Railway Museum

The Railway Museum is a railway museum in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture. It opened in 2007 (Heisei 19) as part of JR East’s 20th anniversary, with “Railways,” “History,” and “Education” as its pillars. Visitors can learn about the history of railways from the early Meiji era to the present through about 670,000 collected items and real railway vehicles. Highlights include simulators, mini train driving, and one of Japan’s largest railway dioramas, making it popular with tourists as well. A total of 41 railway cars are displayed inside and outside the museum, offering an impressive scale. For children, the “Tepaku Hiroba” play area offers activities such as operating a mini Hayabusa; the Kids Plaza lets kids enjoy Plarail, making it a robust railway-themed play park. The museum is so extensive that even adults may need a full day to avoid missing things. Access: from JR Omiya Station, take the New Shuttle to “Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan (Omiya) Station” and walk about 1 minute.