Think of train stations in Japan and the mighty Shinjuku station is sure to come to mind for many people. That is the world’s busiest train station, and Japan monopolises the top 50 list with only five of them not in this country. However, at the other end of the scale are some tiny stations which are usually unstaffed and used by very few commuters.

Station: Hozukyō

Prefecture: Kyoto

Line(s): Sagano Line

Average No. of Daily Passengers: 358

The word overtourism has been used a lot in recent times when talking about Kyoto but there are still plenty of places to be visited completely away from the crowds, and this is one such option even though it’s only about five kilometres west of the overly popular bamboo forest in Arashiyama.

The elevated station of Hozukyō is a tranquil setting making it the perfect escape from the hussle and bustle of the city’s tourist spots. Getting to appreciate the city’s nature in such a setting was too good an opportunity for me to miss so en-route to the Kyoto Sanga  football stadium in Kameoka, I disembarked a couple of stops earlier to see this station and the wonderful views from the two side platforms which must be some of the best in all of Japan.

There are two tracks and two tiny shelters on the platform for passengers to sit and wait for the train. Given how many people boarded or dismebarked when I was there (only myself on each occasion!) I’d say it’s more than enough space if the weather conditions are adverse.

This particular Hozukyō station is in some ways a new one as it moved to its present location in March 1989 when the new route of the San’in Line was opened. Before that, it was located on the site of the present Torokko Hozukyō station having originally opened in April 1936 where it was under the guise of Matsuoyama Signal Box for the first seven years before changing to the name Hozukyō. All of that may explain why the current station building is quite an aesthetically pleasing one.

Unstaffed stations often only accept commuter passes at best but this one has regular ticket gates (minus the opening and closing parts!) so even takes the paper tickets.

The two platforms are connected by an underpass.

I only had about twenty minutes between trains at the station but that isn’t always the case so it is definitely worth checking the times beforehand as there may be an hour wait or so. I had just enough time to see the view from the other platform which was even more impressive.

I was just passing through this station on the way to watch some football but it’s a place I think is well worth the 40 minute round-trip from Kyoto station. If you have even more time then taking the Sagano Scenic Railway to or from Torokko Hozukyō may be an even more interesting experience.

Going to Hozukyō is certainly the easier option and I was more than happy with what I saw at this station.

Click on the following links for previous ‘Unstaffed Stations of Japan’ posts…

1. Kamiyagi   #2. Funamachi   #3. Inazusa   #4. Yodo   #5. Nebukawa   #6. Miyamae   #7. Arao   #8. Higashi-Abiko   #9. Nukazawa   #10. Shin Shibaura   #11. Kubiki   #12. Kamakurakōkōmae   #13. Daishimae   #14. Minami-Takada   #15. Mochida   #16. Minami-Takasaki