Exploring Japan's Train Culture at the Railway Museum

In Japan， it takes just a moment to notice that trains are ingrained in the culture， contrasting with the US car-centric lifestyle. In Japan， train travel aligns perfectly with the cultural focus on efficiency and time management. Unlike American commuters， the Japanese maintain quiet and orderly conduct on trains. This unique cultural trait made visiting the railway museum in Nagoya a top priority for us. This expansive museum， owned by JR Central， opened in 2011 and features 39 full-sized railway vehicles， including various bullet trains， simulators， and a vast model train diorama. While primarily aimed at children， as evidenced by the scores of schoolchildren eagerly exploring the trains， their excitement contributed to the charm of the displays， representing future generations of train enthusiasts. The young visitors even enjoyed their bento boxes in the bullet train cars， allowing me to envision myself as a conductor. Although the diorama lacked excitement， educational exhibits on MAGLEV， Japan's future in transportation with its magnetic levitation train line， were a highlight. The MAGLEV line， planned to connect Tokyo and Osaka， is now delayed until 2034， but experiencing the MAGLEV simulator still provided a thrilling glimpse into the smooth， rapid journeys ahead. It took about 30 minutes from Nagoya Station to the end of the Aonami Line at Kinjofuto， and it's well worth the trip， especially for families heading to nearby Legoland. Entry costs ¥1，200 per person.