The history zone is one of our main exhibit spaces, and it takes up around half of the entire museum. Here we take a look at the history of trains in Japan through different eras in order to understand how rail systems and railway technology transformed from the Meiji period – when trains were first introduced to the country – to the modern day. The exhibit space is built around 36 full-size train cars and engines, six of which were built for the dedicated use of the imperial family. Also on display are important documents from different eras, and carefully-made scale models of real trains. One of the highlights of each area is the reconstructed scenery, created using photographs and other documentation, which give visitors a real taste of what railways and rail travel were like in the past.
Click the buttons below to read descriptions of each era covered in the exhibit. Clicking on one of the trains in the image above will take you to a short description of that train.
- Locomotive No.1
- Japan's first steam locomotive. Imported from the United Kingdom.
- ●National Important Cultural Property and Railway Monument
- ●Number: 50
- ●Year manufactured: 1871
- Zenko Steam Locomotive
- This steam locomotive was used by Nippon Railway and was known as "Zenko."
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Number: 1292
- ●Year manufactured: 1881
- Benkei Steam Locomotive
- The first steam locomotive operated in Hokkaido, it played a role in the island’s development. Known as "Benkei."
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Number: 7101
- ●Year manufactured: 1880
- Kaitakushi Passenger Carriage
- Special, US-built passenger car used during the development of Hokkaido.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Number: Kotoku 5010
- ●Year manufactured: 1880
- Early Passenger Carriage (Reproduction)
- Full-scale reproduction of a third-class passenger carriage built during the Meiji period.
- Hanifu 1 Passenger Carriage
- Electric railcar used on the Kobu Railway, the predecessor to today’s Chuo Line. The first car to be used on the national electric rail network.
- ●Number: Hanifu 1 (De 968)
- ●Year manufactured: 1904
- Class Nade 6110 Electric Railcar
- National Railway Monument Oldest Japanese-made, truck-equipped, large-scale rail car. Used in the Tokyo area.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Number: Nade 6141
- ●Year manufactured: 1914
- Class 9850 Mallet Steam Locomotive
- Only remaining Mallet locomotive in Japan. Used to cross Gotemba on the Tokaido Main Line.
- ●Number: 9856
- ●Year manufactured: 1913
- Class ED40 Electric Locomotive
- First Japanese-built electric locomotive. Used on the Abt rack-and-pinion railway between Yokokawa and Karuizawa on the Shinetsu Main Line.
- ●Minor National Railway Monument
- ●Number: ED40 10
- ●Year manufactured: 1921
- Class ED17 Electric Locomotive
- Electric locomotive imported from the United Kingdom in preparation for the electrification of the Tokaido Main Line.
- ●Number: ED17 1
- ●Year manufactured: 1923
- Class Kiha 41300 Railcar
- First true large-scale gasoline-powered railcar. After being retired by Nippon Railway, was used on the Enshu and Tsukuba railway lines.
- ●Number: Kiha 41307
- ●Year manufactured: 1933
- Class C51 Steam Locomotive
- Japan's first high-speed steam locomotive, and equipped with 1750mm drive wheels.
- ●Number: C51 5
- ●Year manufactured: 1920
- Class C57 Steam Locomotive
- Standard locomotive used to haul express and limited express passenger trains.
- ●Number: C57 135
- ●Year manufactured: 1940
- Class EF55 Electric Locomotive
- This streamlined locomotive was used on the Tohoku Main Line limited express "Fuji" run and other passenger trains.
- ●Year manufactured: 1936
- Class Maite 39 Passenger Carriage
- Tokaido Main Line first-class observation car with stately interior decorated in a Momoyama period motif.
- ●Number: Maite 39 11
- ●Year manufactured: 1930
- Class Kumoha 40 Electric Railcar
- Railcar with long, three-person seats that set the standard for pre-World War II commuter rail travel.
- ●Number: Kumoha 40074
- ●Year manufactured: 1936
- Class Oha 31 Passenger Carriage
- The first passenger carriage built of steel, it served as a standard, 17-meter long passenger car. Interiors were completed in wood.
- ●Number: Oha 31 26
- ●Year manufactured: 1927
- Class EF58 Electric Locomotive
- A standard, post-war electric locomotive that enjoyed great popularity.
