Hakusan City has been known as a “train town” for a long time, due to its long history with trains and servicing garages. The Hokuriku Main Line was extended through the area to Kanazawa in 1898, and from 1909 until 2024, the main rolling stock garage was located in Matto of Hakusan City. Furthermore, since 1915 the Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line has been running through Tsurugi of Hakusan City, and is still the main garage for the line. In recent years, since 2014 the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard has been servicing and maintaining bullet trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. The Train Park Hakusan was built around the former, building on decades of local train history to showcase the technology and history of bullet trains.
The museum offers a number of different areas to explore and enjoy, with several free spaces as well. Tickets can be purchase on-site or in advance from the website. All exhibits can be viewed in English, and several other languages, by QR code (free wifi available).
Shinkansen Learning & Interactive Area
See real shinkansen parts and components, and learn some of the fascinating technology used to keep the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet trains running. You can sit in a real Grand Class seat and try driving a bullet train with the life-size driving simulator.
Tickets:
- Adults 500 yen
- Children Free
Driving Simulator:
- 300 yen for large life-size simulator (15 mins)
- 100 yen for small simulator (15 mins)
Shinkansen Observation Area
Here you can get close to real in-use bullet trains, and see the inspections and maintenance of the line’s rolling stock. This is the only place in Japan where bullet train maintenance can be seen from a dedicated area, during regular visiting hours.
Tickets:
- Included as part of the ticket for other areas
Rooftop Observation Deck Area (Free Entry)
Here you can look directly down on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, and see bullet trains as they zoom past at over 200km/h. You can also get great views of Mt. Hakusan and the surrounding scenery, and see exhibitions on the Hakusan Tedorigawa UNESCO Global Geopark.
Children’s Play Area
A huge room full of train and nature-themed play equipment that will keep little ones running around for hours. The room also has some digital interactive features to play with.
Tickets:
- Adults: 500 yen
- Children: free
Tourist Information and Souvenir Area (Free Entry)
Train Park Hakusan was built with the cooperation of Hakusan City, Nomi City, Nonoichi City and Kawa-kita Town, and each of their souvenirs can be bought here. If you’re visiting the area by car, this is a great place to get information on interesting places to visit, with the interactive map in the room. They also sell a unique blue ice-cream designed after the color of the Hokuriku Shinkansen!
Opening Hours
Open: 9am to 5pm (last admission 4.30pm)
Closed: Wednesday (or following day if Wednesday falls on a public holiday), and between Dec 29 and Jan 3
Thank you to the staff at the museum for sharing photos with me!
