Hankyu Hanshin Kokudo Station

Located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, this station is on the Hankyu Railway Imazu Line. Until 1984, there was a direct service between Takarazuka and Imazu, but now the line is split at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi, with shuttle services running between Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi and Imazu. This station is the only intermediate station on this section. It has two platforms and two tracks, and is situated on an old viaduct from the time of its opening. The station is adjacent to National Route 2, which connects Osaka and Kobe, and this is the origin of its name. It is not related to the Hanshin Main Line, which competes with the Hankyu Kobe Line. The station is about 800 meters away from JR Nishinomiya, and transfers can be made on foot or via Hanshin Bus. The trains are operated by a single driver, and sensors are installed on the platform fences for safety. Currently, it is the least used station on the Hankyu Railway, but a medical center combining the prefectural and municipal hospitals in the city is being constructed on adjacent land, and an increase in users is expected in the future.