The train station that stayed open for a single school girl finally closes down

Last year Kyu-shirataki Station made headlines around the world for staying open just to send one girl to school, but now that she’s graduating, it’s time to pack it in. News of delaying closures along the “Shiraktaki Series” of stations to accommodate a single student began to make headlines in Japan last year and by the New Year’s holidays had snowballed into international news. These stops, Kami-shirataki, Kyu-shirataki, and Shimo-shirataki, were ordinarily on the periphery of Japanese railfans’ radar. At least, that was until the story broke and enthusiasts armed with cameras flooded in to capture a piece of history. However, that madness eventually died down and on 25 March, with Kyu-shirataki’s sole passenger graduating, it was time to call it quits. Everywhere in Japan, spring brings changes such as this. Students graduate and move on to new experiences, weary businesses close their doors for good, while young ventures full...

March 28, 2016

Last year Kyu-shirataki Station made headlines around the world for staying open just to send one girl to school, but now that she’s graduating, it’s time to pack it in.

News of delaying closures along the “Shiraktaki Series” of stations to accommodate a single student began to make headlines in Japan last year and by the New Year’s holidays had snowballed into international news.

These stops, Kami-shirataki, Kyu-shirataki, and Shimo-shirataki, were ordinarily on the periphery of Japanese railfans’ radar. At least, that was until the story broke and enthusiasts armed with cameras flooded in to capture a piece of history.

However, that madness eventually died down and on 25 March, with Kyu-shirataki’s sole passenger graduating, it was time to call it quits.

Everywhere in Japan, spring brings changes such as this. Students graduate and move on to new experiences, weary businesses close their doors for good, while young ventures full of hope open theirs for the first time.

Everyone’s moving somewhere but during all this there will always be stops along the way of the memories of the people and places we have touched and that have touched us.