The Railway Museum in Saitama
It’s no secret that we Singaporeans love visiting Japan. Some may prefer exploring Tokyo, whilst others chase laid-back island vibes in Okinawa. But regardless of which city you visit, one thing is certain: you’ll be hopping on a Japan Railway (JR) train at some point. Well, you can learn more about them at The Railway Museum in Saitama.
The current exchange rate is ¥100 = ~S$0.92 as of 15th April 2025.
Table of Contents [hide]
What is The Railway Museum?
Image credit: Klook
Think of The Railway Museum as a huge show-and-tell session for all things train-related under one roof, which even includes a simulator that lets you drive your own mini train. The museum got a glow-up in 2018, with a new South building and a fully revamped main building, so it’s definitely worth a visit even if you’ve been before.
It’s also worth noting that the place is huge, coming in at over 213,125sqft. To put that into perspective, it’s 5 times bigger than the 40,000sqft SuperPark Singapore.
To navigate the space without feeling lost, download The Railway Museum App (App Store | Google Play). You can take a railway psychology test that will give you a personalised tour route. Another nifty feature is that the app supports 10 languages beyond just Japanese and English, so it’ll help translate signs and texts that might otherwise have you scratching your head.
How to get to The Railway Museum?
Hop onto the New Shuttle Line from Omiya Station before alighting at Tetsudo Hekebekutsan Station. From there, it’s only a 1-minute walk to The Railway Museum. If you’re coming from Tokyo, the whole journey takes around 1.5 hours by train. But if you’re travelling by car, you’ll get there in about 50 minutes.
How much do tickets to The Railway Museum cost?
Tickets start from ¥300 (~S$2.76), though you can get ¥100 off if you purchase them in advance on The Railway Museum website. To make things easier, here’s a breakdown of the ticket prices:
| Age of guests | Door price | Purchase in advance |
| Adult (18 years old and above) | ¥1,600 | ¥1,500 |
| Primary, junior high, and high school students (6-18 years old) | ¥600 | ¥500 |
| Children (aged 3 and older) | ¥300 | ¥200 |
| Below 3 years of age | Free | Free |
What can I do at The Railway Museum?
Outdoor train driving simulator
Adults can try it out too, though it may be a bit squeezy.
Image credit: @honey_jun0703 via Instagram
If your kiddo enjoyed the Mini Road Safety Park in CCK, they will love the outdoor train driving simulator. Hop aboard the miniature train with 2 other peeps and begin the journey. The course is lined with greenery, plus real-life elements like speeding curves and speed limit signs to closely mimic an actual train-driving experience.
Located at: Mini driving park
Explore the 5 different stations
You’ll spot even more trains on display outside.
Image credit: @tetsu9797 via Instagram
Start things off at the Rollick Stock Station, which has 36 actual railway vehicles on display, from Japan’s very first steam locomotive to the famous Shinkansen we know today. As you walk around, keep an eye out for signs on certain trains, indicating that you may step inside for a closer look.
Swing by around noon, and you’ll catch the iconic tweet tweet of the steam whistle echoing through the hall like you’re about to board Hogwarts Express.
Located at: Main building, level 1
Image adapted from: 鉄道博物館 via Facebook
Head to the History Station to learn more about Japan’s railway past. You’ll find a 150-year timeline of the country’s trains brought to life through a series of immersive artefacts, photos, and videos.
Located at: South building, level 3
There’s also a library where you can pop by for a breather. It’s decked out with refurbished train seats for you to kick back, rest your feet, and pretend you’re on a scenic rail journey.
Located at: Main building, level 2
Image adapted from: Rakuten Travel Japan
At the Work Station, think of it as a career fair, but make it all about trains. You’ll get a peek into the roles that keep Japan’s railway system running like clockwork, from engineers to station staff. Each display is equipped with bright models and multimedia images to keep your eyes entertained.
Image adapted from: 鉄道博物館 via Facebook
Heck, you can even catch the museum staff roleplaying as train conductors or support crew, giving you a BTS glimpse of what really goes on during every ride.
Image credit: Rakuten Travel Japan
Take your crash course on trains to the next level – literally – by heading upstairs, where you’ll find 4 train driving simulators waiting for you to play conductor. Don’t worry if you’re feeling blur sotong about how it all works; there will be friendly staff nearby ready to assist you.
