Disused Rail Stations in Japan

I understand many railway companies had ceased operation in the remote regions throughout Japan for the past many years. They were the victim of depopulation of the country in the rural areas. I would very much like to look into the history, the names of the railway companies, the routes and the stations that were closed/discontinued the service. Are there any books and references in English regarding this topic? Thank you!

In English not to my knowledge, however there are many Japanese books and websites.

Actually not just rural areas, but major metropolitan areas too.

For example in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, Tokyu Railways has closed many older stations and built newer ones in its place.

In Yokohama, the Tokyu Toyoko Line used to run beyond Yokohama to Sakuragicho, this closed when the Minato Mirari Line opened.

Old Sakuragicho Station of Tokyu Railways can be seen next to JR Sakuragicho station, however all the tracks etc have been removed.
I believe remnents of Takashimachō station also exist.

Between Nippori Station and Ueno Station is an abandoned Keisei Railways station that can be seen from the train ride between the two stations. The above station ground entrance still exists but is sealed closed. The station used to operate to the Ueno Zoo but closed due to short platforms and under utilization.

Close to Tokyo, the Kashima Railway Line closed last year. Connections could be made to it via the Joban line.

Thank you so much for your reply.
I do understand why the railway companies ceased operation in the remote places like Hokkaido Island because it was economically not viable for them to survive with a declining population, But, why in the Metropolitan Tokyo area?
By the way, is Ou Main Line ( 484.5km includes Yamagata Shinkansan Line minus the smaller portions of the east and west bound Ou line) from Fukushima to Aomori the longest line in terms of mileage covered?
Many thanks!

The Tokyu Lines stations were replaced with brand new stations and facilities replacing old ones.

The two Toyoko Line after stations after Yokohama was abandoned for the new Minato Miarai Line. JR and Yokohama city subway covers the areas that the two Tokyu stations left. Old Tokyu Yokohama station was above ground, but moved downstairs into a brand new (much nicer) station.

So these (the ones in the Metro area) aren't neccessarily lines that ceased operations but rather abandoned old stations.

These two entries on Wikipedia each list several abandoned lines:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nankai_Electric_Railway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintetsu

Wikipedia has always been a useful source for refernces.
Thank you all for your replies!

Let me explain a little bit about the Toyoko Line.

To begin with, Yokohama has been suffering a great decrease of consumers, since most of the current residents commute to Tokyo during the day. Yokohama is practically a suburban residental area for those working and studying in Tokyo but couldn't pay the high rent there. This decrease is not helping the heavy deficit of Yokohama at all.

So for decades, the City of Yokohama has always been seeking ways to attract the population back. Building the MM21 district, holding many offices and chain stores, was one of them.

But Yokohama has also been a touristical site that had the potential to attract tourists and young couples during the weekends. The idea of founding the Minatomirai Line was to make the "Shibuya to Motomachi/China Town" route convenient. Before the Line was made, Tokyo-ers had to ride the Toyoko Line for 40 minutes, then change to a bus at Sakuragicho Station in order to go to fashionable Motomachi or gourmet China Town, but now the Toyoko Line extended to Minatomirai Line can take you there in just 20 minutes.

Obviously this operation has left out the local residents, including me, completely. Before Minatomirai Line was made, we were able to take the Toyoko Line to (the now closed) Sakuragicho Station with a 130 yen ticket and enjoy a short walk to the Nogeyama Zoo or the Central Library, and the walk from the Station to Warner cinema complex along the Kisha-michi bridge wasn't crowd at all.

Now that Sakuragicho Station is closed, we need to pay double the price (since Toyoko and Minatomirai lines are automatically connected but run by multiple railway companies) to get to Minatomirai Station, which is very far from the Zoo or the Library, and we have to fight the crowd in Queen's mall to get to Warner.

The situation with Takashimacho Station is worse. This station has now completely disappeared from the Toyoko Line, and there are no stations along this Line that is within walking distance from the closed Takashimacho Station. So those who used to commute to offices near Takashimacho need to change to a subway line at crowded Yokohama Station or suffer a long walk from some place else.

On a related note, the new diagram has made it convenient for those who use the express train stops like Jiyuugaoka or Nakamerugo (in the City of Tokyo). However, the new diagram has decreased the frequency of the slowest trains, and those who use stations like Yutenji and Toritsudaigaku need to wait longer now for the trains to come.

So wherever you live, be it rural or not, your income and convenience is often sacrificed for a better economy of the city and convenience of the majority.