[5] With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR Hokkaido.

[5] The town announced that it would assume management of the station out of its own funds to prevent closure, covering the necessary maintenance costs.

The metal walls of the freight car making up the body of the station had seriously corroded, and the town paid to stabilise and repaint them between June and August 2017.

Numahikyon’s head is a representation of the station building, which a simple black body, arms and legs.

[1] The town hoped that the station could develop the areas tourism potential and serve "as a gateway to tourist resources such as the Sarobetsu Marsh".