Having a barbecue on a train station platform—an unbelievable experience like this exists in Hokkaido. The surreal scene of grilling meat, scallops, and vegetables right next to passing trains has captured the attention of social media.

In Hokkaido, there's a place where you can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime event: a barbecue on a train station platform.

Photo courtesy of @hitoritabiken

The photo shows a barbecue in full swing on a station platform, with delicious-looking seafood like scallops and shrimp, as well as vegetables like asparagus and pumpkin, grilling on the grate. The post has garnered nearly 3,000 likes, with users commenting, "I want to go!" and "A barbecue on a station platform sounds amazing."

BBQ on the Platform! A Unique Experience Right Next to the Trains

The post was made by Yuto Kurihara of the "Solo Travel Study Group," which introduces various regions of Japan with a sense of journey and nostalgia. The station Mr. Kurihara visited is Hirafu Station, located just south of Kutchan Station. Nestled at the foot of Mount Yotei, it's a quiet, local station surrounded by greenery.

It's astonishing that in such a place, you can actually set up a grill on the platform and have a barbecue. The sight of savory smoke rising as a train pulls into the station is truly bizarre.

"The people on the train must be so surprised," Mr. Kurihara remarked. Indeed, anyone unaware would surely do a double-take, thinking, "Are they having a BBQ on the platform?!" But rest assured, this barbecue is conducted with official permission.

Spend a Night at "Eki no Yado Hirafu," a Rare Inn Where You Can Stay at the Station

Hirafu Station is home to "Eki no Yado Hirafu," an inn converted from the former station staff quarters. The platform BBQ is an exclusive experience available only to guests of this inn. The second floor of the inn has two guest rooms overlooking the platform. Open the window, and you're greeted by a view of the rails and trains—a dream location for any railway enthusiast. The platform BBQ, the lights illuminating the platform at night, and the quiet sound of the morning train's arrival create a unique "station time" that can only be experienced here.

The Line Through Hirafu Station is Scheduled for Discontinuation, Yet Travelers Continue to Visit

Unfortunately, the section of the Hakodate Main Line where Hirafu Station is located, known as the "Yama-sen" (Mountain Line), is scheduled to be discontinued with the extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. While there are concerns about the future of the inn, when Mr. Kurihara spoke with the owner, he was told, "The number of guests has actually increased since the closure was announced." It continues to attract travel lovers from all over the country.

A quiet platform surrounded by forests and mountains, and the sound of the railway. A special time where the ordinary and extraordinary intersect flows at Hirafu Station, at the foot of Mount Yotei.