The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park is the railway museum of the Central Japan Railway Company, the operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen, and it is built on the idea that trains are worth being proud of. The star is the SCMAGLEV L0 Series, the superconducting magnetic levitation train that the company is building for a future line between Tokyo and Nagoya, shown here alongside a series of real Shinkansen and conventional trains you can walk through. Beyond the vehicles you will find simulators that let you drive a Shinkansen or a conventional train, a huge diorama and displays about how the railways were built and how they run. A free audio guide is offered in eight languages, so the museum is easy to use even if you read no Japanese, and it is popular with children and railway enthusiasts.
The museum works because it mixes scale and play. You can stand under the nose of a full-size maglev, step inside retired Shinkansen cars to see how seating and cabins changed over the years, and then try a simulator, which is the part that surprises people most. The Shinkansen and conventional train crew simulators cost a small extra fee and last about fifteen minutes, and the simpler conventional driving simulator costs even less.
Tickets for the simulators are sold on the day, first come first served, and you need your admission ticket to buy one, so head for the sales booth early if you want one.
Practical planning
The museum opens at 10:00 and closes at 17:30, with last admission thirty minutes earlier, and it is closed on Tuesdays and from 28 December to 1 January. Adult admission is a little over 1,000 yen. Getting there is straightforward: take the Aonami Line from Nagoya Station to Kinjofuto Station, the same stop as LEGOLAND Japan, a ride of roughly twenty minutes.
Allow two to three hours, longer if you have children who will want a second go on the simulators. Check the museum's calendar before you go, because it publishes its closure dates a year ahead and they change.
Pairing and timing
The museum combines easily with the Toyota Commemorative Museum for a full day on engineering, and with a half-day guided tour that visits both. Families can pair it with LEGOLAND at the same station, though that is a long day. Go on a weekday for the shortest simulator queues, and note that Tuesday is the closing day, which is easy to forget when planning a Nagoya week. Even travelers who are not train fans tend to leave impressed, because the museum tells the story of Japanese railways with confidence and clarity.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced railway museum with a full-size maglev, walk-through Shinkansen cars, a large diorama and paid driving simulators sold on the day.
Best time
A weekday, arriving at opening to buy simulator tickets before they go.
How long
Two to three hours, longer with children and simulator sessions.
Tips
The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Buy simulator tickets first, use the free audio guide on your phone and carry your admission ticket.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Railway fans, families with children and anyone who wants to see the maglev up close.
- Families
- Simulators, big trains and a diorama make it one of the best family stops in the city.
- Couples
- Best for couples who share an interest in trains, otherwise a short visit before dinner.
- Pair with
- The Toyota Commemorative Museum, or LEGOLAND Japan at the same station.
- Time needed
- Half a day with the Toyota museum, two to three hours alone.
Good questions
Which day is the museum closed?+
It is closed on Tuesdays, and from 28 December to 1 January. If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday it opens that day and closes the next.
Can I drive a train simulator?+
Yes. There are Shinkansen and conventional train simulators for a small extra fee, sold on the day at the information booth, and a simpler one from a ticket machine. They are first come first served and each person may ride once.
Is there English information?+
Yes. A free audio guide runs on your own phone over the museum Wi-Fi in eight languages, so you can follow the exhibits without reading Japanese.
How do I get there?+
Take the Aonami Line from Nagoya Station to Kinjofuto Station, a ride of about twenty minutes. LEGOLAND Japan is at the same stop.
Is it worth it if I am not a train fan?+
Usually yes. The maglev, the walk-through cars and the diorama are easy to enjoy, and the simulators are fun for any age.
