Yubari in the middle Hokkaido used to prosper by coal mining. In 1960, the population of Yubari was approximately 117,000.
However, in 1960s, the main energy source was changed from coal to oil. Also, the coal from Yubari was used for Iron and steel industry, but coal mining industry in Japan lost the cost advantage against coal from abroad, especially from Australia.
All the coal mines in Yubari had closed in 1990. Yubari fell into ruin and the pupulation of Yubari is approximately 6,600, as of June, 2023. There used to be two railroad lines in Yubari in 1960s. They were Yubari railroad, the private railroad company, and Japan National railroad, present JR Hokkaido. Yubari Railroad stop their operation in 1975. JR Hokkaido also made abolished the Yubari Branch Line in 2019.
In 2011, I visited Yubari to take a train on the Yubari Branch Line and to see the situation of Yubari City, at that time. A local train left Shikano-Tani Station to the destination, Yubari Station, in October 2011.
The below picture shows the Yubari Station building and the Yubari tourist information office, taken in October 2011. Behind the station building, you will see "Hotel Mount Racey", which is a sky resort hotel.
The location of the former Yubari Station is approximately one kilometer south from the Yubari downtown. There were many abandoned buildings and houses on the way to the downtown. In most cases, public security in Japan is very safe. I believe the public security in Yubari is also nice, but when I saw these abandoned buildings, I became nervous.