The Railway Museum is one of popular spots in Omiya, Saitama, Japan. I’d share useful information to enjoy to the fullest, what to prepare in advance (ticket, app, etc), raffle for experiences, events, where to eat (restaurant and cafe), access, etc.
* The information below is based on what I experienced when I visited on Saturday in March, 2023. and from official website.
The Railway Museum, Omiya, Saitama
The Railway Museum = Tetsudo Hakubutsukan or Teppaku (shorter) is located in Omiya, Saitama, JAPAN. It was opened in 2007.
Basic Information
Opening Hours : 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed on Tuesday and New Year’s Holiday *Check The Railway Museum Official Website
How to Access to The Railway Museum
The closest station is “Tetsudo Hakubutsukan” station on the New Shuttle.
If you go get there from Tokyo, get Omiya station first, and transfer to the New Shuttle Line and get in for only 1 station to Tetsudo Hakubutsukan Station.
Admission Fee
*As of March 2023
- Adult : 1330 yen
- Students (Elementary, Junior High, and High school) : 620 yen
- Children (3 years old and older) : 310 yen
There are also other options, i.e. group fee (party of 20 and more), annual passport.
Preparation To Go To The Railway Museum
Purchase the Ticket in Advance
As of March 2023, the advance reservation was required.
You can buy the ticket(s) at convenience store, Seven-Eleven, Lawson, or Mini-stop.
Install the Official Apps!
It’s very important to enjoy the museum, since these apps have a big role on your visit.
The Railway Museum App
The museum has signs in Japanese and English, however, there are not much explanation in English for some stuff. You can get the explanation and detailed information through this app in other languages ; English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, Thai, Bahasa Indonesia, German, French, and Spanish if you don’t speak Japanese.
The Railway Museum Raffle App
Due to the popularity of this museum, you need to win to get the chance for the experiences. It’s decided by raffle.
We tried 5 kinds of experiences using 5 smart phones, although, we could get only 1 (out of 25). There was a paper saying the percentage of winning on each one, and it was very low.. it shows how popular these are!
Experiences at The Railway Museum
There are experiences that you can try. Depending on which one and which day, the conditions are different.
- How to get a chance : Raffle / First come first get on weekdays & Raffle on weekend / etc.
- Age : No limit / Elementary school students and more / Junior High or more / etc.
- Fee : Free / Additional Cost
It might change, so I wouldn’t write these condition details below.
Simulator
You can try the simulator that feels like you are driving a train. There are,
- D51 Simulator (Rolling Stock Station)
- E5 Simulator (Job station)
- 205 Simulator (Simulator Hall)
- 211 Simulator (Simulator Hall)
- E233 Simulator (Simulator Hall)
We won the 205 simulator, and it was fun! Some kids might be not able to see the monitor without some help. I sat down the chair and let my nephew sit on my lap.
Mini Hayabusa : Ride
No service in December to February
There is a small Hayabusa car outside that you can ride in if you win the raffle! Unfortunately, i couldn’t win, but it looks fun for kids!
Event in The Railway Museum
Diorama
Main Building 2F
This is amazing! They have some kinds of programs, and I saw “a day of railway”. The diorama itself is detailed and beautiful, it’s fun to learn how trains runs, how busy the station is from early morning to midnight, how they maintain without affecting on time table and passengers, etc.
Teppaku Theater
Main Building 2F
You can watch a short film (15 mins) with 3D glasses! Make sure to check the schedule and apply if needed.
What to See in The Railway Museum
Rolling Stock Station : Tran Exhibition
Main Building 1F
There are 36 trains including the first locomotive in Japan that had run in 1872, the one imported from Massachusetts, PA, USA, the train for Imperial (royal)family, wooden trains, etc.
You can go inside of some of these trains (No food/drinks here)!
Job Station
South Building 2F & 3F
It shows how they run trains both safe and accurate. There are many people working as many kinds of job that protect passenger’s safety.
Future Station
South Building 3F
You can think about what could happen to the railway in future? Get the card with QR code (free), go to each section, scan QR and play! You can make your avatar, learn technology, apply your idea for better train that people pool later, etc.
Science Station
Main Building 2F & 3F
It introduces the principle and mechanism of railway with illustrations and fun games! Kids (and adults, of course) can learn while enjoying.
There were lines for games, but there were less people after 4:00 when I went there.
Food in The Railway Museum, Omiya
Restaurant / Cafe
There are restaurant and cafe on the museum.
Train Restaurant Nihon Shokudo
Main Building 2F
This restaurant is a full-service restaurant and has an area where you can eat and feel like you are at the restaurant on a fancy train. It’s perfect for a special occasion or/and memory!
View Restaurant
South Building 4F
This is a casual restaurant where you can enjoy food and also a view of trains running from the window.
Kids Cafe
Main Building 1F (Kids Plaza)
They have hamburgers, french fries, soft served ice cream, donuts, etc.
We got coffee float for us for a small break time. There was a line around lunch time, but i waited for only 3mins around 1:30 p.m.
Ekiben Ya : Ekiben Shop
There are 2 places to buy Ekiben at the museum. The Shinkansen shaped bento is very popular by kids! They have some original Ekibens (lunch boxes) that you can buy only here!
Be noted that there are only limited number of bento, it is easy to be sold out.
Vending Machines
I don’t know if i need to mention, but there are vending machines for beverage. And these work well (I have experiences that it didn’t work outside Japan, no offense lol)
As normal, there are cold beverage and hot beverage including a canned hot corn soup. Sounds weird? It’s good, actually.
Can You Bring Food to The Museum?
Yes, you can bring food with you to the museum.
It might be better,
- if you and/or someone going with you have food allergies
- if you go afternoon because restaurants/cafes get crowded, Ekiben might be sold out
Where To Eat in The Museum?
Train Lounge : Lunch with the View of Shinkansen
My most favorite place to eat in the railway museum is, “Train Lounge”
Lunch Train : Eat inside of the Train
There are “Lunch Train” where you can eat/drink inside of the train. It feels like you are traveling by train.
Museum Shop : Trainiart
You can check the museum shop named TRAINIART that is located on the 1F Main Building for souvenirs!
Plan Well to Enjoy the Railway Museum
Try Raffle
Once you get there, you can raffle for these experiences. Try them first, and block your schedule for the experiences if you won.
Get a Spot for Lunch
Whether you eat at restaurant/cafe, Train Lounge or Lunch Train, etc, it gets crowded around noon. Make sure to get a spot to eat wherever you’d like to eat at.
Go Early if Possible
I’d recommend going early if possible. There are less people and you can enjoy for a whole day.
More Places for Train Lovers
There are more places around Tokyo for train lovers (especially kids)! These below are smaller than the Railway Museum in Omiya, but it’s fun!
Train & Bus Museum
Densha (train) to (and) Basu(bus) Museum = Train and Bus Museum in Miyazakidai (Tokyu Denentoshi Line), Kawasaki, Kanagawa, is small but cheaper admission fee, and easy to access from Shibuya (directly on the Denentoshi Line) that takes around 20 mins.
I took my nephew when he was a toddler.
Keio Railland
Keio Railland is located in Hino, Tokyo where you can easily access from Shinjuku. There are train cars displayed outside (with a roof) and mini-train that you can ride (additional fee). You can enjoy the pla-rail, athletic, etc.
My nephew enjoyed a lot when he was age of 4-6.
https://www.keio-rail-land.jp/
The Railway Museum is a good place for learning the train, history and
Prepare and plan well, so that you can enjoy to the fullest
