On April 21, 2006, the "Furusato Ginga Line", which had been running for 95 years since the Abashiri Main Line of Japan National Railways (Ikeda-Rikubetsu) opened in 1908, was discontinued.
　Two years later, on April 20, 2008, the line was reborn as the "Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway", this time as a sightseeing railroad.
　At Rikubetsu Station, visitors can "experience riding" a train that used to run on the Ginga Line, actually drive a train, or ride a foot-pedaled "trolley".