Yudanaka Station is a gateway to seasonal mountain and outdoor activities, including hiking and skiing or snowboarding, and to Jigokudani Monkey Park where Japanese macaques soak in an outdoor hot spring.

The station consists of one ground-level side platform serving a single dead-headed track.

Previously, there were plans to extend from Yudanaka a further 2 kilometers to Shibu Onsen (渋温泉).

Two stations were built, two licenses were acquired, but the work to lay the rails never commenced.

JNR operated the Shiga train between Yudanaka and Ueno Station in Tokyo using the Shinetsu Line.