An unmanned station, deep in Tottori Prefecture, is surely set to become a national treasure following its unusual renovation.
Since the station is called “Koiyamagata Staton”, and the character for “koi” (恋) is the character for love, the station was redesigned in pink as a place for lovers to come and spend time together.
Could this this station be the answer to the falling birthrate?
From Asahi Shimbun:
With Only 2 Passengers Passing Through Per Day, Can An Unmanned Station In Tottori Become A Love Spot?
The station building of Koiyamagata station (Oouchi, Chizucho, Tottori Prefecture) on the Chizu Express Line has been renovated in pink. They have also installed a heart monument with the character for “love” written on in, it an attempt to help people to realize love.
Since four years ago, residents of the region have been growing a type of plantain lily which is the flower of love, and there was a call for people to write waka and haiku poems. In May last year, the station was also popular as part of the “Love Station Project”, which involved the 4 stations in Japan that contain the character for “love” in their name.
An unmanned train station in a valley, that doesn’t even have any toilets. Surrounded by trees; hidden away from national highways. The number of incoming and outgoing passengers numbers only two per day. The person in charge of the station said, “We will give this station as a place where a couple can be alone together”.
Pictures from Asahi Shimbun:
Koiyamagata station building has been renovated in pink, and a heart monument has been installed; Oouchi, Chizucho, Tottori Prefecture.
A train departs from the pink station buildings; Oouchi, Chizucho, Tottori Prefecture.
Koiyamagata Station has been reborn in pink; Oouchi, Chizucho, Tottori Prefecture.
Comments from 2ch.net:
ウンピョウ(新疆ウイグル自治区)：
No taste.
Are they stupid?
アメリカンショートヘア(庭)：
Where’s the sand?（´・ω・`）[Tottori prefecture is home to the “Japanese desert”, which even has (imported) camels]
バーミーズ(大阪府)：
It’s just too amazing that they only have two people per day.
It’d be awful if they didn’t talk to each other while waiting on the platform.
コーニッシュレック(東日本)：
Is this how the people from this place imagine love?
ボルネオヤマネコ(大阪府)：
I’ll go there if I can get hard and wait for a cute girl to get off the train and have sex with here right there and then or something.
スナネコ(関東・東海)：
It’s the secluded nature of secluded stations that is precious.
スペインオオヤマネコ(長野県)：
What the hell is this? (´･ω･`)
シャム(鳥取県)：
Fuuuck This my hometown, where I was born…stop it…
アビシニアン(やわらか銀行)：
As usual, this is just too try hard and will fail.
アメリカンカール(東京都)：
If you just look at the colour it’s cute, but get rid of the heart.
Makes it tacky.
スノーシュー(関東地方)：
This is just going to become a playground for exhibitionists.
ウンピョウ(長野県)：
Are they saying “Have sex here!”?
スミロドン(神奈川県)：
Can you call a delivery health service from here?
アムールヤマネコ(やわらか銀行)：
It’s because in neighbouring Shimane Prefecture they have the Izumo Grand Shrine which is famous for marriages.
リビアヤマネコ(茨城県)：
Do they honestly have multiple train lines there when it’s an underused line?
A single line would do the job.
スノーシュー(群馬県)：
All that countryside scenery’s been ruined.
