The station handled locomotive replacement and maintenance, split-merge of carriages, switchbacks, etc.

In front of the station were two inns, taxis, restaurants, barbershops and other establishments, such that the area was called "Ochiai Ginza".

However, after World War II, the number of employees decreased due to the replacement of steam locomotives with diesel trains, and the number of users decreased due to depopulation and the development of the road network.

The station became part of JR West on April 1, 1987 when Japan National Railways was privatized.

There are no shops in front of the station, and there are many vacant houses due to rural depopulation.