▼ 釧路火車站。
Kushiro Rail Station.
▼ 釧路鄰近俄羅斯。警局招牌也來個日蘇對照。
Kushiro is not too far away from Russia. A police station is signposted in Japanese and Russian.
▼ 釧路著名的和商市場，本地人同遊客都光顧。我們一清早去，一飽眼界兼食欲。
Kushiro’s famous seafood market Washoichiba. It is frequented by both locals and visitors. We went there at breakfast time for sightseeing as well as gastronomic experience.
▼ 像光顧車仔麵鋪，顧客隨意點海鮮，老闆即時拼湊出魚生飯。這老闆娘竟說得一口比東京高檔百貨公司售貨員還要好的英語，令人嘖嘖稱奇。
People pick their favourite seafood to make a seafood sashimi combo rice. Apparently the stall we visited was experienced in handling tourists. Surprisingly this auntie shopkeeper spoke fluent English.
▼ 魚生飯豐憸由人，一般每碗大概千五日元。
Depending on what you choose, a seafood sashimi combo rice costs about 1500 yen.
▼ 釧路市內的舞幣橋，是北海道的三大名橋之一。橋上雕塑和燈柱仿歐洲風情。
Nusamai Bridge is one of the three most famous bridges in Hokkaido. The lamps and statues lined up on the Bridge are inspired by European bridge design.
▼ 釧路是個寧靜小市，平日街上人丁單薄。那朝早，一個訪客的到訪，吸引了大班市民聚集在舞幣橋，這訪客的行蹤更成為第二朝早的電視頭條新聞。
Kushiro is a quiet town. That morning, a visitor attracted an unusually big crowd near the Nusamai Bridge. The arrival of this visitor even hit the headlines of the local news the following morning.
▼ 到釧路的唯一目的是一試以該地作起點的「冬之濕原號」蒸氣火車。日語「濕原」即我們叫的濕地。火車以遊客為服務對象，每天只開一班，大受火車迷及懷舊迷歡迎，可謂一票難求。今次有幸坐到，全賴東京朋友直子小姐在我們到日本前已為我們購票，感激萬分。
The main purpose for our visit to Kushiro was to experiene the ride on the Steam Locomotive Train “Winter Wetland”. Kushiro is the terminus for the Train. The train runs only once each day. Train enthusiasts and tourists scramble for the train tickets. We were lucky enough to have my friend Naoko who bought the tickets for us even before we arrived in Japan.
▼ 標致指示「冬之濕原號」的發車月台。
Signage showing directions to the platform for the SL Train.
▼ 紙製千羽鶴點綴釧路火車站。
Cardboard Japanese cranes decorations at Kushiro Rail Station.
▼ 「冬之濕原號」的蒸氣火車頭蓄勢待發。
Steam locomotive of the Winter Wetland Train.
▼ 車尾的觀景車廂。
There is a viewing gallery at the end carriage of the train.
▼ 鐵道員也穿起舊款制服以配合場景。
A train attendant has put on dated uniform to suit the scene.
▼ 進入車廂，時光倒流。
The interior decor of the train carriage is downright nostalgic.
▼ 作保暖用的碳爐。乘客把小賣部買到的魷魚在上面燒燒，帶來滿車香味。
A fireplace inside the carriage. Passengers can buy cuttlefish from the kiosk and have it grilled over the fireplace.
▼ 小賣部售貨員忙於準備。
Two kiosk attendants busying with the preparation for the arrival of customers.
▼ 火車出發，乘客有的期待一睹濕原風景，有的與親友開心聊天。
Passengers look forward to the wetland views as the train sets off.
▼ 頭頂的網織行李架。
Overhead net shelf for light luggage.
▼ 「冬之濕原號」便當。
Lunchbox bought on the train nicely packaged with an SL Train-theme.
▼ 在中途站塘路下車，掌握拍照機會。
We get off the train at Toro. Needless to say, another good photo opportunity.
▼ 這小木屋就是塘路車站，好可愛。
Lovely cottage-style Toro Rail Station.
▼ 小木屋的一角就是候車地方。
The waiting area inside Toto Rail Station.
▼候車地方對面就是一個咖啡座，這位先生把咖啡座的每個角落都佈置了與火車有關的擺設，很有心思。外面冰天雪地，室內暖意洋洋 ，聽著音樂，呷著熱茶，很自在。
Right next to the small waiting area inside this little cottage rail station is a cozy family-style coffee shop run by a middle-aged gentleman. Almost every inch of the walls and tables of the coffee shop is decorated with train-themed objects.
▼ 老闆耐心為我們預備咖啡和茶。
The laidback shopkeeper makes tea and coffee with patience.
▼ 慢慢的用明和煲水煮茶 ，懶理下班車何時到達。
Let’s forget about the train schedule. Instead of using hot water from electric boiler, he takes the time and trouble to boil water on the oven.
