If you are a train buff or a model fanatic, the Hara Model Railway Museum in Yokohama should be on your list of must visits. Even if you aren’t, you will still find much to harken you back to your childhood.
Such attention is paid to detail that it’s hard to discern pictures of the models from actual trains. From the appearance of the scenery and the railcars right down to the sounds that the trains make, everything has an extraordinarily realistic feel. Two authentic conductor’s chairs allow visitors to take the controls of an engine and experience rolling down the tracks from the driver’s perspective. A video camera mounted in the model’s engine puts you inside the train, magically scaling everything up to full size.
During the holiday season Christmas decorations and illumination will be added throughout the large-scale diorama (Ichiban Tetumo Park) to liven things up. Be on the lookout for Santa and his train full of presents!