In the remote town of Engaru, in Hokkaido, the second largest island and the northernmost remained operational only to serve a student.
The station was inaugurated in 1947 and operated by JR Hokkaido, but with time fewer and fewer people were using it until practically abandoned. Therefore, in 2015 the company raised its closure, a measure that was delayed for the sake of a high school student who depended on the station to go to school every day, according to the British newspaper .
Kana Harada lived in a very little populated area, had only 36 residents, so she was the only student who used the station to attend the Hokkaido Engaru high school, located approximately 35 kilometers away. Without her, Kana I would have had to walk 73 minutes.
JR Hokkaido decided to keep it open until Kan’s graduation, which was held in March 2016. The station then closed its doors forever, marking the end of an era of almost 70 years. The structure and platform of the station were demolished in October of the following year.
For the farewell, they decorated a paper banner that said: “Kyu-Shiraki station, 69, thanks.” They also placed a bouquet of flowers on the bank of the station and saw the 4:53 train to Ashikawa for the last time.
