NIKON Z 8 (26mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO560)
It already was a long day of sightseeing but there was one more thing I had to see. Luckily it was just around the corner from our hotel: The Kyoto Railway museum.
When in Japan I think you have to visit at least one railway museum. In Japan the railway is far more important than anywhere else in the world. It’s also a source of pride and rightly so. Trains are on a different level in Japan. Not only regarding speed (other countries have caught up) but mainly because of their comfort, frequency, convenience and punctuality. If your train is late by five minutes you can request a certificate to show your employer.
I guess it’s something that is extremely rare. Imagine the same in Germany or Austria. The railways would be busy all day issuing certificates. I usually traveled by plane, car or taxi when in Asia but in Japan I mainly traveled by train. It is the most effective and convenient way to travel in between the major cities.
NIKON Z 8 (26mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO1400)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/250 sec, ISO2200)
It all started in 1964 when the Shinkansen started operation right after the Olympic summer games. Since October 1, 1964 until today there was no accident or derailment within the Shinkansen network resulting in a passenger fatality! This is even more impressive when you take into consideration that Japan sees more than 1.000 earth quakes per year.
To sit in the cockpit of the first bullet train and to look at the analog dials lets you appreciate even more what Japan achieved over 60 years ago. To put it into perspective: in the 60s Austria and Germany just phased out their last steam trains! In the 60s and 70s Japan was miles ahead of the rest of the world.
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/250 sec, ISO3200)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/250 sec, ISO5600)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/250 sec, ISO5600)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/50 sec, ISO720)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/50 sec, ISO2500)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/50 sec, ISO900)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/4, 1/50 sec, ISO800)
This museum is not mainly targeted at train enthusiast. The target audience is kids and I think it is a smart move. Kids can’t visit on their own so you get the parents too. Japan is a really quiet place but this museum isn’t. Thank god they covered the floor with carpets.
We walked around and into the trains on display and I felt like a kid again. What a great experience!
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO2200)
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO100)
I think I never visited a train museum in my life but I’m glad that I finally did. We only visited the museum because it was close to our hotel. After days of sightseeing and walking in Kyoto and Osaka we were quite tired and ready to move on.
Tomorrow we will go to Kanazawa but now it’s just time to go back to our hotel.
NIKON Z 8 (20mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec, ISO2500)