Will the Hanasaki Line become a tourist railroad in the future? Is East Nemuro Station a target for deficit reduction? The low number of local users of the Hanasaki Line has often been mentioned in the data of the local governments along the line. Management continues to struggle, with current annual revenues of 170 million yen and expenses of nearly 1.5 billion yen. The line is running an annual deficit of more than 1.3 billion yen. On the other hand, the Hanasaki Line is highly satisfactory as a sightseeing route, with its trains passing through wetlands and grasslands well received by tourists, and some seats have been reserved as “Earth Exploration Railroad” (the view is significantly better than driving a bus or car on a national highway!) ). In the future, while aiming to make the sightseeing railroad an item that attracts visitors to the region, the local governments along the line will probably aim to “reduce the annual deficit by 200 to 300 million yen” by cutting stations and trains that are not being used enough. This is the reason why the “review = abolition of Higashi-Nemuro Station” was proposed. However, with buses taking over commuting to Nemuro High School, which should be the most important service, the elimination of Higashi-Nemuro Station may be unavoidable. For the people of Nemuro City, it is a good thing that the convenience for daily use has been improved. However, some travelers may prefer a plain, boarded-up station at the end of the line to a tourist-oriented station. I would like to visit the East Nemuro Station while it still exists, and walk around the area (Showa-machi and Koyo-machi) after leaving the station. The Showa-machi side of the station, which is reached through a tunnel under the railroad tracks, has a wide street that could be called “Ekimae-dori,” and is slightly more densely populated with residences than other parts of the city. However, it does not lead straight to the main road, and there are many abandoned houses and stores on the station side, while newer houses for sale stand out on the main road side. When the new station (Higashi Nemuro Station) first opened, there was value in the land around the station, but the flow of people moved to the main road side, and the station side has fewer people living there due to the aging population. …… I have not confirmed whether this is the case, but it is fun to walk around while speculating. At any rate, it seems highly likely that it is now the best time to visit East Nemuro Station. Anyway, I recommend you to visit there as soon as possible.
© Source travel watch
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