Kyoto Railway Museum

The Kyoto Railway Museum, which opened in its current grand form in 2016 near Kyoto Station, is a magnificent tribute to over 150 years of Japanese rail history. The collection includes 53 vehicles spanning steam locomotives, bullet trains, and vintage passenger cars, many of which you can climb inside. A working steam locomotive takes visitors on short rides around the museum grounds, and the driving simulators let you try your hand at operating a Shinkansen. The rooftop terrace offers views of real trains passing by on the adjacent JR tracks, with the Kyoto skyline as a backdrop. It appeals equally to devoted train enthusiasts and families with young children looking for a rainy-day activity.