The Former Temiya Line Railroad cuts through the retro port city of Otaru, running from the popular Sushiya-Dori shopping street to the Otaru City General Museum, which stands on the site of Temiya Station—the birthplace of rail service in Hokkaido.
Established in 1880 as part of the larger Horonai Railway, Temiya Line was the oldest railway line in Hokkaido and carried passengers from 1912 to 1962, after which it only ran as a freight train until its discontinuation in 1985, putting an end to the line altogether.
For years, the railroad tracks of the former Temiya Line lay all but abandoned. In 2001, the city purchased them from the Japanese Railway (JR) company in order to repurpose them as a scenic promenade, completing the project in 2016.
Now, the refurbished railroad tracks stretch on for a mile, carpeted with weeds and wildflowers. Running past many of Otaru’s landmarks, the promenade itself is a charming attraction, giving visitors a unique Stand By Me-like photo opportunity.
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