History
Katsunuma-budōkyō Station, on the JR East Chūō Main Line in the city of Kōshū in Yamanashi Prefecture, originated as the Ōhikage signal stop on 1 April 1913. One week later, on 8 April, it was upgraded to a full station under the name Katsunuma. Originally built as a switchback to ease the steep gradient, the switchback layout was discontinued on 30 August 1968 when the line was double-tracked. The current two-storey station building opened in October 1980. With JNR's 1987 privatisation the station came under JR East, and it was renamed Katsunuma-budōkyō ('Katsunuma grape country') on 1 April 1993. Suica entered service in October 2004.
History summarized from Japanese & English Wikipedia · last reviewed 2026-05-18.
Notes
When the switchback was abolished in 1968, remnants of the former alignment were preserved as a small park; a replica JNR-style sign reads 'Hatsukano' as the next station, reflecting the layout that existed before the line was straightened.