Quick Guide

Next to the entrance there are three kinds of rolling stock that are symbols of high-speed rail in Japan. Each of them held the world speed record.

The Class C62 is Japan's largest and fastest steam locomotive to haul passenger trains. In 1954, C62 17 set the world speed record of 129km/h for narrow gauge steam locomotive.

Next one is the Class 955
Experimental Shinkansen(300X) which recorded a speed of 443km/h in 1996, a world record for electric multiple unit trains. This was created in pursuit of the most advanced and superior high-speed railway system.

Last one is the MLX01-1, a Superconducting Maglev that set the world railway speed record with a speed of 581km/h in 2003.

Adjacent to symbolic rolling stock hall you will find 32 kinds of rolling stock that have contributed to improving the railway transportation, making it safer and faster, and also improving costomer service.

Among these are the Series 0, Series 100, Series 300 and Series 700 that were the flagship trains of the Tokaido Shinkansen and employed the latest technology of those days.

You will also find the Class ED11, Class Moha 1, and Class Moha 52 rolling stock of yesteryear, which were on the cutting edge of each era.

The Class Kuha 381 and the Class Kiha 181 also contributed to the modernization of railway by employing the most advanced technology of those days. The speed and convenience of railway was further improved thanks to the birth of these trains.

The Relic Train Area showcases precious rolling stock of historical and technological value. Thirteen rolling displays include familiar ones such as Shinkansen vehicles, electric railcars, diesel railcars and passenger car as well as service cars. On the wall is a replica of the grand clock, a symbol of the third Nagoya Station.

Shinkansen exhibits include buffet car and first-class ‘Green’ car for the series 0. Other exhibits include Class Moha 63 Electric Railcar, produced from 1944 during WWII, Class Kiha 48000 Diesel Railcar that can control multiple cars from single driver’s cabin, and Class Orone 10 passenger car, which is a first-class sleeping car modeled after European Passenger cars.

The Class Oya 31 detects obstacles while running. The car has contact sensors fitted around the car body, and was designed to test whether a train would interfere with structures along its tracks during operation. It was used after laying new railway tracks.

The scale of this railway model is 1/80～1/87 and 16.5mm wide HO scale tracks are used. The theme of this diorama is "A Day in the Life of the Railway".

The scenery of the Tokaido Shinkansen and its vicinity has been meticulously reproduced to create scenes that are bursting with lives.

The Shinkansen Train Driving Simulator combines a life-size mock-up of the driver's cabin for Series N700 of the Tokaido Shinkansen, with a large, curved 10m×3m screen.

Driving scenery is displayed on the screen using computer graphics(CG) and you can enjoy driving the Shinkansen for 15 minutes.

Shinkansen Train Driving Simulator(15min)
500yen per one time

The Conventional Train Driving Simulators are based on the Series 211 and the Series 313. At the Train Crew Simulator, users can observe footage on the large monitor to open and close the doors at stations upon confirming safety and giving train announcements between stations.

Conventional Train Driving Simulator
(10min) 100yen per one time

Conventional Train Crew Simulator
(15min) 500yen per one time

The "Superconducting Maglev Room" explains in an easy-to-understand manner the workings and safety aspects of the Superconducting Maglev, which uses the phenomenon of superconductivity, a world-class Japanese technology.

In the theater, which is designed to look like the cabin of the Superconducting Maglev, visitors can experience riding on the Maglev on the Yamanashi Maglev Line with CG (computer graphics) footage.

The exhibit also uses models and CG videos to answer questions such as "how does it move?" "Why does it levitate?"

This exhibit enables visitors to deepen their knowledge of Superconducting Maglev technology in a "fun" and "easy-to-understand" manner.

The "Railway System Learning Zone" explains the history of evolution of high-speed rail with a focus on the Shinkansen that epitomize modern railway, as well as everything that goes into maintaining safety, high-speed and comfort in an easy-to-understand manner using models as well as the real thing.

Displays include "A day in the life of the Shinkansen" and "The Life of the Shinkansen", as well as separate sections that explain about "Safety", "Speed", "Riding Comfort", "Ticketing" and "Train Environment".