What other travelers are saying about SCMaglev and Railway Park
The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya is an impressive and extensive museum dedicated to Japan’s rich railway history and its cutting-edge train technology. The exhibits cover everything from historic locomotives and classic commuter trains to the latest Shinkansen (bullet train) models and even maglev technology. It’s a fascinating destination for both train enthusiasts and families alike.
When I visited, it happened to be the opening day of the recently retired “Yellow Doctor” Shinkansen, a special maintenance train that has become quite iconic in Japan. Because of this special event, the museum was especially crowded, with long lines and plenty of excited visitors eager to see the new exhibit. Despite the crowds, the atmosphere was lively and full of energy.
The museum’s layout is well-designed, allowing visitors to walk through real train cars, explore interactive exhibits, and even experience simulator rides that let you feel what it’s like to drive a Shinkansen. There are also educational displays explaining the engineering and safety systems behind Japan’s rail network, making it both fun and informative for all ages.
Overall, the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is a must-visit attraction in Nagoya for anyone interested in trains or Japanese technology.
I visited the museum on a Friday - no waiting time. The exhibition is fantastic! Apart of the trains, also the adjacent systems like tracks, brakes and electrical wirings are well explained. With these visualisations it is very good for explaining to children how everything works.
Despite the remote location from the center this is, as expected, an absolute highlight of Nagoya.
For the upcoming Halloween a train was decorated nicely! Some trains can be visited, some are closed (intentionally). When I was there the mid train in the entrance hall was unfortunately closed due to renovations I assume.
There is sufficient space and possibilities to spend at least 2 hours there. Hope to visit the museum again with my son.
Visited this railway park in September 2025. This is an amazing place to learn and experience the Japanese railway especially the Shinkansen and the Super conducting maglev. If you are a rail buff like me, even one whole day at the park feels less. The trainsets on display are great. The daiorama is fascinating. There are multiple stamps to collect. Must visit.
I visited on Thursday and it was a truly magnificent experience for anyone who loves trains or modern technology. The museum offers a wide range of displays that showcase the history, development, and future of railways in Japan. Although most of the exhibits were in Japanese, there was a very helpful English audio guide available, which made it easy to understand and enjoy the visit without missing any important details.
One of the highlights for me was learning how the Maglev works. The explanations were very clear and easy to follow, even for someone without a technical background. Watching the demonstration and seeing the models in action made me feel like I was witnessing the future of transportation right in front of me. It was both educational and fascinating, and I found myself getting more and more curious as I walked through the sections.
What impressed me the most was not only the technology itself but also how well the exhibits connected past, present, and future. From the history of steam and bullet trains all the way to cutting-edge Maglev, it gave me a real sense of how far Japan has come in railway innovation. I also enjoyed the atmosphere — it felt inspiring, almost like stepping into a vision of tomorrow.
Overall, the visit was well organized, informative, and engaging. I left feeling amazed and inspired, and I would gladly recommend this museum to anyone — whether you are a train enthusiast, a student, or just curious about how technology can transform the way we travel. It’s a place that combines learning with excitement, and I am very glad I went.
Amazing train museum with interactive exhibits everywhere. It is focused primarily on Japan's famous high speed bullet trains - Shinkansen.
What I found the most interesting was the learning section that explained everything about how the Japanese High Speed Rail works - everything from trains themslves, to the underlying systems that allow the trains to work impeccably all the time, with an average delay of just 0.2 minutes. I spent 5 hours at the museum, so expect to spend at 2 hours there!
Take the Aonami Line from Nagoya Station to Kinjofuto Station, which is the terminal station. The journey takes 25 minutes and costs 360 yen. Trains run approximately every 15 minutes throughout the day. The museum is located just steps away from Kinjofuto Station at 3-2-2 Kinjofuto, Minato Ward. Note that the Aonami Line is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, so you'll need to purchase separate tickets.
Regular admission costs 1,200 yen for adults, 500 yen for school children, and 200 yen for children under 3 years. Group discounts are available for parties of 20 or more people, reducing adult admission to 800 yen and school child admission to 400 yen per person. Simulator experiences require separate tickets that are sold on a first-come, first-served basis with one-time experience limits per visitor.
The museum features 39 full-size railway vehicles and one bus exhibit, showcasing the evolution of Japanese rail transport from steam locomotives to superconducting maglev trains. The highlight is the symbol display with three world record-holding trains: the Class C62 Steam Locomotive, Class 955 Experimental Shinkansen (300X), and MLX01-1 Superconducting Maglev. Interactive experiences include train cab simulators and Japan's largest railway diorama where you can observe detailed miniature railway operations.
Yes, the museum provides information in multiple languages including English. Many exhibits feature English descriptions alongside Japanese text, and the interactive displays are designed to be universally understandable. The hands-on simulators and visual exhibits make the experience accessible regardless of language proficiency, as the focus is on showcasing Japan's railway technology through physical displays and interactive experiences.
Plan to spend 3-4 hours at the museum to fully experience all exhibits and interactive displays. This allows time to explore the full-size vehicle collection, try the simulators (which may have waiting times), observe the detailed railway diorama, and learn about the historical progression of Japanese railway technology. If you're particularly interested in railways or traveling with children who enjoy the interactive elements, you may want to allocate additional time for a more leisurely visit.
