What other travelers are saying about Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut
One of the oldest railway buildings
I visited this building in early August 2024 while exploring Tsuruga.
The information board reads:
—————————————————————
Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Shed
(Kanegasaki Station Lamp Shed)
This building was completed in November 1882, the year the Tsuruga-Nagahama railway line was laid, and, along with the former Nagahama Station building, it is one of the oldest railway buildings in Japan.
The Japan Freight Railway Company donated the building to Tsuruga City on February 5, 2014, and restoration work, including restoring the tiled roof and repairing the joints, was carried out in 2014 and 2015.
The building contains two rooms, one displaying panels related to the lamp shed and the other a restored interior of the lamp shed as it was when the railway first opened.
Opening Hours:
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed Wednesdays and over the New Year holidays
Admission Fee:
Free
*Opening may be canceled during inclement weather.
March 1, 2023
Tsuruga City Board of Education
————————————————————
The well-maintained building evokes a sense of the past, and the information boards, including the use of lamps, helped me gain a deeper understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut is a historic railway structure located in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. This preserved lamp storage building was part of the original Tsuruga Port Station complex and served as storage for railway signal lamps during the Meiji and Taisho periods.
The Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut is typically open for viewing during daylight hours as an outdoor heritage site. There is no admission fee to view this historic railway building. However, access may be restricted during maintenance periods or special events.
To reach the Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut, take the JR Hokuriku Line to Tsuruga Station. From Tsuruga Station, it's approximately a 10-15 minute walk to the historic lamp hut site near the port area. Local buses also connect Tsuruga Station to the port district.
The Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut represents an important piece of Japan's railway heritage from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was part of the critical Tsuruga Port Station complex that connected railway transportation with maritime shipping routes, serving as a gateway between Japan's main islands and Hokkaido before modern ferry systems.
Near the Former Tsuruga Port Station Lamp Hut, visitors can explore Tsuruga Port, the Tsuruga Railway Museum, Kehi Jingu Shrine, and the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse. The historic Kanegasaki area offers scenic waterfront views and additional railway heritage sites within walking distance of the lamp hut.
It's rare to find a lamp shed that you can enter inside. It's unmanned and open during the day, free of charge. You can open the door and enter freely. It has two doors and two compartments, one of which depicts a realistic lamp shed from the time, and the other an exhibition space. Apparently, in the early days, railway lights were all oil-fired, not electric like they are today. It certainly makes sense, considering electricity wasn't widely available during the Meiji period. Looking closely, the lamplight is unique, flickering like a candle. Since I happened to be alone, I lost track of time for a while, admiring the charming lights.
The adjacent exhibition space has an explanation of the lamp shed, as well as old drawings and photographs. The lamp shed is clearly visible in the photo, which is interesting.
By the way, although this is a railway-related facility in Tsuruga, it's a little far from the Tsuruga Railway Museum. It's located around the back of the Red Brick Warehouse, a prominent tourist attraction in the area. Or, it's Kanegasaki Park No. 2 Parking Lot. In other words, it's located at the foot of the trail to Kanegasaki Castle. If you mainly walk around the port area, it may be a little far away and difficult to find, but it is a historically interesting spot so it is worth stopping by on your stroll.
Just for your reference.
Kanegasaki Station Lamp Hut
It's located next to the Kanegasaki Park parking lot, next to the tracks of the former Tsuruga Port Line.
The hut is located on the left side, slightly lower than the road leading to Kanazaki Shrine, and tourists are likely to overlook it, preoccupied with the sights to the right (Kinzenji Temple and Basho's Bell Tomb).
Completed in 1882 (Meiji 15), the lamp hut is said to be one of Japan's oldest railway structures.
Donated to Tsuruga City by JR Freight in 2014, it has been restored and is open to the public for free.
Though small in scale, the hut is home to lamps used at the time, as well as drums, oil cans, and photographs of Tsuruga Port, making it an interesting spot even for non-train buffs.
Visited in January 2023. Before the widespread use of electricity, oil-fueled lamps were used to indicate train movements and other information using color patterns. Apparently, lamp sheds were found all over the place at the time. Only a handful remain, and while they have great historical value, they're rather plain and not the kind of thing that would excite children. However, for older guys like me, they have a certain appeal. If I ever visit Tsuruga again, I'd like to stop by.
