I had some business in Osaka, so I decided to arrive a few days early and visit the Kyoto Railway Museum to see some of my favorite trains. When I visited 45 years ago, it was called the Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum, but it has since become a splendid railway museum. I paid the 1500 yen entrance fee and the first thing I saw was the C62-26, the 3-window Kuha 86, and the 0 Series Shinkansen. While I never saw the C62-26 during its active service, I have ridden the 0 Series Shinkansen many times, and the 3-window Kuha 86 reminded me of a trip I took from Shimonoseki to Ogori when I was in 2nd year of junior high school. Now, onto the main attraction - the restaurant car at the Kyoto Railway Museum. When I was just a preschooler, I rode this train a few times to visit my mother's family in Nagasaki. I remember that this NaHa 20 had two different manufacturers, each with different interiors. I ordered an iced coffee for 450 yen inside the car. They only accept cash payments. You can also purchase bento boxes from the adjacent store. I hope to visit again when I have the chance.

On April 7, 2022, I went to the Kyoto Railway Museum. Before going, I researched and found out that Shinkansen and Doctor Yellow lunch boxes were being sold, and my husband made a reservation for us. On the day, we picked them up at the shop on the 1st floor of the museum. Normally, we could have eaten in the dining car, but I guess due to the current situation, it wasn't possible. We ate at the Sky Terrace on the 3rd floor, where food and drinks were allowed. - Minna no N700A Shinkansen Lunch Box ¥1400 - 923 Series Doctor Yellow Lunch Box ¥1400 The Shinkansen lunch box came with furikake, but I forgot to take a picture. My husband and I shared them, and of course, the portions were small. I wanted to keep the containers, so it was fine. The bacon gratin in the Shinkansen lunch box was quite good. I took the container home, washed it nicely, and stored it. My collection has grown again.

Although it opened in Heisei 28, it has already become a holy place for railway fans in Japan. I actually have memories of seeing a turntable near Yokohama Station when I was a child, and I thought it was really cool. However, it was closed and demolished due to the development of Minato Mirai. The facility in Umekoji, Kyoto, is also considered a holy place alongside Omiya. The scale of the turntable there far surpasses that of Umekoji. It's a real, practical experience. Steam locomotives turning on the turntable - a true romance of railway history. Inside the facility, various vehicles from the early days of railways to the present are exhibited, allowing visitors to learn about the history of railways. Visitors can even challenge themselves with a driving simulator of actual vehicles. Additionally, there is a real steam locomotive "C612" pulling the SL Steam Train for a ride experience. The large diorama is also popular, with explanations from staff about various trains. For lunch, the restaurant and cafe with a stunning view where Shinkansen and conventional lines intersect is a must-visit. The most popular menu item is, of course, the Omurice served in a Doctor Yellow themed dish. This place is a must-visit not only for railway enthusiasts but also for those who enjoy photography or drinking.

I visited the Kyoto Railway Museum♪ It was before the 4-day holiday in September, so there were few people! - Doctor Yellow Lunch B: 1400 yen tax included - Umetetsu Sweets Box: 1350 yen - Seared Beef Yakiniku Don: 950 yen The bento sets were a bit pricey! My 3-year-old daughter enjoyed the Umetetsu Sweets cookies (she ate 3 of them). I recommend trying the cute Doctor Yellow bento! I bought it a little after 10 am and they kept it for me at the shop! I'm grateful for the wonderful service! Just for your reference at the Kyoto Museum dining car♪

