The Railway Museum in Omiya city (about one hour by train from Tokyo) is a very popular for children and railways fans in Japan. It's a wonderful facility to enjoy the exhibitions of many formerly actually used trains in Japan.
At your hotel or place of your request
The Railway Museum (expected stay for 2-3 hours) (open: 10:00-18:00 (last entry at 17:30) except Tuesdays)
About one hour by train from Tokyo, about 80 minutes by train from JR Yokohama station、
At your hotel or convenient place for you
It'll be my pleasure to guide you to The Railway Museum in Omiya city. It is very popular among Japanese especially for children and railway fans. I recommend children and railway fans from abroad to visit there.
At the museum, you can learn the history and technology of railway in Japan, enjoy the exhibitions of many previously actually used train cars, experience train operation using interesting simulators, etc.
The museum's big collection of formerly used train cars includes steam and diesel locomotives, and retired Shinkansen (Bullet train), passenger and freight cars. Many of them can be entered or viewed from under.
The eatery and rooftop garden provide nice views of trains in service passing by. There are also an outdoor jungle gym and play areas for children, as well as an area with small tracks and mini trains, which visitors can try to operate (additional fee applies).
guide fee, hotel pick-up in Tokyo 23 wards area,
1. transportation fee (both you and guide):
e.g. 1) JR Shinjuku station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 1320 Yen Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years: 660 Yen. 2) JR Tokyo station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 1480 Yen Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years: 740 Yen. 3) JR Yokohama station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 2220 Yen. Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years) 1110 Yen,
2. admission fee (both you and guide): Adult: 1000 Yen Elementary/Junior High/High -school Students: 500 Yen Children (Preschool children 3 years and up): 200 Yen,
3. lunch
I can also guide you in Okinawa, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Shimane, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Shiga, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Gifu, Nagano, Niigata, etc., if you pay my transportation fee between Tokyo or Yokohama and these places, my hotel fee, and cost of my meals.
A1. Information about some examples (as of January 1, 2018):
JR Shinjuku station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 1320 Yen, Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years) 660 Yen,
JR Tokyo station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 1480 Yen, Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years) 740 Yen,
JR Yokohama station - Omiya - The Railway Museum (two ways) : Adult 2220 Yen, Children (6 years old - younger than 12 years) 1110 Yen,
A2. Adult: 1000 Yen, Elementary, Junior High and High -school Students: 500 Yen, Children (Preschool children 3years and up): 200 Yen) (as of January 1, 2018)
A3. 10:00-18:00 (last entry by 17:30, except holidays (Every Tuesday and the New Year's holidays) (as of August 1, 2016)
I can’t say enough about our Guide Shin or the 2 days of tours he planned and took my group on. He epitomizes the Japanese culture, he is friendly, helpful, accommodating and caring. My group could not say enough about him. Shin truly kicked our Japanese vacation off with a bang! When we parted ways on the last day, it truly felt like we were saying goodbye to a friend. For anyone planning a trip to Japan and more specifically Tokyo, please reach out to Shin. I want to thank Shin once again for his professionalism, knowledge and friendliness. Cheers from Expedia Cruises Oakville South!
Dear Mike K., Thank you sincerely for your generous and thoughtful review. It was an absolute honor and pleasure to be your group’s guide on July 23 and 24. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and the time spent with you and your group. Despite the intense heat and high humidity, I hope the experience was memorable for you and your group. Wishing you and your group a delightful and healthy continuation of the upcoming cruise in Japan. Please give my best regards to all of your group members. Sincerely Yours, Shin (Shinichiro Hazeki)
Shin-go all the way! (as this is appropriately Christmas time) Our one-day tour in Nikko could not have been better. Shin-San took us everywhere, explained everything in detail, and spent more time with us than required. His English was impeccable. Lunch was also a pleasant surprise. The place looked like a cafeteria but we had the best udon in all of Japan here. A good time was had by all. Thank you Shin. Phoebe (write for the group)
Dear Phoebe, Thank you for your wonderful comments. I’m very sorry to be late to add my comments to it because I just finished my guiding jobs this week. I hope your stay in Japan during December 4th to 20th went very well, and now you have a lot of good memories about it. The day with you during one-day tour in Nikko is a wonderful memory for me. Please come back again to Japan any time. We’ll always welcome you. Very best wishes for health and happiness of you and your families in 2024! Sincerely Yours, Shin
We were a group of 14 who hired Shin for 3 days before and after the Tokyo marathon. Shin delivered exactly what we were looking for with little guidance. We came away with a good understanding of Tokyo, its people, culture, architecture, history and sights. It is tough to find a more kind individual anywhere. Although a very diverse group we all thoroughly enjoyed our tours of the city. Shin was very patient with us. If touring Tokyo you can’t go wrong with Shin.
Dear Hugh, Arigato Gozaimasu！ I hope you and your friends enjoyed Tokyo Marathon 2023 on March 5th and the stay in Japan. It’s my great honor and pleasure to be a guide for your group. It’s also a very exciting experience and memory for me to cheer for you and other runners of your group at Tokyo Marathon 2023. Thank you for wonderful time and please give my best regards to all the members of your group. Sincerely Yours, Shin (Shinichiro Hazeki)
Meeting Shinichiro became a real window to today's Japan. Very good English (lots of job experience in the USA), really great mutual understanding. Thank you, Shinichiro!
Dear Irene, I hope you returned home safely. Thank you very much for your review comments and wonderful time during our tour from Yokohama to Kamakura on October 14. I really enjoyed it and it's precious memory for me. The book 'At Home in Japan' (about today's Japan) by Rebecca Otowa will be delivered to me from Amazon next week. Very best wishes for health and happiness of both of you. Sincerely Yours, Shinichiro Hazeki (Shin)