Tsutsuishi Station

Tsutsuishi Station (筒石駅) is a railway station in Itoigawa, Niigata, Japan, operated by Echigo Tokimeki Railway.

Lines
Tsutsuishi Station is served by the Nihonkai Hisui Line, and is 40.9 kilometers from the starting point of the line at Ichiburi and 335.4 kilometers from Maibara Station.

Station layout
The station consists of two opposed side platforms located inside the 11,353 m long Kubiki Tunnel, 40 m below ground, connected to the entrance gate by 290 steps. There is only a stairway, with no elevator or escalator. Due to the air pressure generated by passing trains, access to the platform is limited and a protected waiting room with heavy metal doors keep passengers safe from typhoon-like wind. Average daily ridership at this station is approximately 60, mostly students.

History
The station opened on December 16, 1912, as part of the Japanese Government Railways (JGR, JNR after 1949). On October 1, 1969, a new Tsutsuishi Station was opened. On April 1, 1987, with the privatization of JNR, JR West took over control of this station.

From 14 March 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa, local passenger operations over sections of the Shinetsu Main Line and Hokuriku Main Line running roughly parallel to the new Shinkansen line were reassigned to third-sector railway operating companies. From this date, Tsutsuishi Station was transferred to the ownership of the third-sector operating company Echigo Tokimeki Railway.

Passenger statistics
In fiscal 2017, the station was used by an average of 23 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).

Surrounding area

 * Tsutsuishi fishing port
 * Tsutsuishi Post Office
 * Isobe Elementary School