Yubari
Discover Yubari
Yubari is a coal mining town famous for melons, a film festival and staggering rates of depopulation. When the mines closed in 1980s, the town shrank from a peak of 120,000 down to about 6,000 and still dropping, a 95% collapse unmatched even in Japan. With a median age of 65, also the highest in Japan, a turnaround is unlikely anytime soon. The Yubari branch line closed in 2019, leaving the town with no train service. The closest station is the misleadingly named Shin-Yubari (新夕張), 16 km away, which has services from Sapporo every two hours or so, with connecting buses to town.
Taste of Yubari...
The only form of accommodation in Yubari is a high school turned hostel. The hotel at the ski resort has been closed "temporarily" since COVID and shows no signs of returning to life.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Yubari branch line closed in 2019, leaving the town with no train service. The closest station is the misleadingly named Shin-Yubari (新夕張), 16 km away, which has services from Sapporo every two hours or so, with connecting buses to town. Alternatively, take a direct Hokkaido Chuo Bus from Sapporo. Yubari is famous for the Yubari Melon, the very best of which are sold in the department stores of Tokyo for north of ¥10,000 each. In season (May to August), you can buy less perfect specimens for about ¥1000 per melon. Even outside season, you will not be able to miss one of Japan's most bizarre mascots, the Melon Kuma bear, whose melon-helmeted raging maw adorns all sorts of souvenirs ranging from keychains to underpants. The only form of accommodation in Yubari is a high school turned hostel. The hotel at the ski resort has been closed "temporarily" since COVID and shows no signs of returning to life....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Yubari is famous for the Yubari Melon, the very best of which are sold in the department stores of Tokyo for north of ¥10,000 each. In season (May to August), you can buy less perfect specimens for about ¥1000 per melon. Even outside season, you will not be able to miss one of Japan's most bizarre mascots, the Melon Kuma bear, whose melon-helmeted raging maw adorns all sorts of souvenirs ranging from keychains to underpants. The only form of accommodation in Yubari is a high school turned hostel. The hotel at the ski resort has been closed "temporarily" since COVID and shows no signs of returning to life.
Where to Stay
The only form of accommodation in Yubari is a high school turned hostel. The hotel at the ski resort has been closed "temporarily" since COVID and shows no signs of returning to life.
Money & Budget
Yubari is famous for the Yubari Melon, the very best of which are sold in the department stores of Tokyo for north of ¥10,000 each. In season (May to August), you can buy less perfect specimens for about ¥1000 per melon. Even outside season, you will not be able to miss one of Japan's most bizarre mascots, the Melon Kuma bear, whose melon-helmeted raging maw adorns all sorts of souvenirs ranging from keychains to underpants. The only form of accommodation in Yubari is a high school turned hostel. The hotel at the ski resort has been closed "temporarily" since COVID and shows no signs of returning to life.