Former Kamisunagawa Station - Hokkaido

Former Kamisunagawa Station (上砂川駅) is an abandoned station of the Hokkaido Railway Company. It is located in the town of Kamisunagawa, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

上砂川駅
Former Kamisunagawa Station

Former Kamisunagawa Station details

Kamisunagawa Station is an abandoned station located in Kamisunagawa, Hokkaido. It was opened in 1926 and served as the terminal station of the Kamisunagawa branch line of the Hakodate Main Line. However, the station was closed on May 16, 1994, as the Kamisunagawa branch line was discontinued.

Former Kamisunagawa Station - Kamisunagawa town, Hokkaido Prefecture

At its peak, it serves hundreds of passengers but it suddenly dropped after the closure of the mines. As a matter of fact, in 1981, Kamisunagawa Station saw an average of 115 passengers per day. However, by 1992, that number had dwindled to only 10.

Former Kamisunagawa Station facade



When the Mitsui Sunagawa Coal Mine was operating, Kamisunagawa Station had many siding tracks. However, with the closure of the mine, the siding was no longer in use and replaced with a bar. In 2010, the station building's position was relocated closer to Sunagawa, and the direction was changed from when it was in service. The station was an above-ground station with a single platform and one track. The platform was located on the south side of the track. Today, the former waiting room displays photographs related to TV/movie shooting, making it a tourist spot that attracts many fans.

Inside the Former Kamisunagawa Station



You can still get the stamp of the station here. However, the ink pads are mostly dry






Kamisunagawa Station has also been featured in several films. It was used as a filming location for the 1984 TV drama "Yesterday, Sad Betsu" and the 1981 film "Eki STATION." The single "Hibetsu," released in 2013 by Natsumi Kawano, is a song set in this station.

Preserved Yo 8055 and Suyuni 60 218





The station building has been relocated to the track site in the station's premises and preserved with a 90-degree orientation. At the entrance, visitors will now find a sign displaying the name "Hibetsu Station". The former waiting room now features an array of photographs related to TV and movie filming, making it a popular tourist destination that attracts many fans. Additionally, the Yo 8055 type conductor's coach and the Suyuni 60218 type passenger car are on display and well-preserved on the platform, offering visitors an exciting glimpse into the station's historical past.

Team Nicerio visits the Former Kamisunagawa Station






My family and I visited the Former Kamisunagawa Station for the first time last September 11, 2022, as part of our September 9-11 Road Trip. It was my 314th day in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. It was the first place that we visited in Kamisunagawa. I included it in our itinerary as I was interested in seeing the preserved Yo 8055 conductor's coach and Suyuni 60218 passenger car. We were lucky to have been able to visit it during its opening period hence, we were also able to get the Eki station stamp for our stamp collection.

Former Kamisunagawa Station Fee

It’s FREE to enter and explore the Former Kamisunagawa Station. Even if it’s abandoned it still serves as a mini museum of the town.

Former Kamisunagawa Station operating hours

The old station building is open to the public only from early April until mid-November. The Former Kamisunagawa Station is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Why visit the Former Kamisunagawa Station?

Although there is nothing much to do inside the Former Kamisunagawa Station, it serves as a reminder of the station's history and its place in Hokkaido's transportation infrastructure. However, if you're a train enthusiast, then you would probably be interested to see the Yo 8055 conductor's coach and the Suyuni 60218 passenger car.

Getting to the Former Kamisunagawa Station

From Takikawa Station walk towards Takikawa Eki Mae bus stop and ride the Utashinai Sen Route of the Chuo bus line. Board down at Chuo 1 Chome [Kamisunagawacho] bus top. From there, walk for about 120 meters to reach the Former Kamisunagawa Station. 

Travel time: 40 minutes
Fare: 590 yen

Ratings

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating


Location: Japan, 〒073-0201 Hokkaido, Sorachi District, Kamisunagawa, 中央北１条１丁目２−２

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 20, 2024 at 8:35 AM

    It's sad that it's already closed but good that the local preserved it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioMay 23, 2024 at 4:33 PM

      True. I wish they would add more displays in it though.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Book your hotel thru KLOOK

Klook.com
Subscribe and get updated with the latest travel articles of The Backpack Adventures

