It is also a terminal station for the Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line and is located 94.2 kilometers (58.5 mi) from the opposing terminal of that line at Kakunodate.

The adjacent Akita Nairiku Railway portion of the station uses a single bay platform Takanosu Station opened on August 7, 1900 as a station on the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) serving the town of Takanosu, Akita.

The JGR Aniai Line began operations from December 10, 1934.

The JGR became the Japanese National Railways (JNR) after World War II.

The station was absorbed into the JR East network upon the privatization of the JNR on April 1, 1987.