The station is served by the Hōhi Main Line and is located 32.3 km from the starting point of the line at. It is also the starting point for the Takamori Line.
Layout
The station consists of two island platforms serving three tracks. The station forecourt/parking area is located at a higher level than the platforms. From there, a flight of steps descends to the first island platform. The station buildings for both the Minami Aso Railway and JR Kyushu are located on this platform, which also serves the Takamori Line. From the JR Kyushu station, a level crossing gives access to the other island platform which serves two Hōhi Main Line tracks. Both station buildings are unstaffed and serve as waiting rooms. A souvenir shop is located at the station forecourt.
Adjacent stations
Switchback
Tateno station is located at an altitude of 277 metres while the next station,, 7.9 rail kilometres away, is at 465 metres. In order to achieve a practical gradient while ascending 190 metres within this distance, trains need to execute a three-stage switchback after leaving the station. Trains approaching from enter Tateno from the west. They then reverse direction and exit the station westward to a point at altitude of 306 metres where they reverse direction again onto a track heading for the next station. A signboard on the Tateno Station platform gives passengers a detailed guide to this procedure. The tracks of this switchback were severely damaged by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
History
On 21 June 1914, Japanese Government Railways opened the Miyaji Light Rail Line from eastwards to. The line was extended eastward in phases and was opened as the new eastern terminal on 11 November 1916. It became a through-station on 25 January 1918 when the track was extended further to. By 2 December 1928, the track at Miyaji was linked up with the Inukai Line, which had been extended westwards in phases from since 1914. Through-traffic was established between Kumamoto and Ōita. The two lines were merged and the entire stretch redesignated as the Hōhi Main Line. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways, the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR Kyushu. The JR track from to was heavily damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and service between the stations, including to Tateno has been suspended. JR Kyushu has commenced repair work, starting first with the sector from Higo-Ōzu to Tateno but has not announced a targeted completion date.
