Overview of the facility
Clicking on the name of the facility will display an overview of the facility on the map.
Other facilities
Stairs
Elevators
Escalators
Lavatories
Multi-purpose lavatories
Nursing room
Information center
Admission ticket machine
Restaurant
Museum shop
Break space
Smoking area
Coin-operated locker
Promenade
The 100 meter-long promenade connects the museum’s entrance to the main building and serves as an outdoor space created in the image of a train station platform. A formation of actual railway vehicles are on display in an area that allows an abundance of natural light and breeze to pass through.
Main Building 1F
The first floor of the main building is built with a wide open ceiling space. Easy-to-follow explanations introduce our visitors to the history of the railway from its beginnings to the present day, its structure and characteristics. There are also creative, interactive exhibits that showcase the charm of the actual railway vehicles.
Main Building 2F
The second floor of the main building is built so that visitors can look down on the first floor displays. You can spend a long time enjoying this floor's interactive exhibits, restaurant, break space and more.
Main Building 3F
The “Sky Terrace” is an open-air viewing deck located on the south side of the third floor which offers a bright and spacious area full of flowers and greenery. Throughout the day, from this viewpoint you can see many trains running on the various lines, including the JR-Kyoto and Tokaido Shinkansen lines.
Twilight Plaza
The historically valuable second Kyoto Station terminal is renowned for its truss-constructed covered platform representative of the Taisho era. This truss structure was reused for this space to create a backdrop that would showcase the museum's treasured vehicles such as the Twilight Express.
The former Nijo Station House
Built in 1904, this was known to be one of the oldest Japanese wooden station houses of its day. It was designated in 1996 as one of Kyoto city’s tangible cultural assets. It also offers an exhibit and a museum shop inside the station house.
Roundhouse platform
This roundhouse is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. It functions as a turntable that changes the direction of the steam locomotives by rotating them in a dramatic fashion. The characteristic steam locomotives used from the Meiji to the Showa periods can be found on display here.
Steam Locomotive Boarding
“The SL Steam” is a popular interactive exhibit where visitors can ride in passenger cars pulled by actual steam locomotives. This exhibit aims to be one of the few places in Japan to regularly operate these steam locomotives any day of the week. (Fee required)
Steam Locomotive No. 2 Service Shed
This specialty service station, dedicated to the inspection and servicing of steam locomotives, has been newly constructed in the neighboring Umekoji operating zone. Visitors can watch the steam locomotives be serviced from the connecting deck.
- [*1]Depending on the work being performed, there are occasions when visitors will be unable to watch.