Nemuro Station in Hokkaido was named Japan’s easternmost station after the Hokkaido Railway Company’s timetable revisions led to multiple station closures.

A ceremony attended by train enthusiasts was held at Nemuro Station on the JR Hanasaki Line on March 15 to mark the occasion.

JR Hokkaido closed the previous titleholding Higashi-Nemuro Station after 64 years of operation due to years of ridership decline.

S/ Local resident/ (I rode this train for) around 40 years. I’m going to miss it.

S/ Train Enthusiast / This is the first time I’ve seen so many people. It really feels like this is the end.

A total of 5 stations were closed in this revision.

Officials said in a yearend press conference that the closure of stations with low ridership is expected to help cut costs by 140 million yen annually.