To overseas Visitors|the Hara Model Railway Museum

Museum guidance

The Hara Model Railway Museum

This museum was produced and owned by Nobutaro Hara, a world-renowned model railroad maker and collector.The huge railway model, which is said to be the best in the world, and railway-related collections are open to the public.

The first feature of Nobutaro's model railroad is from steam locomotives to electric locomotives.It is a collection that reproduces railway vehicles from all over the world, mainly in Japan, Europe, and the United States,when railways have made remarkable progress. You can enjoy the world's railways while you are in Yokohama.

The second feature of Nobutaro's model railroad is that it faithfully reproduces a real railroad car.The model draws electricity from the overhead wire and runs on iron rails with iron wheels.

Of particular note is the "running noise". The sound of the joints of the rails squeaks, and you can hear the same sound as the real thing.Gears, leaf springs, bearings, swaying pillows, brakes ... Although it is not visible from the outside,it is a model run realized by incorporating the technology used in real railways.At this museum, the model railroad of the first gauge (scale about 1/32) actually runs,We have prepared the world's largest diorama as an indoor facility that is open to the public.

Nobutaro loves railways and technology, and says that there is technological innovation in railways.He actually went to see it anywhere in the world, boarded it, and put it on a camera and 16mm film, which was rare at the time.The museum will also introduce some of the vast amount of railway materials, travel materials, and technical materials collected in this way.You will also be surprised that those technologies are installed in the actual model.

The models and materials collected by Nobutaro are valuable not only for railway history but also for modern industrial history.It can be said to be the "dream of travel," "longing for a strange world," and "dream of a new industry"brought about by the "advanced technology of that era" of railways.We look forward to your visit.

Museum overview

NameHara Model Railway Museum
Opening dateJuly 10, 2012
Floor spaceApprox. 1,700m²
Exhibit spaceApprox. 1,200m²
Total cars in collectionApprox. 1,500
Gauge one diorama areaApprox. 310m²

Sales Overview

Operating hours: 10 am to 5 pm
(ticket sales end at 4:00 pm / last entry at 4:30 pm)Operating hours are subject to change without prior notice.
Days closed: Tuesdays / Wednesdays
(if Tuesday/Wednesday is a national holiday,
the museum will close the day after)
Entrance fees: ■Weekdays
Adults: ¥1,200
Junior high and high school students: ¥900
Children (four and older): ¥600
(all prices include consumption tax)

■Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and high season
Adults: ¥1,300
Junior high and high school students: ¥1,000
Children (four and older): ¥700
(all prices include consumption tax)

Visitors with an identification booklet for the disabled and their escort (one escort per visitor) are entitled to a 300 yen discount off the above price by presenting their identification booklet.
Ticketing: Please purchase admission tickets for the designated date and time at the "e-plus" ticket sales service or at the "multi-copy machine" in FamilyMart stores.

Calendar

Access

The nearest stations are Yokohama Station and Shin-Takashima Station (Minatomirai Line).

5min.walk from JR Yokohama Station.

ACCESS MAP PDF
3min.walk from Shin-Takashima Station on the Minatomirai Line

ACCESS MAP PDF

The second floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building
Hara Model Railway Museum.

Access to the Hara Model Railway Museum
from Yokohama Station / Shin-Takashima Station

Those who use the stairs / escalator from Yokohama Station
- 1Go straight from the east exit to the Yokohama store where you can get off the escalator
- 2Go right on the square in front of Sogo and go up the stairs at the end
- 3Cross the pedestrian crossing and go straight on. The 2nd floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building is the Hara Model Railway Museum.
Those who use the elevator from Yokohama Station
- 1Go right in front of the escalator at the east exit and take the elevator to Porta (underground shopping mall)
- 2Proceed through Porta (underground shopping mall) to Sky Building
- 3Turn left in front of the Sky Building and take the elevator between Sogo and Marui to the second floor
- 4With Sogo on your left, go straight and you will come to "Hamamirai Walk".
- 5Follow the "Hamamirai Walk" and take the elevator in front of the Nissan Global Headquarters to the "G floor".
- 6The Hara Model Railway Museum is on the second floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building in front of the Katabira River on your right.
Those who use the escalator from Shin-Takashima Station
- 1Please take Exit 2 immediately after exiting the ticket gate
- 2Cross the pedestrian crossing on Minato Mirai Boulevard and proceed to the Nissan Global Headquarters side
- 3The Hara Model Railway Museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building next to the Nissan Global Headquarters.
Those who use the elevator from Shin-Takashima Station
- 1Take the B elevator on the right after exiting the ticket gate to the 1st floor
- 2Turn left at the pedestrian crossing on Minato Mirai Boulevard and proceed toward the Nissan Global Headquarters
- 3The Hara Model Railway Museum is located on the 2nd floor of the Yokohama Mitsui Building next to the Nissan Global Headquarters.

