Japan's Most Interesting Railway Museums 日本の鉄道博物館
Those who love them will take these trains...
In recent years, railway museums have flourished across Japan, to satisfy the many fans of the genre. The biggest museums are in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya, but there are nice little establishments displaying beautiful trains in every region.
- The Railway Museum in Omiya (Saitama Prefecture)
It is the largest of all railway museums , inaugurated in 2007 by JR East , the anniversary year of the 20th anniversary of the creation of this company. Very beautiful locomotives are exhibited there, including the very first that circulated in Japan in 1872.
In July 2018 , a new exhibition area will open to show even more beautiful materials and highlight strong themes of Japanese railways: work, history and the future.
Ômiya Railway Museum
Jerome Laborde
- The Kyoto Railway Museum (Kyoto)
Inaugurated in 2016 by JR West , this museum is built on a space previously dedicated only to steam locomotives , the Umekoji museum, a former depot. Today, alongside these ancient and impressive machines, there are shinkansen that have made the history of high speed in Japan. In all, 53 trains are on display for visitors.
To read: The Kyoto Railway Museum
Materials exhibited at the Kyoto Railway Museum
Wikimedia Commons
- The Nagoya SC Maglev & Railway Park (Aichi Prefecture)
Between the first two, JR Tokai opened its large museum in Nagoya in 2011 . Here, Maglev is in the spotlight, with its speed record of 603 km/h. For him alone, this museum is worth the detour. You will also find there a lot of equipment that has made the history of rail , including the Tokaido line, by conventional trains or by shinkansen .
- The Kyushu Railway History Museum (Fukuoka Prefecture)
Smaller than the first three, it is no less interesting, on the contrary, because it is located right next to Mojiko, a magnificent and historic JR Kyushu wooden station , which alone is worth the visit. You will necessarily get there by train. The museum, opened in 2003 , in a large brick building from 1891, presents some beautiful pieces, from steam to modern railcars, as well as a large model circuit .
- Saijo Railway History Park (Ehime Prefecture)
Located next to Iyo-Saijo station, JR Shikoku has chosen to present the history of rail on this isolated island until 1988 and to exhibit some historical equipment, including a 1976 shinkansen 0 and the only example DF 50 locomotive , which may still run occasionally. Recently the very special Free Gage Train GCT01-201 arrived there, with the particularity of having variable gauge axles, which carried out a test campaign on the tracks of Shikoku before ending up in this museum.
- The Tokyo Metro Museum (Tokyo)
This museum tells you all about the history of the subway in Japan and especially in the city of Tokyo , since its beginnings in 1927. You can see the very first subway of the 01 series, which inaugurated the Ginza line at the time, as well than other historical materials of different lines.
You will have fun on a driving simulator, learn how a metro line is built, everything about safety, services and people.
Tokyo Metro 01 from 1927, on display at the Tokyo Metro museum.
Wikimedia Commons
- The Tobu Museum (Tokyo)
The Tobu Company , with its 463 kilometers of lines, is one of the most important private lines in Japan. Already active in 1899 , with the portion between Kita-Senju and Kuki, it had to have its own railway museum to present its history and some emblematic trains. Among these, the Tobu 1720 series with such an imposing design, which can be appreciated right out of the Higashi-Mukojima access station, on the Tobu Sky Tree line.
The impressive Tôbu 1720 series exhibited in front of the Tôbu Railway Museum
Wikimedia Commons
- Usui Pass Railway Cultural Village (Gunma Prefecture)
The opening of the Nagano Shinkansen in 1997 left part of the classic Shinetsu line abandoned. Yokokawa Station, which became a new terminus, took the opportunity to become a museum bringing together all the machines that previously operated on the very hard ramps of the Usui Pass . You can also discover the old works of art, such as this brick bridge from the end of the 19th century. A large open-air museum in the mountains , as invigorating as it is instructive.
Usui Pass Open Air Railway Museum
Wikimedia Commons
