Photo= Visitors explore the museum where train cars of the past are lined up (April 29, Kyoto Railway Museum, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto)

"Kyoto Railway Museum" in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, one of Japan's largest railway museums, opened to the public on April 29. Approximately 14,300 railway fans and families packed the museum to see its exhibitions highlighting railway history with valuable cars such as steam locomotives, Shinkansen bullet trains and more, as well as to experience being a train conductor.

The museum is a three-story building with a total floor space of about 30,000 square meters. It was developed by JR-West. In addition to a total of 53 vehicles, including the 0 Series Shinkansen known for its "round nose," the museum displays a one-eightieth scale gigantic railway diorama, in which the total length of tracks reaches about one kilometer. It also offers the opportunity to experience the operating simulator actually used by conductors for their training. The museum expects 1.3 million visitors in its first year.

On its inaugural day, the museum opened at 8:50 a.m., or 10 minutes ahead of schedule, because approximately 2,000 visitors were lined up, waiting for its opening. As soon as the doors opened, visitors rushed to their anticipated exhibits and experience corners, taking commemorative photos. A thirteen-year-old boy, who came from Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture with two friends, said with uncontained excitement, "They are all valuable vehicles that have left their marks on railway history, I've been getting more and more excited to get a close look at them."

The admission fee is 1,200 yen for general visitors, 1,000 yen for university and high school students, 500 yen for junior high and elementary school students, and 300 yen for children 3 years and older. The museum is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but until May 8, it is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There is no admission after 5:00 p.m. It closed on Wednesdays, except for holidays.