When you have a son who is a train geek, you find yourself spending one entire day at a train museum.
Thankfully, the Railway Museum in Saitama, Japan is so thoughtfully designed that I am impressed by its layered juxtaposition. What do I mean by that? Most train museums focus on the history of trains in their nation, but this museum invites visitors to partake in the conceptualistion of trains in the future. It’s quite fitting of ideas from the edge, I would say.
What better way to involve visitors than to get them to create their own avatar?
After my son created his avatar, he could participate in an A/B quiz about how he envisioned future trains to evolve. Never mind that he couldn’t read Japanese. The act of engagement was fun in itself.
From children’s point of view, the Railway Museum was a godsend because it had so many attractions that would allow them to play to their heart’s content.
Not only was there an indoor playground, but children could role-play as train drivers and experience driving a carriage by themselves (under the watchful eye of their parent). I’m quite sure some children will aspire to grow up to be train drivers after visiting this railway museum. I don’t see how they can forget such a memorable hands-on experience.
As for me, I was awed by its strategic location. On the left side, I could observe local trains whizzing past, going about their daily routine.
On the right side on the third floor, I could admire Shinkansen trains jolting my travel-weary self back to life. I didn’t take any pictures though because I was preoccupied with having lunch.
Needless to say, the interior of the museum was another unforgettable sight. Imagine seeing trains of different designs and styles under one roof all at once. It’s like having fireworks explode your senses.
Through this experience, I learnt one important thing. I realised that I could enjoy something that I am not very interested in, as long as it conveys breadth and depth so effortlessly. The Railway Museum was like a time capsule and a Time Machine in one, synergising the past, present and future so seamlessly.