What other travelers are saying about Botchan Train Museum
It's a museum of sorts. It has one replica locomotive. It's a large back room of the Starbucks. It's a nice looking engine. Some good information about train service in this area back in the 1800s.
A small museum inside a Starbucks! No tickets either.
Once you go inside the Starbucks, just head straight to the back and you will see it.
While small, it is cool to read the history and see some of the historic items!
A museum inside the Starbucks Coffee! A nice museum depicting the Iyotetsu Railway which has been of service to Matsuyama for 130 years or so now. I have enjoyed the Starbucks Caffe Mocha while taking photos inside the museum. Relatively small but at the same time amazing considering the unique replica of the Iyotetsu Train on display.
The Botchan Train is a historic steam locomotive that operated in Matsuyama from 1888 to 1954. It gained literary fame through Natsume Sōseki's 1906 novel "Botchan," where the author's protagonist nicknamed it the "match-box train" due to its small size. Today, a diesel-powered replica runs on tourist routes, while the museum preserves the original train's history and cultural significance.
Yes, visitors can ride the operational Botchan Train replica, which runs between major tourist destinations including Matsuyama City Station, JR Matsuyama Station, and Dogo Onsen. The vintage-style train travels past Matsuyama Castle and connects key sightseeing areas. Tickets cost approximately 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children per journey and can be purchased at stations or onboard.
The museum exhibits at Matsuyama Station are free to enter. However, riding the actual Botchan Train requires a separate ticket purchase. The museum displays historical photographs, original train components, and exhibits about Matsuyama's transportation evolution without charge.
The museum is located at Matsuyama Station and is easily accessible via the Iyotetsu streetcar network. Multiple tram lines stop near the station, making it convenient for tourists already using Matsuyama's public transportation system. The location also serves as one of the departure points for riding the Botchan Train itself.
The museum features historical exhibits about Matsuyama's steam locomotive era, including photographs, original train parts, and displays explaining how the trains influenced local culture and literature. Visitors can view the connection between the real trains and Sōseki's novel, learn about Meiji-era transportation, and purchase tickets to ride the operational replica train that travels through Matsuyama's main tourist areas.
