka was discontinued in 1982.

In preparation for the 1998 Winter Olympics, there was an effort to rename the station Shigakogen Station (志賀高原駅 Shigakougen-eki); however, this was withdrawn due to opposition from the Yudanaka Onsen Association.

In 2004, the former station was registered as tangible cultural property.

In 2006, the last mini switchback lines into the station were removed following repairs.

Between 2010 and 2012, the station was operated by Hokushin Sightseeing Taxi (currently Nagaden Taxi).

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2016, the station was used by an average of 646 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).[2]

Fiscal yearDaily average
2010557
2011546
2012526
2013540
2014543
2015646
  • Platform
  • Original station building

Surrounding area
  • Yudanaka Onsen
  • Yamanouchi Town Hall
  • Yamanouchi Middle School
  • Yudanaka Post Office
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See also

References
  2. 83 JRの駅別乗車人員-1日平均 [Nagano Prefectural Statistics (Fiscal 2016) Section 84] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Nagano Prefecture. 2017.
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