◆Purpose of Visit: Break◆Number of Visitors: 2 Adults + 1 Elementary-Middle School Student-----We visited the Kyoto Railway Museum on a weekend afternoon. Surprisingly, the museum was not crowded. We had planned to have lunch at the restaurant inside the museum, but we couldn't find anything we wanted to eat, and the prices were quite high. So, we ended up buying bento boxes and decided to eat in the dining car. However, the bento boxes that adults wanted were already sold out. All the bento boxes priced over 1,000 yen were fancy and seemed more suitable for children. Both my husband and I couldn't find anything we wanted to eat, so we decided to just have drinks while making sure our child had lunch. But even the drinks were quite expensive due to the touristy location. Reluctantly, we were about to order two soft drinks for 400 yen each when we stumbled upon:◆Nostalgic Tea: 120 yen (including 10% tax)At the last moment, we noticed this menu item that we had seen multiple times before. It was listed separately from the soft drinks, so we had missed it. Excitedly, we both changed our minds and decided to order the 120 yen tea instead of the 400 yen soft drinks. The nostalgic tea came in a plastic container with a small handle. The lid was large enough to use as a small cup. The hot green tea was strong and perfect for sipping slowly. I highly recommend this drink to adults who couldn't find a soft drink they wanted at the museum. The item our child ordered:◆Mixed Sandwich: 760 yen (including 10% tax)The mixed sandwich was made with fluffy white bread, a classic sandwich choice. It was easy for our child to eat and didn't contain any spicy condiments. If your child leaves some, it's easy for parents to finish the rest, making it a good option for kids who are not picky about the lunch box.◆Soft Drink: Nacchan (Apple Flavor): 400 yen (including 10% tax)We appreciated being asked if we wanted ice in our drinks when we placed our order.-----If you visit earlier in the day, you may be able to find reasonably priced meals or bento boxes to order. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you can't find something to eat, remember this hidden menu gem as a tip to save a little money on your visit.

I visited on the third day of a 10-day holiday. The crowds were unimaginable. Luckily, I had pre-purchased tickets so I could enter smoothly, but those buying tickets on the day had to wait in line. There were lines for everything - attractions, restaurants, even buying bento boxes. It seemed like they sold out by the morning. Feeling disappointed, I ended up eating pasta from a nearby Seven Eleven. By 3 PM, my two kids were getting tired, so we took a break in the dining car for coffee and ice cream. The atmosphere in the dining car was nice, but the ice cream was just okay and the coffee was weak.

The Kyoto Railway Museum is about a 20-minute walk from Kyoto Station. I visited on a weekday, so it wasn't crowded overall. I imagine it would be filled with children who love trains on weekends, holidays, and summer vacation. The dining car is located on the way to the museum building from the entrance. There is a bento shop in front of the dining car, and you can bring the bento inside! It's like a dream come true to eat a bento in the dining car I've always admired! It was so much fun! The bento was a bit pricey, but the train atmosphere made it worth it and I didn't mind at all, haha.

At the Kyoto Railway Museum, there is a famous large turntable where you can enjoy coffee in a retro dining car. The sandwich costs 750 yen, which is similar to what you would find at a Shinkansen platform, but it's surprisingly filling. The draft beer costs 600 yen, and it's a great way to relax on a hot day. While some visitors appreciate the "train" vibe, most are families. It's not a gourmet restaurant, but you can enjoy the museum atmosphere, so it's worth a visit.

The purpose of this visit was to have lunch on a dining car train. The atmosphere was quite crowded even on a weekday, so we waited in line for about 10 minutes. The staff were friendly and provided good service. I ordered the SL bento box, which had a creative train-themed presentation and tasted delicious. The portion size was satisfying. The price was 1200 yen, which was reasonable for a tourist spot. Overall, it was a fun experience. My child was very happy with the Doctor Yellow bento box.

I have visited the Kyoto Railway Museum many times. They offer light meals in the 20-series dining car on display there. I usually pass on it, but this time I felt a bit thirsty and wanted to have a beer, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a draft beer and 2 pieces of grilled chicken, which cost over 1000 yen. It's a bit pricey, even for museum prices. The taste of the grilled chicken was okay, typical of this kind of place. However, what caught my attention was a little idea I had. The dining car is displayed as if it's parked on a platform, with a view of a 0-series Shinkansen outside the window. It felt like I was using a dining car during the heyday of the 0-series Shinkansen. My assumption turned out to be right. I realized that the price and taste were also part of recreating the dining car experience. It made me appreciate the effort put into reproducing the whole experience of using a dining car back in the day.