Kyoto Railway Museum : 5 Highlights to enjoy 100% !

The Kyoto Railway Museum is crowded with many families and railway fans every day. The facility, which opened in April 2016, is full of attractions, such as observing valuable vehicles that you cannot usually see, riding a real SL (Steam Locomotive), and experiencing train driving. This museum is operated by JR West and it emphasizes "seeing, touching and experiencing". Railroad Wonderland welcomes all people from beginners to real railroad fans!

Japan's largest railway museum is full of attractions!

The Kyoto Railroad Museum opened on April 29, 2016, in Umekoji Park, a recreation area for Kyoto citizens. The Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, which was originally located at the same location, has been renovated, and new facilities and exhibitions have been added, and it has started as one of the largest railway museums in Japan with a total of 53 vehicles.

Highlight 1：At the promenade, meet the "historical train"!

When you enter the entrance, you will be greeted by three vehicles at the promenade.
From the left, a large high-speed passenger steam locomotive "C62 type, Unit 26", Japan's first long-haul train "Kuha 86", and Japan's first Shinkansen vehicle "Type 0 21style". All are star trains that have supported Japanese transportation history. The Kyoto Railway Museum exhibits a total of 53 vehicles and one third of those vehicles are the "Unit 1".　This "promenade," which connects the entrance hall and the main building, is about 100m long. In addition to exhibiting real trains, there is also a "dining car" where you can eat original boxed meal such as "700 Series Shinkansen Lunch Box for Adults" (JPY 1,350). Because it is designed with the image of the platform of the station, it is sometimes used as a location for movies and dramas.

Series 0 Shinkansen with a cute round nose. There are many parents and children taking a commemorative photo in front of the Shinkansen.

Highlight 2: 　On the first floor of the main building, the "mechanism" and "Progress" are displayed in an easy to understand.

On the first floor of the main building, there are various vehicles from the early days of the railway to the present day, as well as exhibitions that show the history of the railway. The left side shows the mechanism of the railway, and the right side shows the history of the railway.
In the "mechanism" corner on the left, learn the mechanics of the vehicle, and learn the "railroad" from various angles, such as the points at which the vehicle changes course, the role of traffic lights, and the experience of a track and bicycle used when checking tracks. In a space created by reusing the second generation of Kyoto Station, a sleeper passenger train "Twilight Express", the limited express "Akatsuki" and "Suisei" are displayed. You cannot enter the vehicle, but you can see the bed at that time from outside.

You can also see the driver's seat of the vehicle that was actually used

A state of the old station that was elaborately reproduced.

There are various railway models in the hall

In the "Progress" corner on the right side of the first floor, valuable uniforms are displayed.

Highlight 3: very popular experience corner!

Challenge the driving simulator!

On the floor, there are many "experience-type" exhibits. One of the most popular corners is the driving simulator. You can experience work using the simulator that the driver actually uses for training. If you want to experience it, you need a "numbered ticket" ... It is very popular anyway, so on the weekend, the distribution of the numbered ticket will be a lottery system. The driver's uniform is also prepared
■ Driving simulator
The first session starts at 10:40 (Ticketing time ～10:25, winning announcement 10:30, number of winners 48), the sixth from 16:30 (Ticketing time ～ 16:15, winning announcement 16:20, 32 winners).
* Subject to change during congestion.

"Railroad Diorama" is also a very popular exhibition.

A 1/80 scale railway model of a real vehicle runs through a huge diorama of about 30m in width and about 10m in depth.
The railroad diorama takes about 15 minutes, and you can see the day-to-day operation of the railroad, from the starting train to the last train. In addition, the staff will be live broadcasting the situation.

■ Railroad diorama
Time schedule 11: 00/12: 30/13: 30/14: 30/16: 00
* Subject to change during congestion

Admission experience with the skeleton automatic ticket gate

Are you interested in how your ticket is printed out?
This skeleton ticket gate can observe the mechanism.
First, issue a ticket (free of charge) with an automatic ticketing machine and insert it into a ticket gate ...
The ticket moves quickly in the skeleton ticket gate.
And the ticket that came out has the original stamp printed on it! Take the ticket home to commemorate it!

Highlight 4: Get on the steam locomotive!

Speaking of Umekoji, this symbolic garage! You can see the same appearance from its predecessor, Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum.

A garage with a total of 20 steam locomotives is unusual in Japan. The turntable in the center is still in operation today.
In addition to the famous D51 (Degoichi), you can see many famous vehicles up close.

Why don't you experience of riding the SL steam train?

The SL Steam Line is a single line that travels between Umekoji Park and JR Line in about 10 minutes. From the open window, you can see the trains and Shinkansen of the JR Tokaido Line!

Highlight 5: Enjoy restaurant and cafe

After a short break, go up to the third floor and go to the sky deck. From here, you can see the trains crossing the JR line, the streets of Kyoto, Kyoto Tower and Toji Temple.

Highlight 6 Get cute original goods!

The last fun is souvenirs. There are a variety of original products, such as the official character "Umetetsu", and collaboration goods with well-established stores. The Kyoto Railway Museum is full of highlights and excitement. There are plenty of elements that you can enjoy even if you are not railroad fan♪

Kyoto Railway Museum

http://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/en/
Business hours: 10: 00-17: 30 (entrance-17:00)
Admission fee: General JPY 1,200
Address: Kanki-ji, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
TEL: 075-323-7334
Regular holiday: Wednesday, December 30-January 1 (Details of schedule)