SCMaglev and Railway Park

The SCMaglev and Railway Park, also known as the Nagoya Railway Museum, is a railway museum operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Opened in 2011, the museum serves as an educational facility, showcasing the evolution of Japan’s railway technology, with a special emphasis on Shinkansen and magnetic levitation (maglev) trains.

Visitors can explore a collection of nearly 40 retired train cars, ranging from historic steam locomotives to modern Shinkansen models. These trains are displayed in the museum’s expansive main exhibition hall, where many can be entered, offering a hands-on experience of their interiors. 

The museum features a variety of train-driving simulators, allowing visitors to experience operating both Shinkansen and conventional trains. These simulators require an additional fee, ranging from ¥100 to ¥500, depending on the model. Reservations may be necessary due to high demand.

One of the museum’s highlights is its massive railway diorama, one of the largest in Japan. It presents a meticulously detailed miniature landscape featuring moving trains running through realistic recreations of Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo. The diorama’s dynamic lighting system simulates different times of the day, enhancing the immersive experience.

The second floor of the museum houses an education zone designed for children, where young visitors can engage with interactive exhibits that explain railway mechanics, safety systems, and transportation principles in an engaging and accessible way.