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Aug 07 2014 14 Comments

Abandoned Japanese buses

When visiting Japan’s scenic island of Hokkaido recently, my aim definitely wasn’t to document the region’s less attractive sights — or at least not exclusively. However, after posting a series of photos from the slowly dying town of Muroran, it’s now the turn of some long-abandoned buses. But buses, it could be argued, that do posses a certain beauty of sorts.

Abandoned Japanese buses

Although what is for certain is that there won’t be any furthur trips.

Abandoned Japanese buses

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. willy says

    8/7/2014 at 10:57 am

    I always wanted to live in a bus. just for a bit.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/7/2014 at 4:18 pm

      Yes, I know what you mean. When I was a young, impressionable lad, there were the new age travellers in the UK. The supposed new age aspect didn’t appeal, but the freedom of travelling the country on a bus certainly did. Still does in many ways I guess, but these days it’d have to be a very well-equipped and comfortable bus!

      Reply
  2. Hans ter Horst says

    8/7/2014 at 2:14 pm

    They’ve been there for a while, not used for parts, not recycled, nor driven south to be used in the cities, just wasted. Feels like they are just waiting to rust through and spill all the oil and pollute the spot they stand.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/7/2014 at 4:20 pm

      They have. A very long while. The insides, however, had been gutted. All kinds of stuff was stored there. So hopefully when that was being done, the oil was drained as well.

      Reply
  3. Matt Talbot says

    8/7/2014 at 11:02 pm

    You wait ages for an abandoned bus and then two turn up at once. Bl**dy typical.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/8/2014 at 10:38 am

      Haha, brilliant. Wish I’d thought of that!

      Reply
  4. LAObserver says

    8/8/2014 at 12:05 pm

    That first photo reminds me of the book from the late 1990s, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/8/2014 at 12:22 pm

      That’s exactly what I thought. Oddly not when I shot it, but when I got back and uploaded the photo, it was the first thing that came to mind.

      The second bus immediately brought to mind the Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters. Hence the very different processing. Although the brighter weather and lovely sky also added to the differences.

      Reply
  5. Ri says

    8/19/2014 at 2:07 pm

    Reminds me of two “abandoned” buses in Miyazaki, converted into a ramen restaurant:
    http://ichigoichielove.com/2014/08/14/bus-ramen/

    Old buses do have a certain charm, don’t they? 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/19/2014 at 2:57 pm

      They do. Not quite sure why, but it presumably has something to do with the sense of travel associated with them, and the odd sadness at seeing one that will never move again.

      That restaurant is fantastic. Great use of the buses, and a very cool place to have lunch. What a great idea!

      Reply
      • Ri says

        8/21/2014 at 9:53 pm

        Yes! It was a great place to check out and eat lunch. I’m still amazed that the same couple has been running the place for over 35 years! I wish there was somewhere like that near Tokyo though…

        Reply
        • Lee says

          8/21/2014 at 10:33 pm

          It would be interesting, but pretty sure that place is a one-off.

          Reply
  6. jenny says

    8/23/2014 at 8:34 pm

    If you want more buses, go to Yamanakako. There are some horrible ugly buses by the road there! On a school trip there, we walked past them…every year!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      8/24/2014 at 10:14 am

      Oh, been to Yamanakako a few times but never seen the buses. Good enough reason for a trip back I think.

      Reply

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