Located at: South building, levels 1 & 2
You’ve seen the trains and railways up close, but do you know the science behind how they actually work? At the Science Station, you can geek out over all things physics through hands-on activities.
Image adapted from: 鉄道博物館 via Facebook, @railwaymusuem via Instagram
For instance, test your leg power by pedalling both a railroad and rubber-tyred bicycle to see which one is more efficient. Or, try lifting a trolley modelled after a train to feel the difference friction and resistance make.
Located at: Main building, levels 2 & 3
Image credit: Rakuten Travel Japan
Having already had a look at the past, it’s time to fast forward to the future at the Future Station. Just plop yourself onto a seat in their VR and AR capsule, and experience an immersive animation that gives you a peek into the railways of tomorrow.
If you have any thoughts about it, feel free to key them into the interactive display. The 2 most popular ideas of the month will be featured in the station’s exhibits the following month.
Located at: South building, level 2
Railway Diorama programme
The diorama is 23m wide and 10m deep, with a total track length of 1,200m.
Image credit: 鉄道博物館 via Facebook
Everyone remembers viewing the mini HDB replicas with intricate designs as kids. Well, The Railway Museum has something similar too – just on a much larger scale. Sit back, relax, and enjoy watching 1,700 train cars whizzing around the city at the Railway Diorama, one of the biggest in Japan.
Don’t worry about losing track, as there’s a 15-minute demonstration programme with commentary to keep you in the loop while you enjoy the spectacle.
Located at: Main building, level 2
Kids Plaza
Image credit: ばざーる via Google Maps
Kids being kids, they might get a little cranky at some point. When that happens, give them a break at the Kids Plaza, which has train-themed play areas and a cafe. Nibble on finger food like hotdogs and burgers (from ¥380, ~S$3.49) while appreciating the playful train-inspired interior.
Located at: Main building, level 1
Image credit: Ikoyo
There’s also an outdoor playground fully equipped with train-themed slides, spring riders, and swings – perfect for your kids to burn off some energy.
See trains from the Skinkansen lounge
Should your kiddos be itching to see the Shinkansen trains zipping past at their trademark speed, head over to the Shinkansen lounge for a safe, up-close view. Alternatively, you can spot them from several spots around the museum:
- Main building, level 3 lounge
- Main building, common dining area
- Main building, Science Station
- South Building, Future Station
- South Building, View Restaurant*
- Main Building, Train Restaurant Nihon Shokudo*
*You’ll need to dine at these restaurants to access the view.
Check out the souvenir shop
Image credit: Klook
Immortalise the end of a rail-ly fun time at the Museum Shop TRAINIART. From authentic miniature replicas to stationery and apparel, everything here is train-themed and guaranteed to satisfy the inner train enthusiast in you.
Located at: Main building, level 1
Where can I eat at the Railway Museum in Saitama?
View restaurant
Image adapted from: @railwaymuseum via Instagram
Dine with a view at the aptly named View Restaurant, where you’ll enjoy sights of the Skinkansen zooming by. For just ¥1,230 (~S$11.31), you can get a steaming bowl of Omiya Neopolitan – a popular Japanese take on pasta that swaps out marinara for ketchup instead.
Located at: South building, level 4
Ekiben shop
Enter the train and feast on a meal served in a train-themed bento box.
Image adapted from: 鉄道博物館 via Facebook, Dick Chen via Google Maps
Everyone knows that a Japanese railway experience is never complete without trying the classic ekiben – a bento lunch set sold at train stations. At the Ekiben Shop, have your pick of ekiben meals from ¥750 (~S$6.89), before boarding the refurbished train carriage nearby to have your meal.
Located at: Outside main building
Train Restaurant Nihon Shokudo
Image credit: @creamy_emii via Instagram
But if you’re looking for a more atas train dining experience, there’s the Train Restaurant Nihon Shokudo, which serves western dishes (from ¥1,480, ~S$13.61) in a refurbished train carriage, with some seats overlooking the railway, making it as authentic as it can get.
Located at: Main building, level 2
Visit The Railway Museum in Saitama
The next time you’re in Tokyo, make the short voyage to The Railway Museum in Saitama. With more than enough activities to keep everyone entertained, you and your kiddos won’t be bored for a second.
Sign Up with TSL Connect
For other cool activities in Japan, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @tetsu9797, @creamy_emii via Instagram