[Hokkaido] Engaru Station: A station that gives a glimpse of past prosperity

#0yentravel Engaru Station is a JR Sekihoku Line station located in Engaru Town, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido. It opened in 1915 and was once a key transportation hub as the junction with the Nayoro Line. It is now known as a station with a switchback structure, which is rare in Japan. The station building is a two-story wooden building built in 1932, and its historic appearance is impressive. The platform has two sides and three tracks, and trains such as the express trains "Okhotsk" and "Daisetsu" stop there. Shopping streets and public facilities are gathered around the station, making it the center of the town. When I visited, I was drawn to the illustration of the town's flower, "cosmos," painted on the stairs of the station, which caught my eye and gave me a sense of the warmth of the area. Engaru Station is one of the memorable stations not only for train fans but also for travelers.