Tobu Museum: Echoes of Railway History
When we arrived at the Tobu Museum in Tokyo's Sumida City, we originally thought we would just look at model trains and take pictures of old trains. But once we entered the exhibits, it felt like stepping, little by little, into a corridor through the history of Japanese railway development. Through actual railway cars and historical materials, the Tobu Museum traces the development of Tobu Railway from its founding to the present day.
What caught our attention most were the rows of carefully preserved old trains. From early coal-burning, steam-powered locomotives to the electric trains that followed as the railway was gradually electrified, each era has its own appearance and stories. The dark brown vintage electric train was especially charming in the modern exhibition space, with its wooden body, retro windows, and pantograph on the roof. Meanwhile, the vintage train preserved outdoors looked even more like a scene transcending time beneath the blue sky. The museum also preserves Tobu Railway's early No. 5 steam locomotive and a wooden electric train used during the early days of electrification in 1924, making the evolution of railway technology more tangible.
Interestingly, the boy didn't seem particularly excited about the model trains along the way. But when we came face-to-face with locomotives that had actually once raced along the tracks, we all slowed down without realizing it. Looking at the massive machinery, wheels, connecting rods, and driver's controls, we realized that trains are more than just transportation. They also carry the story of how people in an era traveled, lived, and journeyed far from home.
We didn't rush through this visit. Instead, it made us stop and take our time. From coal and steam to electrification and modern railways, trains changed more than just speed; they also changed the distance between people and cities. As we left the museum and looked back at the rows of old trains, it felt as though we could still hear whistles echoing from deep within the years.
Tobu World Square | Review by 陳泰任
Other Reviews by 陳泰任
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Hotel Classe Stay Sapporo
Located in Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hotel Classe Stay Sapporo is an apartment-style hotel featuring 91 guest rooms. Just a 2-minute walk from Nakajima Koen Station-only three stops away from Sapporo Station-it’s ideally positioned as a convenient base for sightseeing or business travel.
Sapporo APA Hotel Dinner and Travel Notes
Our Hokkaido journey brought us to Sapporo, and tonight we stayed at APA Hotel & Resort Sapporo in Minami Ward. The hotel lobby was spacious and bright, with stone walls, vintage lighting, and Japanese displays creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. An antique-style carriage and horses were also displayed in the center, evoking Hokkaido’s history.
For dinner, we enjoyed a generous Japanese meal with steaming hot pot, fresh fish, tempura, sashimi, rice, and a variety of side dishes. Everyone sat together and sampled the flavors of Hokkaido, adding a sense of warmth and satisfaction to our journey. After dinner, we returned to the hotel and strolled around, admiring the Japanese-style decor, bringing a relaxing end to the day’s travels. The Sapporo night outside the window was peaceful, and our travel fatigue slowly faded amid good food and laughter, leaving us with another warm and unforgettable memory of our Hokkaido trip. -
Otaru Orgel Doh Main Hall
This music box specialty shop has branches in various locations such as Otaru, Hakodate, Furano, Yokohama, Kamakura, and Kyoto. Its main building, which is the main shop, was built in 1915 (Taisho 4) and is designated as a historic building by Otaru City, preserving the remnants of the good old days.
Otaru Steam Clock & Its Vancouver Sister Clock |
Walking through the streets of Otaru, Hokkaido, I arrived in front of the European-style music box hall, where a tall, elegant steam clock came into view. In the photo, crowds stream past the clock tower, while the classical buildings, streets, and power lines intertwine, adding even more of Otaru’s unique nostalgic charm.
This steam clock is about 5.5 meters tall and weighs 1.5 metric tons. It was created by Canadian clockmaker Raymond Saunders and is the sister clock of the steam clock in Gastown, Vancouver, Canada. Steam powers its whistles, which play a melody every 15 minutes, giving the cold metal clock tower a warm sense of life.
Standing in front of the clock and watching people come and go, it feels as if time slows down here. **One clock connects the two cities of Otaru and Vancouver, while also leaving a treasured memory of time spent traveling in Hokkaido. -
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Otaru Sakaimachi Dori Shopping Street
Located just one street away from the main thoroughfare facing the Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi-dori flourished during the Meiji and early Showa periods, becoming Otaru's main street.
Otaru Canal | Travel Notes
Stepping into Otaru, Hokkaido, feels like entering a nostalgic cityscape painting. Strolling along the Otaru Canal, the old stone warehouses, gas lamps, and street scenery give off a unique northern charm. Along the way, I admired the well-preserved historic buildings around the canal and got a sense of Otaru’s former prosperity as a port city.During the trip, I also visited neighborhoods with a foreign flair, admiring distinctive clock towers, churches, and red-brick buildings. Every casual snapshot captured scenery worth keeping. I stopped at a cozy cafe along the way to have coffee and chat with family and friends, adding a touch of leisure and warmth to the trip.
Otaru’s beauty lies not only in the canal itself, but also in the unique charm created by its old buildings, streets, people, and Hokkaido’s fresh air. This trip to Otaru left me with more than just photos—it also gave me wonderful memories worth savoring.
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