is a railway station in Minamiaso, Kumamoto, Japan. It is jointly operated by JR Kyushu and the Minami Aso Railway and is a transfer station between the JR Kyushu Hōhi Main Line and the Minami Aso Takamori Line. The station is also noted for the three-stage switchback that trains need to execute in order to proceed to , the next station on the Hōhi Main Line. Lines The station is served by the Hōhi Main Line and is located from the starting point of the line at . It is also the starting point for the Takamori Line. Layout The station consists of two island platforms serving three tracks. The station forecourt/parking area is located at a higher level than the platforms. From there, a flight of steps descends to the first island platform. The station buildings for both the Minami Aso Railway and JR Kyushu are located on this platform, which also serves the Takamori Line. From the JR Kyushu station, a level crossing gives access to the other island platform which serves two Hōhi Main Line tracks. Both station buildings are unstaffed and serve as waiting rooms. A souvenir shop is located at the station forecourt. Adjacent stations Switchback Tateno station is located at an altitude of while the next station, , (by rail) away, is at . In order to achieve a practical gradient while ascending within this distance, trains need to execute a three-stage switchback (changing directions twice) after leaving the station. Trains approaching from enter Tateno from the west. They then reverse direction and exit the station westward to a point at altitude of where they reverse direction again onto a track heading for the next station. A signboard on the Tateno Station platform gives passengers a detailed guide to this procedure. The tracks of this switchback were severely damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. History 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 was opened as the new eastern terminal on 11 November 1916. It became a through-station on 25 January 1918 when the track was extended further to . By 2 December 1928, the track at Miyaji was linked up with the , which had been extended westwards in phases from since 1914. Through-traffic was established between Kumamoto and Ōita. The two lines were merged