Wakkanai Breakwater – the old end of the line

Years ago the semi arched concrete tunnel of the Wakkanai breakwater used to protect passengers and goods as they disembarked from their train, presumably to catch a ship elsewhere. 

The winds here are strong, though today the wind turbine overlooking this small city is just steady rather than dizzying. It carries the scent of seaweed and the cries of gulls. 

There are no more tracks through the breakwater and the only sign of its railway heritage is a pair of iron wheels from a steam engine and it is a Japanese Coast Guard vessel rather than a liner that is berthed beside it.