Popular posts from this blog

A Guide to Collecting Eki Stamps

Image
Japan is undeniably a collector's paradise. As a matter of fact, there are a plethora of different things to collect here that are catered to every collector's unique taste and preference.  Anime fans have their usual toys, mangas, and memorabilia. Pokemon fans have numerous Pokemon Centers that sell an assortment of Pokemon merchandise. Kitkat collectors have more than 300 flavors of Kitkat to try out. Pilgrims have the temple stamps called goshuin which I wrote about last time. These are but some of the numerous possible things to collect in Japan . A Guide to Collecting Eki Stamps However, since I'm promoting budget travel, my article today talks about something that you can collect for FREE . Yup, you read that right. All you need to have is a clean notebook or tickler and an ever-watchful eye. A Guide to Collecting Eki Stamps Eki stamps , also called train station stamps, are rubber ink stamps that are typically found in most train stations in Japan. These stamps f
Keep reading

National Shrine of St. Padre Pio - Batangas

Image
Located in Barangay San Pedro in Sto. Tomas in the province of Batangas, the National Shrine of St. Padre Pio is a pilgrimage site dedicated and inspired by Saint Padre Pio. National Shrine of St. Padre Pio National Shrine of St. Padre Pio History The shrine initially started out as a bamboo and nipa chapel back in 2003. Then on November 7, 2005, a 1.6-hectare agricultural land was donated to the Archdiocese of Lipa by a generous couple. A year later, another generous individual donated 200 square meters of land to provide the right of way to the site. This land would be the site of the new chapel and later on the Shrine of St. Padre Pio . The salakot like roof as seen from the bell tower Devotees hanging handkerchiefs dipped in the Well of Hope or Bukal ng Pag-asa  St. Padre Pio welcomes the pilgrims to the shrine Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry - National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio St. Padre Pio belltower St. Padre Pio painting A relic inside the Reli
Keep reading

10 Things to Do in Utashinai City

Image
10 Things to Do in Utashinai City Utashinai ( 歌志内市 ) is a city in the Sorachi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . It is the smallest city in the country in terms of population. The city got its name when the railway was established in the region. It derived its name from the sound of the river coursing through the vicinity, referred to as " Otashinai ". For those planning to visit the town of Utashinai to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Utashinai City : Utashinai manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the  manhole covers of Utashinai . So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. The first one is common around town. The colored manhole cover can be found along Route 691. Utashinai Pokemon manhole cover 2. Check out the newly installed Utashinai Pokemon manhole cover at Utashinai Roadside Station. It features both Vulpix and its Alolan counterpart together with Joltik. Former Sorachi Coal Mine Club (旧空知炭鉱倶楽部) 3. Visit the  Former Sorachi Coal Mine Clu
Keep reading

Utashinai Roadside Station - Hokkaido

Image
Utashinai Roadside Station , formally called Roadside Station Utashinai Tyrol ( 道の駅 うたしないチロルの湯 ) is one of the 128 roadside stations spread around Hokkaido. It is located at 72-2 Nakamura, Utashinai City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Utashinai Roadside Station Utashinai Roadside Station details Discover Hokkaido’s charm by stopping over at Utashinai Roadside Station , located along Route 114. This station is the perfect base for exploring Central, Northern, and Eastern Hokkaido, and houses a variety of tourism resources and facilities. Utashinai Roadside Station - Utashinai City, Hokkaido Prefecture One of the standout features of  Utashinai Roadside Station  is its accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Equipped with a covered parking lot that can be used even when it snows in winter, and a road-heating pavement, visitors can enjoy the station’s facilities with peace of mind. The Utashinai Roadside Station signage also shows the day's temperature The map of Utashinai
Keep reading

Ashibetsu Roadside Station - Hokkaido

Image
Ashibetsu Roadside Station ( 道の駅 スタープラザ芦別 ) is one of the 128 roadside stations of Hokkaido Prefecture. It is located along Route 38 and 452 in Kita 4-jo Higashi 1-1-1 in Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Ashibetsu Roadside Station Ashibetsu Roadside Station details Ashibetsu Roadside Station is formally called Roadside Station "Star Plaza Ashibetsu" . It was one of the first roadside stations in Hokkaido. It was registered on April 22, 1993, and was given Registration Number 2. This station serves as a tourist information center and a hub for travelers to explore what the town has to offer. Ashibetsu Roadside Station - Ashibetsu City, Hokkaido Prefecture The Tourist Information Center inside Ashibetsu Roadside Station is a must-visit spot for travelers. Here, they will find information about the town's famous products sold on the first floor. From the Yokoichi cheese, butter, and Ashibetsu melon, to the lily root, and zenzai, visitors can purchase a variety
Keep reading

