The Railway Museum
The Railway Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Railway Museum opened in October 2007 in Omiya, Saitama City as the centerpiece of the JR East 20th Anniversary Memorial Project. The museum opened the new south building in July 2018, and the main building was fully renovated as well. The museum now consists of 5 different stations, the Rolling Stock Station, Science Station, Job Station, Future Station, and the History Station. With the renovation, the museum was reborn as a hands-on museum telling the story of the relationship between people and railways using various themes.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
741 reviews
Excellent
378
Very good
298
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KGB777
Singapore, Singapore41,223 contributions
Feb 2020
I came here with my 6 year old son in early Feb for a visit on a weekday. A very interesting museum with plenty of trains to see. Many of the carriages were open for visitors to go inside and see the interior, plus quite a few activities to keep the children entertained. Wasn't so busy on a weekday, but potentially could be very crowded on weekends. Well worth the effort of visiting if you're into trains.
Written June 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
baseballfreak
San Jose, California53 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
This place is amazing for all railfans. This is the museum focused on JR East trains. The best suggestion is to good outside of normal holiday schedules for Japanese students to avoid the crowds. Buying tickets online the day before will save you some money. There were several experiences available at the museum, but most only let you sign up after you are inside the museum. A few did let you pay more to sign up ahead of time. The website said you can those few that you can sign up ahead via 7-11, but not sure how to do that. I was tempted to use my poor Japanese to speak to the 7-11 clerk but gave up. The store at the museum was worthwhile to visit by itself. You should expect to spend 2-6 hours depending on interest. Note that I also visited the JR Central train museum in Nagoya. This one was better. The shopping was better, but if you were looking for JR Central items to purchase, then you needed to go to the one in Nagoya. One complaint was that some of the experiences didn't have any one there at the time of the event. I assume the people signed up failed to appear. However, there was no "standby" line to allow people to participate last minute. I saw staffers just sat there with nothing to do as the person signing up failed to show. It was a waste of the slots that no one used. Definitely a must visit.
Written September 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky Silve
Abbadia Lariana, Italy684 contributions
Jan 2023
One of the qualities for which Japan is renowned all across the world is the efficiency of its trains, in particular the so-called “Shinkansen” (bullet train). Well, this museum tells the history of Japanese railways showing many trains from different ages. It’s very interesting for children too!
Written January 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shoho
35 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
I went there by myself when I was in junior high school. Since I've always lived in Kansai, there are many trains I don't recognize, so those who are not familiar with Kanto trains may not enjoy it very much. However, those who have an attachment to the Kanto region will enjoy it as there are trains that they often saw when they were young.
Written August 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aslazaro1
Guam, Mariana Islands129 contributions
Dec 2019
Great place. no crowd. view of Japan's past, present, and future transportation system. also a chance to operate different types of trains via their simulators. optimum spatial arrangements. and complete with dining facilities at the upper floors. must see for the train fans, and if you're not, you will be after a visit to this place. highly recommended
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inspire05565523366
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Solo
I live in Hyogo Prefecture and can easily go to the nearby Kyoto. I went to Nagoya six years ago. I finally made it to Omiya this year as I had hoped. None of them are superior or inferior in character. But I think Omiya is a good place to go at least once, let alone train fans. Events like the whistle were also good. The elaborate diorama was also great. I walked from Omiya Station to the museum. I walked by the General Train Center, and it was good to see the highlights. It took a lot of time and energy, but I'm glad I walked one way. (I did catch the New Shuttle on my way home, though.)
Automatically translated
Written August 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelinginasia
Sydney, Australia496 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
This is such a great experience. So much to see and do. Easy to spend half a day here. Maybe one of the best Railway Museums I’ve been to.
If you have kids they will be in heaven.
Easily reached from Tokyo and a definite must. Eat in one of the restaurants or buy takeaway food and sit in one of the lunch trains.
Great day out. Can’t recommend it enough.
If you have kids they will be in heaven.
Easily reached from Tokyo and a definite must. Eat in one of the restaurants or buy takeaway food and sit in one of the lunch trains.
Great day out. Can’t recommend it enough.
Written August 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tokyosubway
tokyo4,584 contributions
Mar 2011
THE MUSEUM:
The Railway Museum is the successor museum to the old Transportation Museum that used to be located in Akihabara, Tokyo (now closed).
The museum has many many trains and displays covering the history of Japanese railways to the present. Present are some of the first locomotives used in Japan, Imperial coaches used by the Emperor and imperial family throughout history, the 0 series Shinkansen, and many many more trains.
There are also many hands on things for young and older folks alike, though many items like the train simulator are in Japanese, it doesn't take much to figure out how to operate them. There's even a mini train ride where you can operate a miniature train that goes on a track around the museum.
Of course like all places, there's a gift shop and restaurants/cafeteria in the museum as well.
The museum has a provided English guide map and pamphlet that explains in general what all the attractions are. The cool thing about the displays is that if you have a mobile phone that can read bar-codes, you can put your phone over the bar-code on the display and you can get very detailed English information about the particular display/train. This is also possible for Korean and Chinese language.
Because of it's distance north of Tokyo, I only recommend this museum to those who are really interested in railways, Japanese transportation history. Longer term residents with families might also enjoy this museum as well. If you are a short-term visitor to Tokyo, this museum might be a little out of the way north to get to, but if you are interested and have the time, by all means visit.
GETTING THERE:
The Railway Museum is located north of Tokyo in Saitama. It takes about 45minutes by train from Shinjuku to Omiya station on the Saikyo Line or Shonan Shinjuku Line where you change to a small people mover to the museum train stop, it takes about 55minutes if you are coming in from Tokyo Station.
