On the second floor of Yokohama Mitsui Building, about a five-minute walk from Yokohama Station, the Hara Model Railway Museum brings together trains collected and built by Nobutaro Hara. Its displays include thousands of models and a large city diorama where trains move through scenery that shifts from day to night. Look closely for miniature art hidden among the scenes, or borrow a multilingual tablet to read about the collection. Children can try railway games and quizzes, and some visits include a chance to control a model train.
Nobutaro Hara’s collection
The museum displays model trains built and collected by Nobutaro Hara, a Japanese mechanical engineer who devoted much of his life to railway models. His collection spans trains from Japan and other countries, including Europe and the United States. The museum opened in 2012 and is on the second floor of Yokohama Mitsui Building, near Yokohama Station.
The collection is described as numbering more than 6,000 models. Around 1,000 are displayed, with trains shown in settings that let you examine their forms and details at close range. The exhibition includes models of different kinds of rail transport, from locomotives to trams and bullet trains.
The Ichiban Tetsumo Park diorama
The central attraction is a large-scale railway scene in which miniature trains travel through an intricate cityscape. The layout changes from day to night, giving the scenery a different appearance as you watch. Take time to follow the trains and inspect the buildings and small details around the tracks; visitors often spend much of their visit at the displays.
There are also small surprises tucked into the scenes. Look for miniature references to familiar works of art and characters, including the Mona Lisa and Mary Poppins. Railway games and quizzes add another way for children and adults to engage with the exhibits. A train-driving experience is also described, though availability may depend on the visit.
Planning your visit
The museum is a short walk from Yokohama Station and is located on the second floor of the building. Ticket purchase can involve a separate step downstairs: instructions describe using a machine in the convenience store on the first floor, then paying at the cashier. The process may be less straightforward for international visitors, so allow time and ask for assistance if the screen instructions are unclear. The museum recommends getting tickets in advance.
A tablet with a QR-code reading function can be borrowed for exhibit information in eight languages, including English, Chinese, Korean, Thai, German, French and Spanish. The building has wheelchair-accessible entrances, lifts and restrooms. A visit of around one to two hours allows time to watch the trains, explore the collection and try the activities.
Preguntas frecuentes
How long do you need at the Hara Model Railway Museum?
Plan for about one to two hours to watch the trains, explore the displays and try the activities.
How do you buy tickets?
Ticket instructions describe using a machine in the convenience store on the building’s first floor and paying at the cashier. The museum recommends buying tickets in advance.
Is information available in English?
You can borrow a tablet with QR-code reading for exhibit information in English and several other languages.
Is the museum accessible by wheelchair?
The building has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, elevator and restroom.
