What other travelers are saying about SCMaglev and Railway Park
Hands-down the perfect destination for train enthusiasts 🚄
The SCMaglev and Railway Park serves as a comprehensive facility for learning about the history and engineering of high-speed rail in Japan.
Visitors have the opportunity to directly view and enter various preserved Shinkansen models on display within the exhibits. The collection features vehicles that trace the development of Japanese rail transport.
A notable addition to the display collection is the iconic Doctor Yellow inspection train, which retired after 24 years of service and has been available for public viewing at the park since June 2025.
Through immersive exhibits, driving simulators, and a large-scale railway diorama, the park provides a detailed educational experience regarding the engineering milestones and cultural role of rail transport across Japan.
Facility Information:
- The park is a spacious facility and includes food options available on the second floor.
- It is easily accessible, located within walking distance from the nearest train station (Aonami Line).
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.
A rainy day forced us to find alternatives around Legoland and this was our top choice.
There are a lot of trains here which is quite cool. In addition, there are train simulators. We did the shinkansen simulator experience and it was very fun.
In order to try the train simulator, I recommend arriving early to queue up before the museum opens. Once the museum entrance opens, buy the museum ticket immediately and line up to enter the museum. Dash to the booth that sells train simulator tickets and you can pay to reserve a time.
Really loved visiting as most of the information boards have English translations and an audio guide around too. Many unique trains here great to see the history of trains in Japan.
Very accessible facility for wheelchair users and families with push chairs.
Only downside was most of the cafe was sold out of the bento boxes so couldn’t get anything to eat there apart from ice cream.
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’ve visited a lot of museums, and this one easily ranks in my top five. It’s a great mix of history, engineering, and hands-on fun, whether you’re a lifelong train nerd or visiting with kids.
I went on a Friday around noon. There was no line to enter, but the museum was filled with hundreds of school kids, so the energy level was high, but no lines.
One of the big advantages here is that you can walk through many of the real train cars, which makes the exhibits feel alive rather than static. The audio descriptions throughout the museum are genuinely worthwhile too. If you plan to use the mobile audio guide (and you should), bring a headset. And for iPhone users: it didn’t work for me in Safari, but switching to the Google browser on iOS fixed it immediately.
Each exhibit has a number and you type that into a web interface (available in English) to hear about what you’re looking at.
Two highlights were the huge working model train layout and the VR maglev experience. The model set alone is worth the visit, and the VR exhibit is just plain fun. Kids would love it, but even as an adult I thought it was great.
I also watched two short films in the theater. Both had English captions and were surprisingly engaging, educational without feeling dry.
There’s a restaurant on-site with cute maglev-themed packaging that kids will enjoy. The food itself was underwhelming, but it’s convenient and the theming is charming.
Overall, huge kudos to JR for creating such an interactive, well-designed museum. If you have even a passing interest in trains or Japanese technology, this place is absolutely worth your time.
