The Railway Museum (鉄道博物館, Tetsudō Hakubutsukan), Saitama, Japan

Japan has a rich railway history that continues to this day. From the futuristic Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) trains and the new dedicated rail line currently under construction from Tokyo to Nagoya, to the current pioneering and continual evolving Shinkansen train and rail network that sets the worldwide standard for high speed rail travel, and finally to the everyday electric and diesel passenger and freight trains that form the backbone of the Japanese rail transportation system, it should be no surprise that a strong culture revolving around trains has developed in Japan. Train spotting, where rail fans (or fanatics) make an effort to photograph and record train lines, rolling stock, and/or train stations, is an active and accepted practice whenever a new train line is opened, new train engines or cars are introduced, or a train station opens or closes.

The Railway Museum (鉄道博物館, Tetsudō Hakubutsukan), run by the non-profit affiliate of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of the regional successor companies formed after the break-up the Japan National Railway (JNR), recounts the history of railways in Japan, exhibits many previously used train cars, teaches train operation using interesting simulators, and explains railway technology as it evolved over the years. The museum's big collection of formerly used train cars includes steam and diesel locomotives, and retired shinkansen, passenger, and freight cars. Many of the historical rail cars can be entered and the undercarriage of some can even be viewed from below. The museum further showcases one of Japan's largest (model train) dioramas. In another section, railway concepts, science, and systems are explained through models and hands-on activities. [1]

Please continue reading the rest of the article to find out more about my visit to The Railway Museum on 02 Nov 2018 and to see more photographs. I went to The Railway Museum after visiting the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum (大宮盆栽美術館), which is nearby. You can read about my visit to the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum by clicking here.

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore

This article was updated on 21 Sep 2021 to add a map for Jewel Changi Airport.

Singapore's Changi Airport is not only a major transportation hub, but also a shopping and sightseeing destination. Jewel Changi Airport was developed over a former open car park for one of the terminals and is accessible from three of the (current) four terminals at the airport. Jewel's centerpiece is the world's tallest indoor waterfall, named the Rain Vortex, and is surrounded by a terraced forest setting, which is further surrounded by an upscale shopping mall. I will not go into the details, but you can get more information about Jewel on Wikipedia:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Changi_Airport

All I can say is that Jewel is spectacular and definitely worth seeing if you're ever in Singapore. Jewel not only attracts airport users, but Singaporeans themselves come to Jewel not only for shopping, but also eating. Singapore's rabid food culture has so many food choices and places to eat, it is no wonder that Jewel has also mirrored the food options found in the city itself as well as offering unique eating places that can only be found at Jewel.

If you're scheduled for a flight out of Changi Airport, it is possible to check-in early with selected airlines, and then go shopping and eating before the flight leaves. It is not unusual to see passengers in transit wheeling their baggage carts while viewing the Rain Vortex.

Map

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I Wonder What You're Not Supposed To Do? Orchard MRT Station, Singapore

Singapore has an extensive, ever expanding, and efficient Mass Rail Transit (MRT) system that can transport you anywhere in this city state. Singapore has a reputation of using heavy fines and imprisonment to deter unwanted behavior. The most famous being the chewing gum ban in 1992, where the importation and use was subject to imprisonment and fines [1].

When I first visited Singapore 30 years ago, there was obvious and extensive signage to deter any unwanted behavior (e.g. peeing in an elevator). Not only was the behavior ubiquitously advertised as an offense, but also was the large fine that could be imposed in order to shape societal behavior. Those types of signs are few and far between in today's Singapore. While the offenses are still law, the heavy handed signage has diminished greatly.

This signage at the Orchard MRT station struck me as being overkill and hearkened back to the signage of the first Singapore visit. While the message of what you're not supposed to do is pretty obvious, the deterrent effect and social behavior of people doesn't always follow the dictates of the authorities, since soon after I took this photo I found people sitting on the steps using their smartphones.

References

[1] Wikipedia. "Chewing gum ban in Singapore". Last modified: 15 Oct 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum_ban_in_Singapore.

Support

• I hope you're enjoying these posts. If you're enjoying them, please go to https://www.facebook.com/ducksoupeasytravel/ and give it a like on Facebook.

• Also if you've been following my food blog, please go to https://www.facebook.com/ducksoupeasy/ and give it a like too.

• Thanks for your continued support and comments.

Station Master Tama: The Cat That Saved A Railroad, Wakayama, Japan

Wakayama Electric Railway (和歌山電鐵, Wakayama Dentetsu) is a private railway line that operates just one 14.3 km (8.9 mile) train line, the Kishigawa Line (貴志川線, Kishigawa-sen), between Wakayama and Kishi stations [1]. In Japan, small and short railway lines are not profitable due to the dwindling population outside the cities, and many of these lines have closed. However, this small line is open and operates profitably today because of a cat. I took the Tamadensha train (aka "Cat Train") for a visit on 23 Oct 2018.

Please read the rest of the article to find out more about this unique railway and its now famous cat station master, and to see more photographs.

Pizza California Tokoname (ピザ・カリフォルニア 常滑店), Tokoname, Japan

When I first saw this car, I did a double-take. While the color scheme and logo from a distance looked familiar, I had a moment of confusion because I was in Tokoname, Japan, which is near Nagoya's Chubu Centrair International Airport. As I got closer to figure out what I was seeing, I noticed the size of the car and the logo, which has an accurate facsimile of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) badge logo, minus the surrounding words found on the real patrol cars. From Wikipedia, it is a Kei car, K-car, or 軽自動車, which is the Japanese legal category for the smallest and most limited power, highway-legal motor vehicles, including passenger cars, micro-vans, and Kei trucks.