Kyoto Railway Museum

This is a railway museum located in Umekoji Park, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, which opened in 2016.

With the concept of being a “railway culture hub that walks together with the local community,” it is characterized by its collaboration with nearby private facilities and schools. In addition to the history of railways, it also conveys safety and technology, and offers exhibitions, tours, and workshops so that many people can gain a deeper understanding of railways.

Exhibition of the steam locomotive that became a hot topic in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”

A gold "無限" (Mugen) nameplate on SL / Photo AC

The Kyoto Railway Museum has 54 rolling stock exhibits, including Car No. 1 of the 0 Series Shinkansen and the C62-type steam locomotive, the largest locomotive of the former Japanese National Railways, allowing visitors to see vehicles of high historical value. Special cars such as sleeping cars and Green Cars are also on display, making it an irresistible space for railway enthusiasts.

In the roundhouse, where 20 steam locomotives are gathered, you can also find Locomotive No. 8630 of the 8620-type, Japan’s first mass-produced passenger steam locomotive, which is said to be the model for the train that appears in the Mugen Train Arc of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.”

Plenty of hands-on areas such as riding a steam locomotive and driving simulators

On the “SL Steam” train, you can experience a journey on a steam locomotive by riding in passenger cars pulled by a real steam locomotive for a round trip of 1 km. The price is a reasonable 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for children. The running vehicles are mainly those that were used for passenger service in the Taisho, Meiji, and Showa eras. You can check the operating schedule at the information desk on the day of your visit. After the final run, the cinders of the coal are dropped, and water and coal are loaded in preparation for the next day. The powerful scene of the locomotive turning on the turntable in the center of the roundhouse is very popular.

At the driving simulator, you can experience the work of a train driver using the same simulator used for driver training. There are also corners where you can learn about railway safety systems through operating models, and experiences where you can ride track inspection bicycles used for track inspections, allowing you to learn about railways from various angles.

Learning about the history of railways while having fun

On the second floor of the museum, there is an area that recreates station facilities from the present day and the early Showa era. By actually seeing and touching, you can learn about the changes and evolution of railways, such as how ticket gates differ. Furthermore, you can learn about various mechanisms and innovations, such as how gears transmit power, the structure of couplers that connect cars, and safety measures for signals and platforms.

Railway-themed menus and goods

At the restaurant, railway-themed menu items such as “Doctor Yellow Hashed Beef Rice” are offered. In the dining car and boxed-lunch sales booth, you can dine in a car that was used as a dining car on the Blue Train. Here as well, there is a lineup of boxed lunches themed on railways and rolling stock, characterized by their cute appearance.