On Friday 17 June, JR Central opened a "square" in front of Hashimoto station in Sagamihara City (Kanagawa Prefecture). Here, Hashimoto station of Chuo Shinkansen has been constructed since 2019, and the construction site can be seen from this mound. It is called Sagamihara Rinia Hiroba (lit. Sagamihara Maglev Square), but hereinafter referred to as the Mound.
The Chuo Shinkansen is the first maglev rail in Japan and is scheduled to open between Shinagawa (Tokyo) and Nagoya in 2027, though it is highly likely to be deferred for several years mainly due to fierce criticism from the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture. Trains will run at a speed of up to 505 km/h (314 mph).
The Mound is less than a five-minute walk from Hashimoto station (JR and Keio lines), but it is not easy to find its entrance as there are only few small signboards. The Mound is open for public once or twice a week, presumably for local residents. It is not a well-maintained facility so that infants and physically-challenged people might feel it difficult to walk.
Since the most part of the line will be underground, construction workers have been digging the ground to build the new station. It is not possible to see platforms or tracks, but just shows how deep the station will be. Lorries with literally tonnes of excavated soil were slowly moving every minute.
There is a blueprint of the station in the middle of the site. Those who are well-versed in civil engineering might be interested in it.
The Mound is 1,500 sq metres (1,794 sq yards) big. It will be closed in the near future as the construction goes on. According to a staff I spoke to, no decision has been made yet about this land after the construction completes, but it is likely to be a bus terminal and a roundabout.
Sagamihara Rinia Hiroba opens on Fridays and certain Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, and is free of charge with no appointment required. Those who plan to visit should check the official calendar in advance, which is available on JR Central website.
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