Kofuku Train Station in Obihiro, Japan

In a sparsely populated area of Obihiro, a city in northern Japan, an abandoned train station has been attracting visitors for decades. Known as Kofuku Station, which means "happiness" in Japanese, the station closed in 1987. Yet, each year, around 100,000 people—especially couples—visit the site in search of some happiness of their own. The station's name combines two Japanese words: Kōshin, the original name for the area, and Fukui, the name of a prefecture in southern Japan. Many Fukui farmers settled in Obihiro after the southern prefecture flooded in 1902. To create the station's name, the prefix Kō was combined with Fuku (Kō + Fuku = Kōfuku). For the settlers, the name's double meaning was not a coincidence. They wanted to honor where they had come from and also wished for happiness in their new home. Kofuku Station opened in 1956, originally designed as a temporary stop on the Hiroo Line between Obihiro and suburban Tokyo. Serving a rural area, the station was humble, comprised of a small wooden structure with a waiting room, shop, and ticket stand. It wasn't until it was featured on a 1973 Japanese travel program that tourists started visiting. Visitors came from all over to ride the Hiroo Line between Kofuku and Aikoku Stations (aikoku means “land of love” in Japanese). In 1972, only seven people made the journey between the two stations. In the following year, a staggering 3 million did. Although tourism persisted, making up 80% of the Hiroo Line's sales in 1981, it was not enough to save the line when the Japanese National Railways were privatized in 1987. Despite this, the local government preserved Kofuku Station, and anime mascots were created to promote it. Kofuku Station was rebuilt in 2013 after the original had badly deteriorated. At the station, visitors can tour two diesel locomotives that sit on the unused tracks. Inside the locomotives, tourists can purchase a replica Hiroo Line ticket that can be attached to the station's walls to attract more happiness. Just outside the station, visitors can ring the so-called "Bell of Happiness." Couples can also participate in a "happy ceremony," a mock wedding, and the post office down the street offers a special commemorative stamp too.

Apr 22, 2025 - 18:04

In a sparsely populated area of Obihiro, a city in northern Japan, an abandoned train station has been attracting visitors for decades. Known as Kofuku Station, which means "happiness" in Japanese, the station closed in 1987. Yet, each year, around 100,000 people—especially couples—visit the site in search of some happiness of their own.

The station's name combines two Japanese words: Kōshin, the original name for the area, and Fukui, the name of a prefecture in southern Japan. Many Fukui farmers settled in Obihiro after the southern prefecture flooded in 1902.

To create the station's name, the prefix Kō was combined with Fuku (Kō + Fuku = Kōfuku). For the settlers, the name's double meaning was not a coincidence. They wanted to honor where they had come from and also wished for happiness in their new home.

Kofuku Station opened in 1956, originally designed as a temporary stop on the Hiroo Line between Obihiro and suburban Tokyo.

Serving a rural area, the station was humble, comprised of a small wooden structure with a waiting room, shop, and ticket stand.

It wasn't until it was featured on a 1973 Japanese travel program that tourists started visiting. Visitors came from all over to ride the Hiroo Line between Kofuku and Aikoku Stations (aikoku means “land of love” in Japanese).

In 1972, only seven people made the journey between the two stations. In the following year, a staggering 3 million did.

Although tourism persisted, making up 80% of the Hiroo Line's sales in 1981, it was not enough to save the line when the Japanese National Railways were privatized in 1987. Despite this, the local government preserved Kofuku Station, and anime mascots were created to promote it.

Kofuku Station was rebuilt in 2013 after the original had badly deteriorated. At the station, visitors can tour two diesel locomotives that sit on the unused tracks. Inside the locomotives, tourists can purchase a replica Hiroo Line ticket that can be attached to the station's walls to attract more happiness.

Just outside the station, visitors can ring the so-called "Bell of Happiness." Couples can also participate in a "happy ceremony," a mock wedding, and the post office down the street offers a special commemorative stamp too.