title: Kagoshima-Chūō Station
text: # Kagoshima-Chūō Station
  
  Kagoshima-Chūō Station (鹿児島中央駅, Kagoshima-Chūō-eki, Kagoshima Central Station) is a major railway station in Kagoshima, Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It is the main railway terminal serving Kagoshima, the southern terminus of the Kyushu Shinkansen, and is located on the Kagoshima Main Line and Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line. It is also the southernmost high-speed Shinkansen railway terminal in Japan.
  
  Before the Kyushu Shinkansen opened in 2004, the station was called Nishi-Kagoshima Station (西鹿児島駅, Nishi-Kagoshima-eki, West Kagoshima Station).
  
  In fiscal year 2016, the station was used by an average of 19,842 passengers daily (boarding passengers only), and it ranked third among the busiest JR Kyushu stations.
  
  ## History
  
  Kagoshima-Chūō initially opened on October 11, 1913 as Take Station (武駅, Take-eki) on the Sendai Line. On December 17, 1915, the adjacent Take Ekimae tram stop (武駅前停留所) opened.
  
  Take Station changed its name to Nishi-Kagoshima Station (西鹿児島駅) on October 17, 1927, with the Take Ekimae tram stop being renamed Nishi-Kagoshima Ekimae tram stop (西鹿児島駅前停留所) on August 7, 1928.
  
  On March 13, 2004, Nishi-Kagoshima Station was renamed Kagoshima-Chūō Station (鹿児島中央駅), and Kyushu Shinkansen services began between Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chūō. The Nishi-Kagoshima Ekimae tram stop was renamed the Kagoshima-Chuo Ekimae tram stop (鹿児島中央駅前停留所).
  
  ## Lines
  
  Kagoshima-Chūō Station is served by the following JR Kyushu lines:
  
  * Kyushu Shinkansen
  * Kagoshima Main Line
  * Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line
  
  The Kyushu Shinkansen tracks and platforms are perpendicular to the Kagoshima Main and Ibusuki-Makurazaki tracks and platforms.
  
  ### Platforms
  
  | 1 | ■ Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line | for Goino, Ibusuki, and Yamakawa |
  | - | - | - |
  | 2-4 | ■ Kagoshima Main Line | for Ijūin, Kushikino, and Sendai |
  | 2-4 | ■ Nippō Main Line | for Kagoshima, Hayato, and Miyazaki |
  | 2-4 | ■ Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line | for Goino, Ibusuki, and Yamakawa |
  | 5/6 | ■ Kagoshima Main Line | for Ijūin, Kushikino, and Sendai |
  | 5/6 | ■ Nippō Main Line | for Kagoshima, Hayato, and Miyazaki |
  | 11-14 | Kyushu Shinkansen | for Kumamoto, Hakata, and Shin-Osaka |
  
  ## Trains
  
  ### Limited Express trains
  
  * Kirishima - Nippō Main Line
  * Ibusuki no Tamatebako - Ibusuki Makurazaki Line
  
  ### Liner and Rapid trains
  
  * Nanohana - Ibusuki Makurazaki Line
  * Ocean Liner Satsuma - Kagoshima Main Line
  
  ## Adjacent stations
  
  | ← | Service | → |
  | - | - | - |
  | Kagoshima Main Line |||||
  | Terminus | Limited Express Kirishima | Kagoshima |
  | Ijūin | Rapid Ocean Liner Satsuma | Terminus |
  | Hiroki | Local | Kagoshima |
  | Ibusuki Makurazaki Line |||||
  | Terminus | Limited Express Ibusuki no Tamatebako | Kiire |
  | Terminus | Local Rapid Nanohana | Kōrimoto |
  
  ## Ekiben
  
  * Tonkatsu bento, a bento with tonkatsu available as ekiben, is a local specialty consisting of Kagoshima pork ribs simmered in shōchū, miso, and black sugar for over five hours.
  
  ## Surrounding areas
  
  * Kagoshima-Chūō Ekimae tram stop
  * Amu Plaza Kagoshima and Amuran Ferris wheel
  * Kagoshima Central Post Office
  * Museum of the Meiji Restoration
  * Naples Avenue (ナポリ通り, Napori-dōri)
  * Kagoshima Prefectural Konan High School
  * Kagoshima Prefectural Tsurumaru High School
  