10 Things to Do in Ashibetsu City

Image
10 Things to Do in Ashibetsu City Ashibetsu ( 芦別市 ) is a city in the Sorachi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . It is theorized that the city got its name from the Ainu word “ as pet , " meaning “ the river that flows in a shrub ”. Aside from that, other historians also believed that it came from the Ainu word “ hasi pet ” which means “ the standing river ”. In both theories, the name refers to the Ashibetsu River, which flows through the city. For those planning to visit the city of Ashibetsu to check what it has to offer, here are the  10 Things to Do in Ashibetsu : Ashibetsu City manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the  manhole covers of Ashibetsu . So far, I have seen four unique manhole covers which are common in the central part of the city. There are colored versions of these which are installed along Route 452. There is also a special Anne of Canadian World manhole cover found only in the Canadian World Park. Hokkaido Dai Kannon 2. Take a photo of the  Hokkaido Dai Kannon
Keep reading

Akabira Tokugawa Castle - Hokkaido

Image
Akabira Tokugawa Castle ( 赤平徳川城 ) is a replica castle located along National Route 38 at 174 Horookacho, Akabira City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Akabira Tokugawa Castle Akabira Tokugawa Castle details Akabira Tokugawa Castle may not be a real historical site, but its story is just as fascinating. Built in 1991 by Matsuzawa Yoroi Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of festival dolls, Akabira Tokugawa Castle has served as a showroom and manufacturing factory. It boasts four floors of unique and interesting attractions, including a souvenir and doll-making demonstration area on the first floor, an impressive doll display and sales area on the second and third floors, a Hina doll display and Japanese restaurant on the fourth floor, and an armored helmet exhibit on the fifth floor. The castle also has a sixth floor, which once served as an observatory tower. Akabira Tokugawa Castle - Akabira City, Hokkaido Prefecture Although the castle is currently closed to the public, it remains a symbol of
Keep reading

10 Things to Do in Biei

Image
10 Things to Do in Biei Biei ( 美瑛町 ) is a small town in the Kamikawa Subprefecture of Hokkaido. It is famous for its beautiful nature, particularly the flower fields and the iconic trees. The town is one of "Japan's Most Beautiful Villages". Biei got its name from the Biei River that flows to it. The river got its name from the Ainu word piye which means oily or greasy. This is because the water has a murky appearance. For those planning to visit Biei to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things To Do in Biei : Biei manhole cover 1. Take a picture of Biei's unique manhole cover . So far, I have seen only one manhole cover design. It’s common and can be seen around town. Rent a bike and explore Biei 2. Rent a bike and explore Biei town proper and the nearby scenic spots. There are plenty of rental shops near Biei JR Station. You can also ask the rental shops for a “Biei-by-bike itinerary”. Biei Roadside Station 3. Head over to Biei Roadside Station  formall
Keep reading

Nakajima Island - Hokkaido

Image
Nakajima Island  ( 中島 ) is a tiny volcanic island in Hokkaido, Japan , located in the heart of Lake Toya. Its western side is under the jurisdiction of the town of Toyako while its eastern side is part of the town of Sobetsu. Nakajima Island   Nakajima Island details Nakajima Island has a radius of roughly 3.6 kilometers and is densely forested. It was produced by volcanic activity around 7,000 years ago. Because of its magnificent environment and natural hot springs, the island is a popular tourist attraction. Nakajima Island  - Toyako and Sobetsu On the island, various hiking routes lead to observation platforms with breathtaking views of Lake Toya and the neighboring mountains. Tourists may also explore the island's woodlands, where they can witness a variety of plant and wildlife species, such as deer and rabbits. Lake Toya Cruise Nakajima Island Pier The  Nakajima Mizuminomori Museum  is also located on the island. It is a natural history museum that houses several displays a
Keep reading

Tanbo Art Asahikawa 2022 - Hokkaido

Image
Tanbo Art ( 東鷹栖・田んぼアート ) is a rice paddy exhibit dubbed rice field art. It is located at Higashitakasu 7 Sen, Asahikawa City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Tanbo Art Asahikawa 2022 Tanbo Art 2022 details Tanbo Art  was started by the youth group of JA Taisetsu. This unique form of art involves creating intricate designs on rice fields. The first rice paddy art was made way back in 2006. It featured the majestic Daisetsuzan. Tanbo Art  - Asahikawa City, Hokkaido The process of creating  Tanbo Art  is as fascinating as the art itself. The artists use different colors of rice plants to create amazing patterns and images, from traditional Japanese scenes to abstract designs. The planting, nurturing, and harvesting of rice is carefully timed and planned to create the desired effect. Tanbo Art Observatory The rice up close Each year, new designs are created and visitors are encouraged to come and enjoy the beauty of the fields. Visitors can view the magnificent rice art from mid-July to mi
Keep reading