| Aso Station | |
| Native Name: | 阿蘇駅 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Symbol Location: | jp |
| Symbol: | jrk |
| Style: | JR Kyushu |
| Address: | Kurokawa, Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken 869-2225 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Coordinates: | 32.9374°N 131.0802°W |
| Operator: | JR Kyushu |
| Line: | Hōhi Main Line |
| Distance: | 49.9 km from |
| Platforms: | 1 island platform |
| Tracks: | 2 + 1 siding |
| Structure: | At grade |
| Status: | Staffed ticket window (outsourced) |
| Former: | Bōchū (until 20 March 1961) |
| Map Type: | Japan Kumamoto Prefecture#Japan |
| Map Dot Label: | Aso Station |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 17 |
is a passenger railway station located in the city of Aso, Kumamoto, Japan. It Is operated by JR Kyushu.[1]
Aso Station is served by the 148km (92miles) Hōhi Main Line, which runs between and and is located 49.9 km from the starting point of the line at .
The station consists of two side platforms serving two tracks at grade. The station building is a wooden structure of traditional Japanese design and houses a staffed ticket window, a waiting area, a shop and a restaurant.[2] [3]
Management of the station has been outsourced to the JR Kyushu Tetsudou Eigyou Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of JR Kyushu specialising in station services. It staffs the ticket window which is equipped with a POS machine but does not have a Midori no Madoguchi facility.[4] [5]
On 21 June 1914, Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the (later the Miyagi Line) from eastwards to . The line was extended eastward in phases and Miyaji was established as the eastern terminal on 25 January 1918. On the same day, Aso was opened as an intermediate station on the new track with the name . On 2 December 1928, Miyaji was linked up with, the western terminus of the, which had been extended westwards in phases from since 1914. Through-traffic was established between Kumamoto and Ōita. The two lines were merged and the entire stretch redesignated as the Hōhi Main Line. Bōchū was renamed Aso Station on 20 March 1961. With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR Kyushu.
Because of track damage from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, service between to was suspended from April 2016. Service between Aso and Bungo-Ogi was restored by 9 July 2016.[6] The sector between Higo-Ōzu and Aso remained closed. JR Kyushu commenced the repair work, starting first with the track from Higo-Ōzu to Tateno.[7] On 8 August 2020, JR Kyushu reopened the Higo-Ōzu to Aso section of the line, permitting access between Aso and Kumamoto.[8]
On 17 September 2017, Typhoon Talim (Typhoon 18) damaged the Hōhi Main Line at several locations. Services between Aso and Nakahanda were suspended and replaced by bus services. Rail service from Aso to Miemachi was restored by 22 September 2017[9] Normal rail services between Aso and Ōita were restored by 2 October 2017.[10]