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Kushiro Railroad
landmark
Kushiro Railroad
旧釧路鉄道
3.9Est. 90Kushiro, Hokkaido
JTA Approved
Overview
Sulfur mining was a major industry in the Kawayu area and contributed significantly to the development of the Kushiro region in the late nineteenth century.
Built in 1887 to carry sulfur ore from the volcanic Mt. Io down to the refinery at Shibecha, some 40 kilometers away. Entrepreneur Yasuda Zenjiro modernized the operation, replacing horse carts with rail and rowboats with steamboats. At its peak, the line transported over 22,000 tons of sulfur per year. By 1896 the ore was largely depleted and the railroad closed. Today, the Mashu Kussharo Trail follows part of the old route, where earthwork embankments are still visible. A scale model locomotive sits at the Mt. Io Rest House.
Practical info
- Japanese name
- 旧釧路鉄道
- Nearest station
- Kushiro Station (25 min walk)
- Reservations
- not required
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