The line was extended again with Higashi-Karatsu opening on the east bank of the Matsuura River as the new western terminus on 15 June 1925.

[7][8][9] The location of Higashi-Karatsu was inconvenient as the city centre of Karatsu lay on the west bank of the Matsuura River.

Passengers wanting to access Karatsu station in the city centre had to travel a long dog-leg south via Yamamoto or make a road or foot journey across the river.

The stretch of track down the east bank to Yamamoto with the intermediate stations of Kagami and Kuri was closed.

[9][10][11] With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR), the successor of JGR, on 1 April 1987, control of the station passed to JR Kyushu.