The station consists of two island platforms serving four tracks with passing loops to the north and south.

The station building is wooden structure of traditional Japanese design with a tiled roof.

It houses a staffed ticket window (with a Midori no Madoguchi facility) and a waiting area.

With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, JR Kyushu took over control of the station.

[6] Media related to Arao Station (Kumamoto) at Wikimedia Commons