Living and working in Tokyo, the city’s immense train network is both an incredible convenience and a horrible necessity. You can reliably get almost anywhere in the capital, but the major problem is you have to do so with countless millions of other passengers. And it regularly gets so busy that individual stations feel like they are actually filled with each and every one of those many travellers.
In Hokkaido, however, it’s a very different story.
The trains are hours apart, rather than minutes, and even then there are few, if indeed any, passengers. So local stations are invariably deserted, which makes visiting them a slightly odd experience. A world where the lights are still on, but the inhabitants have all inexplicably disappeared.
YTSL says
I’ve experienced being in deserted-feeling train stations on Honshu itself too: specifically at Bizen-Ochinomiya and Bitchu Takahashi stations in Okayama prefecture. Actually, when travelling in Japan beyond the major cities and tourist areas (e.g., Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto), I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how uncrowded the trains, sights and towns can be — and frequently charmed by them too! 🙂
Lee says
Yes, rural stations all over Japan are often pleasantly similar. I know exactly what you mean too. There’s something really quite pleasant about them, isn’t there?
Linda says
What is the last picture? Are those chairs just stored there or do people actually wait for a train at the dead-end bottom of a staircase nowhere near a train platform? Is there an exit I am not seeing? They are all kind of eerie but that one really creeps me out.
Lee says
Nah, it’s an actual waiting room. Or more accurately, waiting area. At the end, on the left, is the station entrance/exit. Then it’s up a few steps onto the platform.
I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.
Linda says
It’s like the waiting area for the train to Hell or something. Very creepy.
Lee says
Not the nicest, is it?
A wonderful treat to find, but I know of one other that makes this look almost like a holiday home. Unfortunately not a simple, or short journey, but determined to get there in the not too distant future.
Al says
Great photos! Love the chairs with the knitted cushions. So cute! 🙂
Lee says
Thanks! Yeah, they are a bit special, aren’t they? Don’t see them in the city.
Coli says
The colors are gorgeous in these pictures. I’ve never been to Hokkaido but I’ve always wanted to visit there. Maybe I’ve watched kita no kuni kara too many times:)
Lee says
Cheers. We were treated to lovely, post-typhoon skies. Really striking blues.
I can’t recommend the place enough. Went for the first time 3 years ago, and been back twice since. Beautiful, genuinely interesting part of the country, with absolutely lovely people. There’s a lot to like!
cdilla says
These are an interesting contrast to the rail infrastructure in Tokyo. Without the title and caption I would have guessed they were taken in the no-go zone around Fukushima, devoid of people as they are. The emptiness is a virtue at least one line has made use of. I can’t recall which one, but after one rural line was taken over by in a joint venturebetween locals and someone from the private sector they made posters to attract tourists with the tag line “There’s nothing here”. Made quite a success of it too.
Though I don’t recall any of the stations looking quite so derelict as one or two of these.
I have to say that the photograph with the twin peaks in the backgrouns is quite stunning – one of my favourites for sure.
Lee says
Yes, the difference really is wonderful. And having enjoyed these, and the relative calm of Hokkaido itself, returning to a heaving Tokyo Station wasn’t much fun at all…
That’s a wonderful marketing idea. Strangely reassuring to know it was a success too.
Thanks. Those peaks were an ever-present feature of one of our days, so it was especially gratifying to be able to feature them in a frame.
Elisa says
Your pictures are unbelievably beautiful!
Lee says
Thank you very much. Those wonderful blue skies made taking photos so much easier. A real gift.
d.minnis says
The one with the crocheted cushions just about blows my mind…..nowhere else in the world would you see a sight like that.
Lee says
Quite possibly. It was certainly a wonderful little waiting room to find. So quiet, and oh so quaint.
drfoop says
I was about to comment just that. The life expectancy of those crocheted cushions in any of my local South London stations could probably be measured in nanoseconds.
It’s lovely that someone has thought to provide them in an otherwise slightly down at heel station, and lovely that they can do so with the expectation that they’ll stay there to serve their purpose.
Lee says
Yes, that’s so true. In fact even if they’d been placed in a busy, city station, it’s very likely they’d still be left there.
Just like every country, Japan has its problems, but this aspect is most definitely one of its positives.
Anthony van Bokhoven says
Loved the photo’s. Was on Hokkaido for a couple of days. Only as far as Hakodate. Loved the people there. Open and genuinely friendly.
Lee says
Thank you. That’s been my experience too. Absolutely wonderful people.
LAObserver says
The third image in this series would be an excellent candidate to repeat for each season. I imagine the same location and angle taken every 3 months would make an interesting seasonal progression for that location.
Lee says
Yes, definitely. Pretty sure it would look absolutely stunning in the winter too.
MrSatyre says
Looks very peaceful, and strangely appealing. A great place to get away and write a novel in peace and quiet.
Lee says
It was. Great place to be.
In one station there was a fella sat there doing work of some kind. Needless to say there were no other people. No train for nearly 2 hours either. So press,ably he was there to make the most of the peace and quiet.