Japanese Railroads and Towns to Inspire Your Scale Model

Japan’s extensive railway system has become so celebrated worldwide that Japanese railroads have become nearly synonymous with life in modern Japan. As a result, it’s not very surprising that some of the most beautiful Japanese towns have also become popular tourist destinations in their own right, with many stations and even railways dedicated to the historically and culturally distinguishing features of each stop, from special foods to meaningful artistic designs to the historically designed architectural layout of many a train station - delighting travelers domestically and worldwide alike.

Perhaps, then, it’s not surprising that the already incredibly popular hobby of model kit building in Japan has also created numerous opportunities to create and recreate idyllic Japanese scenes of popular parks, stations, and other locations in the form of scale models. Japanese and international hobbyists alike eagerly relish the challenge and opportunity to blend creativity with reality, taking inspiration from real-life places in Japan and building them accordingly—including with true-to-life die-cast train models that reflect the love of perfection, down to the last satisfying detail.

We welcome you to come on board Plaza Japan as we take a brief tour of our favorite Japanese towns and the beautiful, uniquely Japanese railroads that showcase them.

Our Favorite Places

Where to begin? Well, we might be a bit biased about our own home of Osaka, but just a short ride by the local Japanese railroad system, or even a city bus, can take you to some of the most iconic sites in all of Japan!

Kyoto

Right next door to our home base of Osaka is historic Kyoto, a mesmerizing destination for all seasons. 

Consider the famed Tori gates, with seemingly unending red pillars and shrines to Shinto gods, with special reverence to foxes. Japanese railroad stations, such as those in and around Kyoto that are already close to significant landmarks that include shrines, trails, and other historic creations serve as a reminder to every passenger that they are about to disembark into a place marked by history, spirituality, and a whole lot of cats (and foxes).

Kyoto and Osaka are closely linked not only by rail lines but also by history, with castles, temples, marketplaces, and other hubs that have withstood the test of time. Today, no matter how uneasy the history of feudal Japan, people adore.

Not to mention is that nearby both Kyoto and Osaka are other prime locations for other outdoor recreation activities, not to mention many popular spots for boating, swimming, and even fishing!

Fuji

Places around the many temples and shrines in and around Kyoto and Nara already hold special significance in Japan, but perhaps nothing quite encapsulates Japan’s rugged landscape quite like Fuji-San, or Mount Fuji.

So — in the Fuji areas, expect to see anything and everything all about the “theme” of Japan’s most famous mountain, from novelty confections to fashion to - you guessed it - Japanese railroad designs for many a surrounding train and station. 

The surrounding Japanese towns are beautiful in an especially charming way, built to celebrate the mountain and to welcome those who make the trek to celebrate it, too. Why not consider any theme for any die-cast model train built around one of the most recognizable and cherished mountains worldwide? Add some stickers or even customize your paint job, and you can have any scale model rock Japanese aesthetics for the biggest rock in the country!

Nara

Nara is the heart and soul of Japan in so many ways — and not only because it was its ancient capital, but because of its most deerly beloved quirk that is ultimately a city built to foster harmony with people and the local wildlife. 

What’s a Japanese railroad system to do? 

Certainly, design and build a station around this beautiful Japanese town’s biggest claim to fame, complete with architecture that celebrates the past, present, and future. 

This play with history and modern design is a delight for model train set builders, as designs in and around places like Nara create ample opportunities to blend the idyllic countryside of the prefecture with the harmonious juxtaposition of nature and the humans who continue to nurture them in an urban area.

Conclusion…

The hobby-building world is vast, and Japanese scale model kits are ready to meet the ever-expanding array of ways to celebrate everything from whimsically Japanese-inspired railroads to recreations of the most beautiful of Japanese towns. Just ensure that when recreating a scene, you stay consistent with the ratio! After all, N Scale Model Trains will not fit with z scale buildings — all of which it is important to determine your favorite pieces first (i.e., a favorite model train or landmark) before building the rest to ensure that everything fits well and looks realistic. 

Happy building, and whenever you’re ready for more inspiration or for questions about model kits, contact us today, and we will be delighted to answer your questions!

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