- ●Number: EF58 89
- ●Year manufactured: 1956
- Class Nahanefu 22 Sleeping Car
- First dedicated sleeper car for limited express passenger trains. Bogie were equipped with pneumatic springs, and the car had double-paned windows for sound-proofing.
- ●Number: Nahanefu 22-1
- ●Year manufactured: 1964
- Class Kumoha 101 Electric Railcar
- Nippon Railway's first high-performance commuter carriage. Used on commuter lines in the capital region and the Kansai area.
- ●Number: Kumoha 101-902
- ●Year manufactured: 1957
- Class Kuha 181 Electric Railcar
- Based upon the Class 151, Nippon Railway's first limited express railcar. Equipped with a more powerful main motor for steep grades. Used on the Joetsu Line.
- ●Number: Kuha 181-45
- ●Year manufactured: 1965
- Class Kiha 11 Diesel Railcar
- Introduced by Nippon Railway, this was the first hydraulic-transmission, diesel multiple-unit train in Japan.
- ●Number: Kiha 11-25
- ●Year manufactured: 1956
- *A working-condition Class Kiha 11 Diesel Railcar is on display in the Park Zone.
- *The carriage cannot currently be boarded.
- Class Kuha 481 Electric Railcar
- Lead carriage used on limited express trains on most lines throughout the country. Could handle all forms of power sources.
- ●Number: Kuha 481-26
- ●Year manufactured: 1965
- Class Moha 484 Electric Railcar
- This railcar was equipped with power rectifiers and transformers to enable it to move between lines powered by AC and DC electrical sources.
- ●Number: Moha 484-61
- ●Year manufactured: 1968
- Class Kumoha 455 Electric Railcar
- Long-distance railcar with a universal motor that was used in most of the country.
- ●Number: Kumoha 455-1
- ●Year manufactured: 1965
- Class ED75 Electric Locomotive
- A standard locomotive used on most of the AC-powered lines in Japan.
- ●Number: ED75 775
- ●Year manufactured: 1975
- Series 21 Shinkansen (Series 0 Shinkansen)
- The front end of a lead car from the first shinkansen series to go into service in Japan.
- ●Number: 21-25
- ●Year manufactured: 1964
- Series 222 Shinkansen
- The 200 series of shinkansen trains was a new model built for use on the Tohoku and Joetsu shinkansen lines.
- ●Number: 222-35
- ●Year manufactured: 1982
- Series 21 Shinkansen (Series 0 Shinkansen)
- One of 360 cars built for the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964, this was the lead car on Osaka-bound trains.
- ●Number: 21-2
- ●Year manufactured: 1964
- Class EF66 Electric Locomotive
- Nippon Railway's most powerful high-speed freight train locomotive.
- ●Number: EF66 11
- ●Year manufactured: 1968
- Class Remufu 10000 Refrigerator Wagon
- This refrigerated freight car was fitted with a conductor's room and used to haul fresh seafood from Kyushu to the Tokyo area.
- ●Number: Remufu 10000
- ●Year manufactured: 1966
- Class Koki 50000 Container Wagon
- These container cars ran freight under the slogan "from door to door" and revolutionized freight transport in Japan.
- ●Number: Koki 50000
- ●Year manufactured: 1966
- Imperial Model Class 1 (The First)
- The first dedicated imperial rail carriage. Built for the Meiji period emperor.
- ●National Important Cultural Property and Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1876
- Imperial Model Class 2 (The First)
- Imperial rail carriage built for the Meiji period emperor by Kyushu Railway.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1891
- Imperial Model Class 7
- Imperial rail carriage built for the Taisho period emperor. Interiors were decorated in the industrial art style.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1914
- Imperial Model Class 9
- This carriage was used by the emperor during the Taisho period as a dining carriage.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1914
- Imperial Model Class 10
- This carriage was used by the emperor during the Taisho period as an observation carriage.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1922
- Imperial Model Class 12
- Imperial carriage used by the prince regent (the future Showa period emperor.) This was the last wooden carriage built for the use of the imperial family.
- ●National Railway Monument
- ●Year manufactured: 1924
