History in Iron and Steel at Saitama's Railway Museum

If your kids love trains or if you're a railway buff at heart, look no further. Have I got the museum for you! Located in Saitama, Saitaima, Japan, the Railway Museum （鉄道博物館） is a treasure trove of all things related to Japanese trains - past, present, and future.

The museum opened in 2007 and is operated by the East Japan Railway Culture Foundation. It's a massive 19,800 m² building on a site covering an incredible 42,500 m² area.

The Railway Museum proudly displays some 30 railway cars, mini trains, antique trains, train simulators, and railway models. Visitors can also adventure through their books and videos and research room. Children can play with their many mock and toy train equipment. You can learn about railway principles and mechanisms by interacting with actual parts, or opt to take the museum's two hour tour. Rest assured you'll get a train-ful by going there; it's an incredible collection of iron and steel on wheels!

One last interesting thing of note: in November 2012, it was announced that the Railway Museum would form a sister-museum alliance with the National Railway Museum in York, UK.

Information in English regarding access and hours of operation:
http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/information.html

If you're interested in other museums, be sure to read my "Museums Off the Beaten Track":
http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3533