Return to the Steam Age: An outing to Ome Railway Park

Summary

**Has parking**Northeast Tokyo**For Elementary School Kids**Half day Activity**Admission 100yen for over 6 years**9:15-17:00**Closed Monday**

Website

Ome Railway Park

Location/Access


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By Train: From Tokyo, take the Chuo line from Tachikawa 立川 which connects with the Ome line 青梅線. Head for Ome Station. From the station, it is either a 15 minute walk or taxi to the park, as there is no bus.

By Car: There is free car parking available next to the park. We took the Chuo Road 中央道 from central Tokyo out the Hachioji Interchange 八王子 I.C. From there it was around 30-45 minutes to the park.

Activities



There are a number of real life trains in the park, ranging from old steam trains, all the way to a (relatively) modern Shinkansen. You are free to walk around the park, and you may climb up right into the driver's seat inside the trains. Here you can see the dials, levers, buttons etc. that were used to power these once mighty machines.



However, this gets old pretty fast, but fortunately there are a number of scaled down train models scattered around the park, allowing both children and adults to ride around their mini-tracks. These rides are priced at 100 or 200 JPY depending on the size.

In addition to the outdoor area, there is an indoor section with a shop, model railway, train simulator and some additional arcade games for children. There is also an observation area on top of the building, although quite what you are supposed to observe from there I found difficult to tell.

Food

Food in the park is almost non-existent, save for a vending machine selling French Fries and sushi(!).

Cost

The cost is extremely cheap as the entrance fee is only 100 yen for adults. The rides inside the park are very basic and therefore do not exceed 200 yen.


Rating

Overall, a fun way to spend a couple of hours, but not enough activities or variety for keep you busy for much longer than that. The area is quite scenic, and the number and range of engines on display is impressive, however, the lack of explanations as to what things are mean you end up leaving the park with more questions than answers. For example, they have a nice photo display documenting the transportion of the Shinkansen into the park. The photographs are beautiful black and white shots, and were a great find as the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the Shinkansen was: "How on earth did they get that thing in here?". However, there were no dates on or near the photographs, leaving me frustrated.

Pros: Great experience for a young child who likes trains. Real-life engines including a Shinkansen. Inexpensive. A nice scenic park.

Cons: A little far from central Tokyo. Not many activities. Not many explanations given regarding the exhibits. No decent food on site.


Rating: 6/10 Worth a trip if you live nearby, or your child is mad about trains.

In the Army Now: A morning at the Self Defence Force Public Information Center

Summary

JGSDF Public Information Center: Tanks, helicopters, underground command post, flight simulator, tank simulator, 3D movie, battle dress and survival food.

**Has parking**West Tokyo**For Elementary School Kids**Half day Activity**Admission free**10:00-17:00**Closed Monday and every 4th Tuesday**

Rating: 7/10 - Fun activities but not enough to last a whole day


Website

JGSDF Public Information Center (Japanese Only)

Location/Access

東京都練馬区大泉学園町
Tokyo, Nerima-Ku, OizumiGakuen-cho
048-460 1711


大きな地図で見る

By Train: 1.5km (15min. on foot) from Wako-shi Sta. (和光市駅), Tobutojo line/Yuraku-cho line (東武東上線・有楽町線).

By Car: 1.5km (3min) from Wako I.C. (和光インター）, Tokyo GAIKAN Expressway. （東京外環自動車道）


Activities

Exhibitions
The place is more museum-like than anything, so most of the activities center around the various military exhibitions. Inside the building, there is a real life tank and helicopter; and you are able to climb up some stairs set up at the side of the vehicles to get a better look inside the cockpits. If one tank isn't enough, rest assured there are several other full size tanks waiting in the outside area.

Other exhibitions include SDF backpacks, jackets, guns, underground bunkers, parachutes etc. All the kind of things you would expect from a military themed museum. One note: don't expect to see anything from during or before WWII: remember the Self Defense Force was created after the end of America's post WWII occupation of Japan.

Dressing up
One nice feature was a corner allowing children to change into battle dress for the duration of their time in the center. They have sizes ranging from the smallest child to the biggest parent, so there's no need for Dad to by shy of living out his childhood "GI Joe" fantasy.

Simulators
There are a number of game console like simulators dotted around the center. You manipulate a joystick to operate either a tank or helicopter, and move around blowing things up. It's marvelously politically incorrect, as you get to actually blow up computer images of moving tanks, rather than sterile targets, but how long these games will keep the "playstation generation" entertained is a matter of debate, indeed.

There is one large sized flight simulator in the building, but as the requirements for this ride were children of 6 years or older, my young family and I had to give this one a miss.


3D Movie
There is a 3D theater running movies on a regular schedule; and the effects work quite well with the standard 3D plastic specs. However, the entire thing is Japanese only. In addition, it's quite the propaganda movie, so those sensitive to a rather one sided portrayal of Japan's military activities post WWII should maybe give this one a miss.

Food

There are no restaurants on site, only a few vending machines dishing out snacks near the outside entrance. One suggestion: There are a number of "Survival foods" available in the shop. My family and I purchased a couple of packs, and had a "mock SDF soldier's meal" for our dinner later that evening.

Cost

This is a really low cost day out: The entrance and all attractions are completely free. The goods in the shop are a little on the dear side, however, with a box of survival food and a toy tank costing our family around 3000 yen.

Rating

The activities are fun, but a little short lived. If you took a picnic, it's feasible you could stretch the day out over lunch by sitting on the benches in the outside area, surrounded by tanks. Also, older kids would soon get pretty bored, so I'd say 3-6 years would be the ideal age.

Pros: It's free, the shop is interesting, there is a lot of interactivity.

Cons: Not enough for a whole day, no restaurant on-site, a little small.


Rating: 7/10