Former National Railways Temiya Line, Otaru

The Former National Railways Temiya Line represents a significant piece of Japan's industrial heritage, serving as Hokkaido's oldest railway that opened in 1880 and was closed over a hundred years later in 1985. Part of the first railway in Hokkaido, the "Government-Operated Horonai Railway," was laid to transport coal mined from the Horonai coal mine in the current Mikasa City to the port city of Otaru. Coal transported from Otaru Port to mainland Japan played a major role in Japan's Industrial Revolution, and the railway was essential to the modernization of Japan.

The railway line originally connected Minami-Otaru Station to Temiya Station and primarily served as a freight line transporting coal, marine products including herring and kelp from the region. Like many other Meiji period railroad enterprises, the line uses 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge track over its 2.8 km route, designed to reduce construction costs during the original project.

Today, visitors can experience this historical railway as a walking trail revitalized from the former railway site extending approximately 1.6 kilometers from north to south. The 1,670-meter train track that stretches from Sushi Street to Otaru Museum is now preserved as a footpath where you can take pictures. The site preserves original railway tracks, barriers, and level crossings, offering plenty of nostalgic photo opportunities.

The Former Temiya Line is easily accessible from central Otaru. The abandoned ruins of the Former Temiya Line are located a 10-minute walk from JR Otaru Station. Visitors can also take the 2 and 3 Otaru City Main Line, 11 Shukutsu Line, or 12 Akaiwa Line to Temiya, then walk for about 10 minutes.

For those traveling from Sapporo, there are multiple trains per hour between Sapporo and Otaru along the JR Hakodate Main Line, with the one way trip costing 800 yen and taking 30 minutes by rapid train or 45 minutes by local train.General admission is 400 yen but you can also purchase a combo ticket for 500 yen, which grants you access to the nearby Temiya Cave archaeological site and another local history museum called the Unga-Kan.