what's on the upper floors of station buildings?

[miyakoji]

If a station's extra space isn't rented out, what's up there other than quarters for the last train's crew?  Some of these buildings appear to be fairly large.

 

Oume, Tokyo-to

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JR-Ome_Sta_0803.jpg

 

Miyoshi, Hiroshima

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miyoshi_station20080211.jpg

 

old Fukuchiyama Station

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:%E7%A6%8F%E7%9F%A5%E5%B1%B1%E9%A7%85%E9%A7%85%E8%88%8E.jpg

 

more space right next door, the Fukuchiyama branch office

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A5%BF%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%97%85%E5%AE%A2%E9%89%84%E9%81%93%E7%A6%8F%E7%9F%A5%E5%B1%B1%E6%94%AF%E7%A4%BE#/media/File:Hukutiyama-sisya,_West_Japan_Railway_Company,_2008-08-15.jpg

 

 

I'm sure I could get a decent apartment setup in the Oume building

Edited September 7, 2015 by miyakoji

[railsquid]

I guess offices and other administration facilities.

[miyakoji]

Yeah.  Maybe a better way to put it would be "what was up there" since these were all pre-JR buildings.  I don't think of a lot of administrative office work being done at small stations, but I guess there must be some.

[westfalen]

Most likely offices for local admistrative staff from the various departments for the area, JR like most other railways is probably top heavy with managers and office staff.  I imagine quarters for train crew would be more likely to be near the loco or train stabling point than the passenger station.

[bikkuri bahn]

Back in JNR days, there was much more staff, so they needed office space.  With JR and slimmed down workforces, it was no longer needed.  Often those buildings were torn down along with the elevation of stations.  The space formerly occupied by the headhouse/offices became a taxi roundabout or station square.  The space underneath the platforms became retail space along with reduced space for the remaining station staff (one space no longer needed was for parcels).