Cautions

*Please do not touch the exhibits and materials.
*Inside the museum please refrain from taking copies. The only writing implements allowed are pencils.
*Please refrain from eating or drinking inside the museum.
*The museum is a completely no smoking environment.
*Visitors are not allowed to bring large-sized luggage into the museum.
*During busy times, visitors may be required to wait before entering the museum.
*Please refrain from bringing pets to the museum (with the exception of seeing-eye, assistance and hearing dogs).
*Visitors causing inconvenience for other visitors will be asked to leave the museum.
*Parents and guardians are requested to watch their children at all times.

Museum Guide

Hara Model Railway Museum open in Yokohama,
where Japan's railways started!

A new railway venue has opened in Yokohama, just five minutes' walk from Yokohama Station.
Its collections feature exquisitely reproduced valuable models from around the world and models that run with a roar, all of which are amazing pieces.
An exciting wonderland, the museum gives you a fun close-up feel for railway technology and allows you to travel the world through model railways.
(Content may change without notice.)

Floor mapClick on individual areas shown in the map of the facilities below to display explanations.

1First Exhibit Room
“ The Essence of Hara Models ”
2Second Exhibit Room “ Storytelling Models ”
“ Model building library ”
3Exhibition Promenade
“ Nobutaro Hara and Japan's Railway History ”
4Third Exhibit Room “ Vintage Collection ”
5Passage “ HO Gauge Models ”
6Exhibit of actual railway nameplates
and controllers
7Secret of Hara Models, Model Studio
8Ichiban Tetumo Park
9Yokohama Diorama

Overview of Facilities

Name: Hara Model Railway Museum
Address: 2F Yokohama Mitsui Building, 1-1-2 Takashima, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Area: Approx. 1,700m² (floor space)
Access: 5 min. walk from JR Yokohama Station, 2 min. walk from Shin-Takashima Station on the Minatomirai Line

1First Exhibit Room“ The Essence of Hara Models ”

Here you can find the most representative of all the Hara models. Detailed explanations introduce various episodes in the creation of the models, as well as specific parts.

No.1 Locomotive

No.1 LocomotiveThis locomotive is the first model Hara created during his childhood and is also the symbol of the museum.
Kongosan Electric Railway No.22 EMUThis legendary train used to run on the Korean Peninsula.
Hakone Tozan Railway Chiki Series (Chiki No.1)The precision of the woodwork and brass etchings is the attraction of this reproduction.
Orient ExpressThis beautiful wooden carriage can be seen in all its glory, including the paintings on the ceiling.
“The Train”This is a phantom train from the early 20th century. This model offers an interesting look at the underside of the passenger car through the glass floor.
Swiss Federal Railways Ae4/7This model features a reproduction of the Buchli drive transmission system.
Hanshin Electric Railway series 311 EMU (No.313)The color and shape of this wooden EMU are part of its appeal.

2Second Exhibit Room “ Storytelling Models ”“ Model building library ”

Storytelling ModelsExhibits are displayed by theme, telling of culture and history of individual eras through Hara's vast collection of models.
As you walk around you can feel the history evoked by the models.

Model building libraryThis exhibit displays railway vehicle designs drawn by Nobutaro Hara from when he was only an elementary school student through his teens.
Also open to the public are the books from overseas that he read as reference material for model building.
They are available for browsing upon request.

3Exhibition Promenade“ Nobutaro Hara and Japan's Railway History ”

What kinds of railways did Hara see for himself? This exhibit shows a chronology of the achievements of Nobutaro Hara, together with a chronology of the history of railways.

4Third Exhibit Room “ Vintage Collection ”

Vintage CollectionScenes from Hara's railway journeys are told through models and other items.
Enjoy rare antique toy trains, the first tickets issued for certain trains, and other items Hara has collected.

5Passage “ HO Gauge Models ”

This room is for special exhibitions and events. Please check "Event Information" on this site for details.

6Exhibit of actual railway nameplates and controllers

This exhibit shows a small selection from Hara's collection.

7Secret of Hara Models, Model Studio

This exhibit provides easy-to-understand explanations about the technologies used in Hara's models. Look at the explanations through a window designed to resemble that of a carriage from the Orient Express. This is a recreation of the model studio in Hara's own home.

The Model studio

The model studio in Hara's home

8Ichiban Tetumo Park

This is a large-scale diorama on which gauge one model trains run, including steam and electric locomotives and trolley cars. A viewing platform with seats has been included so that visitors can take in the entire layout, one of the world's largest indoor dioramas.
Enjoy the realistic scenes like those of actual trains running in a town.

9Yokohama Diorama

This HO gauge layout recreates the scene of Yokohama in the past and the present.
It recreates the cityscape around Yokohama with elements such as the scene around old Yokohama Station (present-day Sakuragicho Station) as well as Bashamichi and Chinatown areas.