Awa-Kainan Station is the southern terminus of the Mugi Line and is located 77.8 km from the opposing terminus of the line at Tokushima.[3] Only local trains stop at the station.[4] And, since 1 November 2020, it is the northern terminus of the 10.0 kilometer Asato Line to Kannoura Station.
The station, which is unstaffed, consists of a side platform serving a single track. There is no station building but a community interaction centre set up by the local municipal authorities is linked to the platform and serves as a waiting room. There is, additionally, a weather shelter on the platform. Access to the platform is by means of a flight of steps from the station forecourt or a ramp from the community interaction centre. A bike shed is provided near the base of the steps.[2][3][6]
A DMV departs from and arrives at a bus stop in front of this station.
DMV
Since 1 November 2020, this station has been transferred to Asa Seaside Railway and is jointly managed by Asa Seaside Railway and JR Shikoku with the commencement of DMV operations in 2021. The interconnection between JR Shikoku and Asa Seaside Railway has been disconnected due to the construction of the DMV. Asa Seaside Railway Awa-Kainan Station will be changed to a signal station, so trains depart from and arrive at bus stop near the station.[7]
Changeover facilities for DMV of Asa Seaside Railway and a platform and the end of JR Mugi Line
Mode change of a "dual-mode vehicle" at Awa Kainan Station
Japanese National Railways (JNR) opened the station on 1 October 1973 as an intermediate station when the track of the Mugi Line was extended from Mugi to Kaifu. On 1 April 1987, with the privatization of JNR, control of the station passed to JR Shikoku.[8][9] And, since 1 November 2020, the station has been transferred to Asa Seaside Railway.
Passenger statistics
In fiscal 2019, the station was used by an average of 176 passengers daily.
^Passengers are able to ride on this service without limited express ticket from this station to Mugi Station
^"阿波海南駅" [Awa-Kainan Station]. shikoku.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
^"DMVに関する技術評価検討会"(PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). MLIT. 18 December 2020. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
^Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 662. ISBN4-533-02980-9.
^Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 217. ISBN4-533-02980-9.