Kyoto Railway Museum Travelogue: A Time Tunnel for Train Enthusiasts

Stepping into the Kyoto Railway Museum feels like walking into a living history of Japanese railways. Under the towering glass canopy, steam locomotives stand side by side with Shinkansen trains, creating a fascinating overlap of eras. The most awe-inspiring part is the real-life exhibition area, showcasing everything from Meiji-era SL steam engines to Heisei-era 500 Series Shinkansen trains. Each train car can be observed up close. On the second floor, the driving simulation experience is always crowded, and holding the actual control lever made me realize just how many buttons there are in a Shinkansen cockpit—like stars in the sky. The rooftop terrace is a hidden gem, where JR Kyoto Line trains rush by beneath your feet. Children excitedly count the number of train cars. The museum transforms dry mechanical knowledge into interactive games, captivating even non-train enthusiasts like me. As I left the museum and looked back, the sunset cast a golden glow over the roundhouse, and I suddenly understood why Japanese people call railways "running nostalgia." This place preserves not just modes of transportation but also the memory tracks of a nation's modernization.