just over a decade ago, yubari was declared bankrupt.ho remained were made to move into a small central area of the city, leaving everything else abandoned. at places like the old thermal power plant, sato—san hosts art projects and helps people to explore. walking around, i'm left with mixed feelings, because it so powerfully symbolises the decline of a once—prosperous place, but i can also see why people love exploring here. there is a mysterious beauty to what's left behind. and making the most of disused buildings isn'tjust confined to the city. in nearby nayoro, i had arranged to stay in a unique guesthouse. tomioka worked on trains most of his life. when he stopped working on the trains, he restored an old disused station house back to its former glory. so, this used to be a railway line here? in contrast to the japanese mainland, much of the urban life in hokkaido first developed around the rail infrastructure. some of the old local train routes closed, with a loss of industry. but for some people, like tomioka, this is not the en

to entice tourists to yubari.nse, it has worked, because travellers are now coming here. ruins left by economic turbulence littered the landscapes of japan, and here, it has sprung up a hobby called exploring the abandoned buildings. look at this. this is industrial history, isn't it. just over a decade ago, yubari was declared bankrupt. those who remained were made to move into a small central area of the city, leaving everything else abandoned. at places like the old thermal power plant, sato—san hosts art projects. walking around i am left with mixed feelings. it so powerfully symbolises the decline of a once prosperous place. but i can also see why people love exploring here. there is a mysterious beauty to what is left behind. making the most of disused buildings isn'tjust confined to the city. in this nearby town i arranged to stay in a unique guesthouse. tomeyoka worked on trains most of his life. when he stopped working on the trains he restored an old disused station house back to its former glory. so, th