“A ghost line.” Does that sound intriguing? We are standing before a relic. It is the former overpass bridge of Setagaya-Daita Station on the Odakyu Line.
Setagaya-Daita Station opened in 1927. It was originally named Setagaya-Nakahara Station. The station’s name changed in 1946. The station stands in Setagaya, Tokyo.
The Odakyu Line serves this station. The station has the number OH08.
Let’s talk history. This station has seen some things. In 1945, air raids hit Setagaya-Daita Station. It was the only Odakyu station destroyed by bombing.
Now for a unique detail. After World War II, a special connection line appeared. It linked Setagaya-Daita Station to nearby Shindaita Station on the Inokashira Line. This was the Daita Connection Line. It helped transport train cars. The Inokashira Line needed cars after losing many during the war. This connection line was short-lived. It was only around for about eight years.
Before the underground renovations, Setagaya-Daita was an above-ground station. There was an overpass. It connected the platforms. On clear days, people could see Mount Fuji from the overpass. The locals nicknamed a window “Fuji View Window”. This window moved to the temporary station during construction.
The station underwent major changes. In 2004, work began to put the tracks underground. In 2006, a temporary station opened. It was located on a bridge. The entire project finished in 2018. This included double-tracking.
The area around Setagaya-Daita Station is mainly residential. You will not find large commercial buildings here. However, its proximity to Shimokitazawa and Shinjuku increases its appeal.
Setagaya-Daita Station even played a role in a TV drama called “silent”. The station saw a rise in visitors. In November 2022, passenger numbers increased by 22.7%. This was compared to September before the drama aired. The Odakyu Electric Railway chose this station. The TV crew wanted a good location. They also wanted a station with fewer passengers.
The old overpass is a reminder of the past. It is a viewpoint to look back. This is Setagaya-Daita Station’s story.