| Yudanaka Station | |
| Native Name: | 湯田中駅 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Address: | 3227-2 Hirao, Shimotakai-gun Yamanouchi-machi, Nagano-ken 381-0401 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Coordinates: | 36.7417°N 138.4147°W |
| Operator: | 20px Nagano Electric Railway |
| Line: | Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line |
| Distance: | 33.2 km from |
| Platforms: | 1 side platform |
| Tracks: | 1 |
| Elevation: | 499.76 meters |
| Status: | Staffed |
| Code: | N24 |
| Opened: | 28 April 1927 |
| Passengers: | 646 daily |
| Pass Year: | FY2015 |
| Map Type: | Japan Nagano Prefecture#Japan |
is a railway station in the town of Yamanouchi, Nagano, Japan, operated by the private railway operating company Nagano Electric Railway. Yudanaka Station is a gateway to seasonal mountain and outdoor activities, including hiking and skiing or snowboarding, and to Jigokudani Monkey Park where Japanese macaques soak in an outdoor hot spring.
An indoor Japanese hot spring named is located in the former station building, standing beside the current station. The former station building itself is registered as tangible cultural property.
At the train's arrival, the song, composed by Akira Nishizawa, Masao Koga, and Atsuo Okamoto plays.[1] On departure, a regular train bell rings.
Yudanaka Station is the terminus of the Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line and is 33.2 kilometers from the opposing terminus of the line at Nagano Station. Yudanaka is 1.4 km from Kamijō Station, its nearest station on the local line, and 9.9 km from Shinshūnakano Station, its nearest station on the limited express.
The station consists of one ground-level side platform serving a single dead-headed track. The station formerly had two opposed side platforms, but one side platform is no longer in use. The staffed station building includes a station office, waiting room, tourist information center, and automatic ticket machines.
| Name | Via | Destination | Company | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Bus Yudanaka・Nagano - Kyōto・Ōsaka・Kōbe Line | Kyōto Station・Namba Station・Kōbe Station | Universal Studios Japan | Nankai Bus | |
| Kambayashi Line | Shinano-Takehara Station・Nakano-Matsukawa Station | Shinshū-Nakano Station | Bus | |
| Andai Onsen・Onsen | Kambayashi Onsen | |||
| Suga・Kadoma Line | Shinano-Takehara Station・Nakano-Matsukawa Station | Shinshū-Nakano Station | ||
| Kadoma Onsen | Suga | |||
| Shirane Kazan Line | Hasuike | Shirane Kazan | It is possible to transfer onto JR Bus Kusatsu-Shirane Line[2] bound for Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal, transfer onto Seibu Bus Asama-Kazan Line bound for Manza-Kazawaguchi Station and transfer onto Kusakaru Kōtsū Kusakaru-Shiranekazan Line[3] bound for Karuizawa Station via Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station at the Shirane Kazan bus stop. | |
| Okushiga Line | Hasuike・Mount Higashidate・Mount Yakebitai | Okushiga Kōgen Hotel |
The station opened on 28 April 1927. Previously, there were plans to extend from Yudanaka a further 2 kilometers to . Two stations were built, two licenses were acquired, but the work to lay the rails never commenced. Those licenses expired in 1931 and in 1958.
In January 1937, a Japanese National Railways (JNR) train arrived for the first time via Nagano Station, and in July of the same year a JNR trained arrived via Yashiro Station.
In 1958, the current station building was completed. In 1971, freight operations ended. JNR operated the Shiga train between Yudanaka and Ueno Station in Tokyo using the Shinetsu Line. This service to Yudanaka was discontinued in 1982.
In preparation for the 1998 Winter Olympics, there was an effort to rename the station ; however, this was withdrawn due to opposition from the Yudanaka Onsen Association.
In 2004, the former station was registered as tangible cultural property.
In 2006, the last mini switchback lines into the station were removed following repairs.
Between 2010 and 2012, the station was operated by Hokushin Sightseeing Taxi (currently Nagaden Taxi).
In fiscal 2016, the station was used by an average of 646 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).[4]
| Fiscal year | Daily average | |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 557 | |
| 2011 | 546 | |
| 2012 | 526 | |
| 2013 | 540 | |
| 2014 | 543 | |
| 2015 | 646 |