A sightseeing steam locomotive train that runs the 48-kilometer-long distance between Kushiro and Shibecha stations in Hokkaido, passing through the Kushiro Wetlands, began its annual winter service on Saturday.
Blowing a steam whistle and billowing black smoke, the passenger train departed from Kushiro Station just after 11 a.m.
JR Hokkaido has implemented several measures to protect against the novel coronavirus for its SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen train, such as installing partitions between the carriages' booths and suspending the traditional send-off ceremony.
"The weather is great today," said a smiling 6-year-old traveling with his family from Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo. "I want to see some Japanese cranes."
The train service is scheduled to run through Feb. 28.
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