History
Katsurane Station opened as the Katsurane Signal Stop on 30 September 1962 on the Uetsu Main Line in what is now Akita city, becoming a full passenger station on 1 April 1987 — one of three Uetsu signal posts elevated to stations at JNR's privatisation. JR East has operated it since 1 April 1987. The signal-post equipment was demolished in June 2008, and in February 2016 the original Platform 1 and its level crossing were removed, leaving a single side platform plus a no-platform secondary main track. Most local trains pass through; only a handful stop each day.
History summarized from Japanese & English Wikipedia · last reviewed 2026-06-09.
Where the English and Japanese sources differ, this account follows the Japanese source.
Notes
Katsurane's platform was once just 5 metres long — barely covering the crew door and one passenger door of a 50-series carriage — and trains stopped with all other doors cut, a layout locals nicknamed the "morning-assembly podium."