The Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform
The Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform (旧小坂鉄道小坂駅本屋及びプラットホーム) are the station building and platform of the Kosaka Railway's terminus in Kosaka Town, Kazuno District, Akita Prefecture; the main building dates from about 1909, and both were registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 26, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records the main building as single-storey timber with a sheet-metal roof and a building area of 263 square metres, and the platform as stone and concrete block, 60 metres long, from the middle of the Showa era. The building was altered around 1927 (the Agency writes Taisho 16) and in 1990. Registration number 05-0205.
A Station Facing the Town Centre
The Kosaka Station main building stands at the end of a railway tied to the Kosaka Mine, right in the town centre (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a long, narrow timber building, 34 metres by 5.4 metres, with the platform running along its west side.
The Rail Park's chronology records that the Kosaka Railway opened to public traffic in May 1909, and passenger trains ran until September 1994. Repairs to the station building were completed in March 2013.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform for their contribution to the historic landscape, as one of the most representative survivors of the railway that sustained the mine's prosperity.
What to Look For
At the Kosaka Station main building, look closely at the porch columns: they are made of rails rolled by Bethlehem Steel in the United States (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Up close you can make out the profile of the rail.
On the track side, the 60-metre platform runs parallel to the long eaves of the building. Its stone and block edge dates from the middle of the Showa era (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform
The Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform stand inside the Kosaka Railway Rail Park, and the park admission ticket includes the station building (Kosaka Railway Rail Park). They can be seen only during the park season, April 1 through November 23. Hours, fees and directions are on the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station page.
Q&A
- How old is the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform?
- The main building dates from about 1909 and the platform from the middle of the Showa era (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform registered?
- On March 26, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What are the porch columns of the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building made of?
- Rails made by Bethlehem Steel in the United States (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How big is the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform?
- The building is 34 metres by 5.4 metres, and the platform is 60 metres long (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I visit the Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform?
- Yes, with a Rail Park ticket during the season, April 1 through November 23 (Kosaka Railway Rail Park).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform (旧小坂鉄道小坂駅本屋及びプラットホーム) |
|---|---|
| Location | 20-9 Furukawa, Kosaka Kozan, Kosaka Town, Kazuno District, Akita Prefecture, and others |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/03/26 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 entry (main building and platform) |
| Dimensions | Main building: timber, 1 storey, sheet-metal roof, building area 263 m²; platform: stone and concrete block, 60 m long |
| Owner | Kosaka Town |
| Public Access | Open as part of the Kosaka Railway Rail Park (admission charged, closed in winter) |
References
- Former Kosaka Railway Kosaka Station Main Building and Platform (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010407
- About the Rail Park and history of the Kosaka Railway (Kosaka Railway Rail Park, Japanese)
- https://kosaka-rp.com/pages/9/
- Opening hours and admission (Kosaka Railway Rail Park, Japanese)
- https://kosaka-rp.com/pages/159/
Last verified: 2026.11.08
