Revitalizing Kiryu ​City: Shin-Kiryu Station Transforms into a Baseball Stadium

Image of the Shin-Kiryu Station platform decorated ⁣to resemble a baseball field (Courtesy of Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture)

Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, is collaborating with Tobu Railway to transform the platform‌ at Shin-Kiryu Station into ​a design that resembles a baseball‌ stadium. Construction⁢ is set to begin next month and is scheduled‌ to be completed by March 2027.

This innovative project is‌ part​ of the “Kiryu Baseball City Project,” a‌ public-private ‌partnership aimed at revitalizing ‌the area ⁢with a baseball theme. As the gateway ⁤to tourism in the city, the station connects Tokyo to Kiryu with ‍a single train line. By changing the ⁤design to a more playful baseball stadium style, the station aims to⁣ attract more tourists, ​mainly baseball fans. The secondary station name will ⁣be “Kiryu Baseball City,” and will be‍ displayed on‌ the​ station sign.

Starting with platform 2, where trains from‍ Tokyo arrive, the renovation will include decorating the floors, walls, underground passageways, and ticket gates. Oike Kohei, section chief of the city’s Sports and Cultural ​Promotion Division, who is in charge of the project, said, “It’s rare nationwide to see a‍ baseball home base ⁢on a station platform. This will make for an impactful station.” A ⁢permanent exhibition of ‌baseball-related materials ⁤is also being considered to attract people to‍ the city who​ are visiting the station.