The JNR (Japanese National Railways) have given up steam operations in December 1975, and from then SL (Steam Locomotive) have been running on the Oigawa Railway. In the late 1980s, there was a boom with several more SL coming into service. But although steam trains are very popular among railfans in Japan, the sale from tickets alone is not enough to cover their costs, and so [2C2] C 62 3 in Hokkaido was not overhauled in 1995, now standing as a static display at Naebo Works in Sapporo. Two museums have small railways inside their premises, Meiji-Mura and Umekoji.

Japan's largest railway museum is Umekoji in Kyoto. It is an old depot with a turntable, operated by JR West. There are several working steam locomotives, and the locos for the Yamaguchi-line have their home at Umekoji.