The Otaru City Museum main site is a railway and science museum. It is built round the former terminus yards of the Temiya Railway which operated to the coal staithes and harbour from 1880 to 1985. There is a small collection of cars, a science discovery room and a laboratory on the second floor, and also a planetarium, but also a railway museum to complement the larger railway exhibits. Until recently it was known as the Otaru Synthesis Museum. Information is displayed trilingually (with English and Russian).
Otaru, Hokkaido, about 30 minutes by fast train, about 33 km west, from Sapporo.
On leaving Otaru JR station, head straight on down the hill towards the sea. In 2014 a new path is being built following the old line to the left straight to the museum's Temiya Entrance. Walk either way around the site perimeter to get to the main entrance and car park (complete with restaurant coach). Alternatively continue down hill to the canal, and turn left past the history branch of the City Museum until the perimeter of the site is reached. Walking time about 20 minutes.
The following locomotives are on display:
7106 ShizukaUnits:
Kuha031Rolling stock includes several snow ploughs, including a rotary snowplough, hauled coaching stock, various wagons and a breakdown train including a crane.
Workshop Museum in replica goods shed, locosheds and turntable, models, replica uniforms, loco number plates. Running line between Temiya entrance and near round house. Museum shop by main entrance.
09:30-17:00, closed Tuesdays, admission (2014) 400 yen (combined ticket with history branch 500 yen).
There was a report in Japanese Railway Society magazine Bullet-In 61.