Shinkansen Themed Playground at the Railway Museum in Onari, Saitama

In December at the Railway Museum in Onari, Saitama I took this snap of the very kawaii Shinkansen themed playground. There was a large slide in the shape of a E5 series and instead of rocking horses the playground featured rocking shinkansen trains (from L to R E2 Series, E3 Series, E3-1000 Series, 400 Series and a E926 Type (East i))!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 19 mm, f8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Trains and More Trains at the Railway Museum

The family visited the Railway Museum in Onari, Saitama last week. Although it was very cold, we enjoyed seeing all the exhibits even the ones outside! We will have to visit again in the new year.

There was plenty to see. However, it would be wise to review the English museum guide before charging in to see the exhibits. Reserved tickets for the miniature train are offered at the front when the museums opens, there are several tours offered during the day, and probably other things that we missed out on.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 29 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/100 sec.

The ticket machine and the entrance wicket takes Suica Cards!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 25 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

The card we purchased at the entrance is only good to enter the museum. I even scanned it on my Nexus 7, but it read as having "no value".

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 31 mm, f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

The main hall of the museum has a railway turntable with a steam engine. It is a Class C57 Steam Locomotive and was JNR's last steam locomotive (1975) used to haul regular passenger trains on Muroran Main Line between Iwamizawa and Muroran in Hokkaido. It was manufactured in 1940. The turntable is activated several times a day and the train blows it's whistle.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 400, 1/10 sec.