Botchan Train Museum

The Botchan Train Museum in Matsuyama, Japan, celebrates the city's historic streetcar system immortalized in Natsume Sōseki's beloved 1906 novel "Botchan." The original steam locomotive, which operated from 1888 to 1954, became a cultural icon after appearing in the novel, where the protagonist affectionately nicknamed it the "match-box train" due to its compact size. The museum preserves this important piece of Matsuyama's transportation heritage and literary history.

The museum's main attraction is a restored Botchan Train replica that actually runs on select routes through Matsuyama, allowing visitors to experience travel as it was during the Meiji era. Inside the museum facility, located at Matsuyama Station, guests can view historical photographs, original train components, and exhibits detailing the evolution of Matsuyama's public transportation system. The displays explain how these small steam locomotives revolutionized local travel and became intertwined with the city's identity through Sōseki's writing.

Visitors can explore the static museum exhibits and also purchase tickets to ride the operational Botchan Train, which departs from several stations including Matsuyama City Station, JR Matsuyama Station, and Dogo Onsen. The vintage-style diesel-powered replica travels between major tourist sites, making it both an attraction and a practical sightseeing option. The journey offers views of Matsuyama Castle and connects to the famous Dogo Onsen hot spring district, two other locations featured in the original novel.

The museum is accessible via the Iyotetsu streetcar network, with the main exhibition space near Matsuyama Station reachable by multiple tram lines. Admission to the museum exhibits is free, though riding the Botchan Train itself requires purchasing a separate ticket costing approximately 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children per journey. The train operates year-round except during maintenance periods, and tickets can be purchased at major stations or onboard depending on the departure point.