Welcome to Jon’s Journeys, a new series on The Tokyo Life.
Japan is well-known all over the world for its bullet-trains. And as Tokyo insiders know, not only does it have advanced trains, the infrastructure itself is also something to marvel.
In this article, we take a trip to the Miura Peninsula, to give you the insider’s scoop on the ‘Least Used Station’ on the Yokosuka Line. Here, you can learn some of the station’s history, items of interest for avid riders, and points of interest you might not find in books and on websites.
The Yokosuka Line is a major train line in the Kanto area, consisting of 19 stations between Tokyo and Kurihama in Kanagawa. The line is exceptionally busy, regularly featuring near the top of the passenger congestion (混雑率) ranking tables each year. Trains have an unusual combination of eleven and four cars, which differs from the standard ten-five car sets on other JR Lines. While the line is busiest in Tokyo, we are targeting the quietest area… And the name of our target station, the least used on this line, is Taura.
Taura Station
Taura is located on the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa, about one hour out of Tokyo directly. The station was opened in 1904 and originally owned by Japanese Government Railways (官設鉄道). It was part of a branch line that served passengers between Zushi and Yokosuka. However, it is now possible to travel from Kurihama in the south, with the use of through-trains, to Narita Airport, and Kimitsu in Chiba. Freight services to and from Yokosuka also used to be frequent. The area is mostly residential and almost rural, and is served by two stations.
Keikyu Taura and Anjinzuka are not far away, and far more central to large-scale housing. These factors are why Taura the ‘Least Used Station‘ on the Yokosuka Line. Freight service was halted on February 1st 1984, and reinstated on March 31st 1987, the day before the present day JR East took over the network. However, JR halted the freight service in the area once again in 2006, and it has not been reinstated. You can see the disused section of rail, and its tunnel, next to Platform 2.
Facilities
The station is sandwiched in a valley, with tunnels at either end of the platform. If you are riding on an eleven car train, be careful when making an exit at Taura. The location only gives space for the front ten cars to open their doors. Passengers in the rear cars will be left in the tunnel! As one can expect from a JR station, the platforms are easily accessible by means of elevators (installed in 2010). And the station is well equipped with vending machines, bathrooms, and even a Green Car ticket machine for those who wish to travel more comfortably. That is not to say however that the facilities have not taken a downturn in the past.
The staffed ticketing office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) was replaced by a special reserved ticket machine in June 2007. By 2015, this special ticketing machine was also removed from the station, leaving only the conventional ticket machines. Do not expect to see any staff in the early morning at the station as it is also the only station on the Yokosuka Line that is left unmanned at this (or any) time of the day!
So, why would you want to come here?
Taura may not have much to offer in terms of shopping, but it does boast some fantastic hiking trails. Take the north exit and have a stroll in the hills and the 切通し, the trails cut long ago, and you can reach Zushi and Hayama on foot. Pick the right season and you may also visit Taura Plum Grove. Famous for its plum blossoms and its regular features in the Taura Photo Contest. Also nearby on the south exit side, is Agatsuma Island. The island is owned by the seaport and warehousing jurisdiction, and is out of bounds for regular visitors. It is sometimes however possible to take a boat tour around the island. If you really are just visiting, there are buses available for onward travel. And the Keikyu stations are within reach if you choose to do some exercise.
In terms of passenger numbers, we start with Taura having an average daily footfall of 2,278* passengers, which is less than half of the second-lowest station, Higashi-Zushi, which is frequented by 5,070* users. We shall see how Taura compares to the other lines in the Kanto area. If you are partial to some country air, ocean views, and a little exercise, definitely put Taura on your list of places to go.
*Passenger numbers shown are publicised by JR and represent only passengers who board the train. Numbers provided by JR do not include those leaving the train.
The disused freight line (left) next to Platform 2 (right). 
The upward end of Platform 1. Note the number 10 on the yellow marker. The platform is too short for an 11 car train, so Car 11 stops in the tunnel!
The Green Car ticket machine is one of the few modern conveniences at Taura station. 
In just one hour, you can be in one of the busiest cities in the world. How about a walk in the hills first?
Photos by Jon Wilson.
