Arao Station (Kumamoto)

Arao Station (荒尾駅, Arao-eki) is a passenger railway station located in the city of Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu.^[1][2]

JB  28  Arao Station 荒尾駅
Arao Station in 2016
General information
Location	Manda, Arao-shi, Kumamoto-ken 864-0002 Japan
Coordinates	32°59′39.4″N 130°26′3.2″E
Operated by	JR Kyushu
Line(s)	JB Kagoshima Main Line
Distance	151.6 km from Mojikō
Platforms	2 island platforms
Tracks	4 + 3 passing loops
Connections	Bus stop
Construction
Structure type	At grade
Parking	Available
Accessible	No - platforms linked by footbridge
Other information
Status	JR Kyushu ticket window (Midori no Madoguchi)
Website	Official website
History
Opened	1 November 1912 (1912-11-01)
Previous names	Manda (until 15 June 1943)
Passengers
FY2020	776 daily
Rank	169rd (among JR Kyushu stations)
Services
Preceding station JR Kyushu Following station Minami-Arao towards Kagoshima Kagoshima Main Line Ōmuta towards Mojikō
Location Arao Station Location within Kumamoto Prefecture Show map of Kumamoto Prefecture Arao Station Arao Station (Japan) Show map of Japan

Lines

The station is served by the Kagoshima Main Line and is located 151.6 km from the starting point of the line at Mojiko.^[3] Both local and rapid services on the line stop at the station.

Layout

The station consists of two island platforms serving four tracks with passing loops to the north and south. The station building is wooden structure of traditional Japanese design with a tiled roof. It houses a staffed ticket window (with a Midori no Madoguchi facility) and a waiting area. Access to the island platforms is by means of a footbridge.^[2][3][4]

Platforms

1, 2	■ JB Kagoshima Main Line	for Ōmuta, Tosu and Hakata
3, 4	■ JB Kagoshima Main Line	for Kumamoto and Yatsushiro

• 
  Passing loops run between the station building (left) and the first platform.
• 
  A view of the station forecourt.

History

Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the station with the name Manda Station (万田駅) on 1 November 1912 as an additional station on the existing track of the Kagoshima Main Line. On 15 June 1943, the station name was changed to Arao. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, JR Kyushu took over control of the station.^[5]

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2020, the station was used by an average of 776 passengers daily (boarding passengers only), and it ranked 169th among the busiest stations of JR Kyushu.^[6]

Surrounding area

• Arao City Hall
• Arao Racetrack
• Arao City Manda Elementary Schooli