The one way fare from Shinjuku Station to Omiya Station is 450yen and from Omiya Station to the Museum Stop is 180yen. Note if you are using a Japan Rail Pass, the JR pass is valid on JR lines to Omiya Station. You still need to pay 180 yen from Omiya station to the museum.
ADMISSION:
The admission price for adults is 1000yen.
For elementary through high school students it is 500yen
For kids younger it is 200yen
The ticketing system is designed to work with your Suica / Pasmo prepaid card (if you have one), if you do not have one, you can purchase a temporary card at the machines. You use your card to enter the museum (like how you enter a train station).
The Railway Museum is the successor museum to the old Transportation Museum that used to be located in Akihabara, Tokyo (now closed).
The museum has many many trains and displays covering the history of Japanese railways to the present. Present are some of the first locomotives used in Japan, Imperial coaches used by the Emperor and imperial family throughout history, the 0 series Shinkansen, and many many more trains.
There are also many hands on things for young and older folks alike, though many items like the train simulator are in Japanese, it doesn't take much to figure out how to operate them. There's even a mini train ride where you can operate a miniature train that goes on a track around the museum.
Of course like all places, there's a gift shop and restaurants/cafeteria in the museum as well.
The museum has a provided English guide map and pamphlet that explains in general what all the attractions are. The cool thing about the displays is that if you have a mobile phone that can read bar-codes, you can put your phone over the bar-code on the display and you can get very detailed English information about the particular display/train. This is also possible for Korean and Chinese language.
Because of it's distance north of Tokyo, I only recommend this museum to those who are really interested in railways, Japanese transportation history. Longer term residents with families might also enjoy this museum as well. If you are a short-term visitor to Tokyo, this museum might be a little out of the way north to get to, but if you are interested and have the time, by all means visit.
GETTING THERE:
The Railway Museum is located north of Tokyo in Saitama. It takes about 45minutes by train from Shinjuku to Omiya station on the Saikyo Line or Shonan Shinjuku Line where you change to a small people mover to the museum train stop, it takes about 55minutes if you are coming in from Tokyo Station.
The one way fare from Shinjuku Station to Omiya Station is 450yen and from Omiya Station to the Museum Stop is 180yen. Note if you are using a Japan Rail Pass, the JR pass is valid on JR lines to Omiya Station. You still need to pay 180 yen from Omiya station to the museum.
ADMISSION:
The admission price for adults is 1000yen.
For elementary through high school students it is 500yen
For kids younger it is 200yen
The ticketing system is designed to work with your Suica / Pasmo prepaid card (if you have one), if you do not have one, you can purchase a temporary card at the machines. You use your card to enter the museum (like how you enter a train station).
Written June 3, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben T
Berkshire, UK227 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
The train museum is quite a way out of central Tokyo but we really enjoyed the trip. We have a three year old who is very excited by trains - their highlight of the trip to Japan was going on a proper Bullet train. At the museum we could sit in the driving sit of an old one.
It is well laid out with a splattering of English signs to explain what the exhibits are. At the centre is a huge hall with a wide variety of trains and carriages.
The museum is pretty cheap to enter 1000 yen for adults.
The picnic trains were a good idea - they were also immaculately clean. There are signs outside saying no food and drink but inside there are plenty of places that have signs saying food is ok.
It is well laid out with a splattering of English signs to explain what the exhibits are. At the centre is a huge hall with a wide variety of trains and carriages.
The museum is pretty cheap to enter 1000 yen for adults.
The picnic trains were a good idea - they were also immaculately clean. There are signs outside saying no food and drink but inside there are plenty of places that have signs saying food is ok.
Written January 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adjimantoro
Jakarta, Indonesia212 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
This museum is for train lover.
They display a lot trains from time to time, and in real size. One of them is turning like turntable, at 12 pm and 3 pm, please make sure you watch it.
They also have several trains driving simulator, from modern train to coal train. So your child (and you) can learn how to be a train operator.
They have mini shinkansen and mini operating train. For mini operating train, you should register on the main entrance and pay some money to get in the ride.
This location is a bit of far from Tokyo, almost 1 hour by train. This museum can JR Shonan Shinjuku line / JR Keihin Tohoku line > stop at Omiya station > exit south > take Ina Line (New Shuttle Platform) > stop at Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan station.
They display a lot trains from time to time, and in real size. One of them is turning like turntable, at 12 pm and 3 pm, please make sure you watch it.
They also have several trains driving simulator, from modern train to coal train. So your child (and you) can learn how to be a train operator.
They have mini shinkansen and mini operating train. For mini operating train, you should register on the main entrance and pay some money to get in the ride.
This location is a bit of far from Tokyo, almost 1 hour by train. This museum can JR Shonan Shinjuku line / JR Keihin Tohoku line > stop at Omiya station > exit south > take Ina Line (New Shuttle Platform) > stop at Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan station.
Written January 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I was wondering if there was a way to reserve train simulator tickets online. [Not in Japanese]
Written June 6, 2019
I don't think so I got my ticket from some convenience store
Written October 9, 2019
Hi, How exactly do I get there from Shibuya station?
Written June 21, 2016
Take the Saikyo line to Omiya, then exit and take the New Shuttle (private railway) (if you don't see the sign ask at information desk) and it is 1 stop. There should be signs to the Railway museum.
Written June 22, 2016
I am collaborating on a book about the former Magic Mountain theme park in Golden, Colorado, USA.
I believe the caboose on the train that ran at Magic Mountain for two years in 1959 and 1960 is now at Tokyo Disneyland. Can anyone help me to obtain a current and quality image of that caboose? Thank you. Bill
Written June 22, 2015
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