TL;DR – Looking for indoor activities in Japan for a rainy day, or planning a multi-generational family trip to Japan? These five car and train museums are worth including in your Japan itinerary, regardless of rain or shine. Almost all exhibitions are indoors, making them some of the best locations to include in your wet-weather plans for all ages. Apart from various retired train carriages and vehicles on display, most of these museums also offer simulator experiences, allowing visitors to try “driving” their very own train!

1. The Railway Museum, Saitama

Location: 3-47 Onari-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, 330-0852

Admission Fee: JPY300 ~ JPY1,600

Additional Charges: Yes, for the simulation experiences (JPY200 ~ JPY600)

Operated by JR East, the Railway Museum in Saitama comprehensively tells the history of Japan’s railway experiences. Visitors can look forward to exhibits that showcase various retired train cars, thus learning how Japan’s railway technology has evolved over the years.

There are a total of five different exhibits in the Railway Museum, located across both the Main Building and the South Building:

Rolling Stock Station, where actual retired trains are being displayed.
Job Station, where visitors learn more about the behind-the-scenes of railway operation. Most of the Museum’s simulation experiences are located in this Station.
History Station, where exhibits comprehensively retell the story of Japan’s railway developments.
Science Station, where visitors are educated on the science behind railway technology.
Future Station, where visitors can envision how future railways may look like.

The Railway Museum also offers various model and simulation experiences across various train types, including steam-engines and high-speed bullet trains. These experiences are additionally charged, ranging from JPY200 to JPY600. As these experiences are highly popular, reservations need to be made via the “Railway Museum Raffle App”.

Note: The “Railway Museum Raffle App” is different from the “Railway Museum App”. As the “Raffle App” is location-locked, reservations can only be made when you are on-site at the Museum. Both applications are available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with English-Japanese support.

English signage within the Museum is rather limited, with physical exhibit descriptions available only in Japanese. Foreign languages are supported via the “Railway Museum App”, with write-ups and descriptions available in ten different languages. Alternatively, audio guides (in English) are also available on the “Pocket Curator” app.

The Museum is also completely wheelchair-accessible, with wide pathways and corridors both indoors and outdoors. Visitors can also rent wheelchairs and strollers from the Museum, at the ground floor’s entrance. Accessible toilets are also available on every floor, except the rooftop (Panoramic Deck).

More information is available at the Railway Museum’s official website: https://www.railway-museum.jp/e/

2. Tobu Museum, Tokyo

Location: 4-28-16 Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 131-0032

Admission Fee: JPY100 ~ JPY200

Additional Charges: Yes, for the 10030 Series Simulator (JPY500)

Located near Tokyo SkyTree, the Tobu Museum is a railway and transportation museum operated by Tobu Railway. Visitors may look forward to exhibitions re-telling the company’s history in Japan, complemented by retired train carriages.

The Museum is best known for their “SL Show”, held four times a day. Visitors will be able to observe a historical steam locomotive train in operation, accompanied by loud whistles and spinning wheels. There are also bus and train simulations in the Museum, where visitors may experience driving either the Tobu Skytree Line or the Tobu Tojo Line.

Situated beneath the Higashi-Mukojima Station platform, the Museum’s “Watching Promenade” also allows visitors to observe actual trains in operation at close range. Visitors may look forward to observing actual train wheels and motors, alongside the expansions and contractions of actual railway tracks.

English signage within the Museum is rather limited. While physical exhibit descriptions are available only in Japanese, visitors may scan the QR codes right beside these descriptions for English translations.

The Museum is also wheelchair-accessible, with an accessible toilet located on the first floor. More information is available on the Tobu Museum’s website: https://www.tobu.co.jp/museum/en/

3. Motorcar Museum of Japan, Ishikawa

Location: 40 Ikkanyama, Futatsunashi-cho, Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture

Admission Fee: JPY600 ~ JPY1200

Additional Charges: N.A.

Established in 1978, the Motorcar Museum of Japan in Komatsu, Ishikawa is Japan’s first and largest car museum. Over 500 cars are on permanent display across the Museum’s three-floor building, sorted by themes and brands. Apart from Japanese cars, the Museum also stocks rare, foreign cars dating back to the 1900s.

Notable cars at the Museum include the Berliet VG22 (1922) and the Lancia Lambda Torpedo Series 8 (1930), both of which are being displayed on the first floor. The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II (1993), used by Princess Diana during her visit to Japan, is also on display at the Museum’s third floor.

Apart from its permanent display, the Museum also hosts rotating special exhibitions. Currently, “ICONIC MOVIE CARS – Feel the World of Movies Through Cars”, which will be available until February 2027, showcases ten vehicles from the Museum’s own collection. Notable vehicles include the DMC-12 DeLorean, which was featured in “Back to the Future”.

The Museum remains largely wheelchair-accessible, with elevator access to all three main floors. However, the Middle 1F and Middle 2F are inaccessible as they can only be reached by stairs. There is also an accessible toilet on the first floor, alongside wheelchair and stroller rentals at the Museum’s front desk.

