Kiyose City Local History Museum Special Exhibition: “The Story of Sleeper Trains, Then and Now: The Journey of a Dream Space to Kiyose”
@museum-kiyose
February 1, 2026 (Sun) – March 15, 2026 (Sun)
Event Dates
The museum is closed on Mondays. If Monday is a holiday, it will be closed on Tuesday instead.
The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.) Venue:
Exhibition Overview
Thediningcar and lounge car of the “Yume Kukan” —the first luxury sleeper cars manufactured after the establishment of JR—are scheduled to be installed in October Reiwa 8 at Kiyose Municipal Central Park, which is set to undergo renovations.The “Yume Kukan” debuted in Heisei 1 and garnered attention for its luxurious interior, exerting a significant influence on today’s luxury sleeper trains. To provide a deeper understanding of the “Yume Kukan,” the exhibition will trace the history of Japanese dining cars and sleeper cars, with a focus on the Japanese National Railways (now JR).
Highlights of the Exhibition
Chapter 1: The Birth of the Sleeper Train: A Longing for the Dining Car
Chapter 2: The Golden Age of Dining Cars and Sleeping Cars—A New Era of Rail Travel
Chapter 3: The Arrival of the “Dream Space”—Toward the Current Era of Luxury Sleeper Trains
Chapter 4: “Dream Space” Comes to Kiyose
We'll introduce the history of dining cars and sleeper trains, as well as "Dream Space," organized into these four themes.
; “Izumo” sleeper train headmark (Railway Museum collection); “Yume Kukan” tailmark (private collection)
Related Businesses
*Please note that registration for some events has closed.
First Commemorative Lecture (Completed)
Lecturer: Junichi Yoneyama (Secretary General, Japan Railway Preservation Association)
Presentation Title: “Urban Development and Tourism Through the Preservation of Railway Heritage”
Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Capacity: 36 people (18 by phone, 18 via the registration form)
Recruitment: Closed
Registration: By phone (042-493-8585) or via the registration form
Second Commemorative Lecture
Lecturer: Shuichi Takashima (Aoyama Gakuin University)
Presentation Title: “Dream Space: Toward Kiyose—Preserving Railway Heritage and the Role of Local Governments”
Date and Time: March 14 (Saturday), 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Capacity: 36 people (18 by phone, 18 via the registration form)
Registration: Thursday, January 15, starting at 9:00 a.m. — Registration will close once capacity is reached.
Registration: By phone (042-493-8585) or via the registration form
A Leisurely Stroll Through Kiyose to Explore Cultural Properties and Railways (Fully Booked)
We'll take a leisurely stroll from the Local History Museum to Kiyose City Central Park, taking in the cultural treasures along the way.
Lecturers: Mitsumasa Nakano and Uto Higurashi (Curators at this museum)
Date and Time: Saturday, February 21, 9:30 a.m. to noon
Capacity: 16 people (8 by phone, 8 via the application form)
Meeting Place: Kiyose City Local History Museum
Meeting Point: Kiyose Station South Exit
Recruitment: Closed
Registration is now closed.
Exhibition Tour via Slides (Additional Dates Added)
The curator in charge will use slides to highlight the exhibition's highlights.
Date and Time: February 14 (Saturday) / March 8 (Sunday), 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Additional Date: March 7 (Saturday), 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Location: Video Exhibition Room
Capacity: 30 people (first-come, first-served)
Registration: No registration required; please come directly to the venue.
Information on the Sale of Exhibition Catalogs
The exhibition catalog features full-color illustrations of all exhibition items, with a few exceptions. It also includes dining car menus in addition to the exhibition items. This book offers an in-depth look at the luxury sleeper car “Yume Kukan,” including the history of dining cars and sleeper cars in Japan. It is on sale for 1,000 yen per copy.