More information is available at the Motorcar Museum of Japan’s official website: https://www.motorcar-museum.jp/

4. Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto

Location: Kankijicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8835, Japan

Admission Fee: JPY200~JPY1500

Additional Charges: Yes, for the Driving Simulator (JPY100) & the SL Steam (JPY100~JPY300)

The Kyoto Railway Museum, one of the top sites to visit with children, boasts a collection of over 50 vehicles, ranging from steam locomotives to Shinkansen. These include historic and rare vehicles, such as Japan’s very first 0 Series Shinkansen. Apart from the vehicle displays, there are also hands-on exhibitions and simulation experiences, allowing visitors to dive into the technology and mechanics behind railways.

Notably, the Kyoto Railway Museum is a haven for steam locomotive enthusiasts. The Museum’s roundhouse platform, which is also Japan’s oldest surviving reinforced concrete train depot, hosts around 20 locomotives. Some of these locomotives are even open for visitors to enter and explore.

The Steam Locomotive No. 2 Service Shed, which is the only one in Japan, also allows visitors to observe real-time service works on rare, steam locomotive trains. Visitors may even choose to board the SL Steam, which is a passenger train pulled by an actual, working steam locomotive, for an additional JPY300.

There is also a restaurant located on the second floor, where diners may observe passing trains while enjoying their meal. The Museum also has a special “lunch box” experience, where diners may purchase bentos and consume them in a retired dining car.

There is also consistent English signage throughout the Museum, including English translation alongside Japanese descriptive texts. The Museum is also fully wheelchair-accessible, with elevator access to all three floors of the Main Building. Ramps are also available in both the Promenade & the Main Building, making step differences easy to navigate. There is also an accessible toilet on every floor in the Main Building, alongside wheelchair and stroller rentals at the ground floor.

More information is available on the Kyoto Railway Museum’s official website: https://www.kyotorailwaymuseum.jp/en/

5. SCMAGLEV and Railway Park, Nagoya

Location: 3 Chome-2-2 Kinjofuto, Minato Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 455-0848

Admission Fee: JPY200~JPY1200

Additional Charges: Yes, for the Simulators (JPY100~JPY500)

Owned by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya is located right next to Legoland Japan. It specialises in Japan’s high-speed rail technology, demonstrating how it has developed and evolved over the years.

In particular, there is a section dedicated to magnetic levitation (maglev) technology within the Park. These futuristic trains, which are propelled forward by magnetic levitation, are projected to replace the existing shinkansen technology. Visitors may not only explore maglev trains, but also learn more about JR Central’s ambitions of constructing a maglev high-speed link between Tokyo and Osaka.

A total of 39 retired trains are on display in the Park, including Shinkansen, conventional trains, and Superconducting Maglev, with many of these trains available for visitors to enter and explore. There are three notable trains that have set world speed records being displayed in the Park: the Class C62 Steam Locomotive, the Class 955 Experimental Shinkansen (300X), and the MLX01-1 Superconducting Maglev.

There are also various simulators available in the Park, allowing visitors to drive their own Shinkansen or conventional train. Additional charges apply for these simulators.

There is also consistent English support throughout the Museum, with English translations presented beside Japanese texts. The Museum is also largely accessible, with ramps for wheelchair users to navigate step differences when entering the train exhibits. Accessible toilets are also available on both floors of the building.

More information is available on the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park’s official website: https://museum.jr-central.co.jp/sp/en/

Summary Table

	Location	Admission Fees	Simulation Experiences	English Support	Wheelchair Accessible?
The Railway Museum	Saitama	JPY300 ~ JPY600	Available at extra cost (JPY200 ~ JPY600)	Limited physical English signage. Available via the “Railway Museum App”.	Yes, with accessible toilets on every floor. In-house wheelchair & stroller rentals are also available.
Tobu Museum	Tokyo	JPY100 ~ JPY200	Available at extra cost (JPY500)	Limited physical English signage. Official English translation available via QR codes.	Yes, with an accessible toilet on 1F.
Motorcar Museum of Japan	Ishikawa	JPY600 ~ JPY1,200	N.A.	Limited physical English signage. No official translation support.	Yes, with an accessible toilet on 1F. In-house wheelchair & stroller rentals are also available.
Kyoto Railway Museum	Kyoto	JPY200 ~ JPY1,500	Available at extra cost (JPY100 ~ JPY300)	Consistent English support throughout the Museum.	Yes, with accessible toilets on every floor. In-house wheelchair & stroller rentals are also available.
SCMAGLEV and Railway Park	Nagoya	JPY200 ~ JPY1,200	Available at extra cost (JPY100 ~ JPY500)	Consistent English support throughout the Museum.	Yes, with an accessible toilet on every floor.

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FAQs

Do I need to book tickets in advance? Admission tickets can be bought on-site at the ticket counters. However, some of the more popular simulator experiences can only be purchased through raffles or lottery draws. To avoid any disappointment, please check the respective Museum’s website for the latest information.

Is English support available at these museums? It varies. The Railway Museum in Saitama has limited English signages, though translations are offered via its mobile application and audio guides. Similarly, the Motorcar Museum of Japan in Ishikawa also has limited English support.

Is it possible to visit two of these museums in a day? Yes, but only for The Railway Museum (Saitama) and the Tobu Museum (Tokyo). The Kyoto Railway Museum, Motorcar Museum of Japan (Ishikawa), and SCMAGLEV and Railway Park (Nagoya) are located in different regions, and therefore should be treated as standalone stops.

Can I ride an actual steam locomotive at any of these museums? Yes, at the Kyoto Railway Museum. They offer the “SL Steam” experience for an additional JPY300.

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