Opening in March 2024! Train Park Hakusan, a hands-on facility for Hokuriku Shinkansen enthusiasts!

  • Ishikawa
  • Experience Gifu
Shinkansen driving simulator

Open in March 2024! What is Train Park Hakusan?

The Hakusan Municipal High Speed Rail Visitor Center "Train Park Hakusan" opened on March 13, 2024 to coincide with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line between Kanazawa and Tsuruga! Train Park Hakusan is a hands-on facility adjacent to the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard, the train depot for the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and is a recommended spot for both children and adults, as well as railroad fans, to enjoy exhibits that teach railroad history and technology, a Hokuriku Shinkansen driving simulator, and an observation deck where you can see a running Shinkansen train up close! Hakusan City has long been known as a city of "Hokuriku"!
Train Park Hakusan
Hakusan City is known as the "City of Railroads" because the Kanazawa General Rolling Stock Works Matto Main Office, which was responsible for the maintenance of rolling stock in the Hokuriku region, was located here for a long time, and the Tsurugi Rolling Stock Works of Hokuriku Railway's Ishikawa Line connecting Kanazawa and Tsurugi in Hakusan City and the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Works of Hokuriku Shinkansen Line are located here. The staff of Hokuriku News Department visited this newly opened railroad spot in Hakusan City, and we would like to introduce what kind of experience you can have and the highlights of each floor!

First, buy tickets! Advance purchase on the web is recommended!

Train Park Hakusan has both paid and free areas, and tickets are required to enter the paid areas. There are two ways to purchase tickets: you can either purchase tickets online in advance, or you can purchase tickets for the day of your visit. For same-day tickets, purchase from the ticket vending machine located just inside the entrance. Availability for the day could be checked on a monitor nearby. Tickets are required to enter the "Shinkansen Learning and Experience Area" on the 1st floor and the "Children Playing Area" on the 3rd floor. (Admission to the souvenir area on the 1st floor and the rooftop observation deck area on the 5th floor is free.)
Ticket Vending Machine
Availability on the day
If advance tickets are sold out on the web, no tickets will be sold on the day of the event. Advance tickets are sold until the end of the following month, so we recommend that you check the reservation status on the website before visiting and purchase tickets as soon as possible if it looks crowded!

For more information, including advance ticket reservations, please check the facility's official website.
Train Park Hakusan】Official website

You can experience the Shinkansen driving simulator! Shinkansen Learning and Experience Area

In the "Shinkansen Learning and Experience Area" on the first floor, visitors can learn about the history and technology of the Shinkansen, view exhibits of actual train parts and snow countermeasures unique to Hokuriku, and take a peek at the work done at Hakusan General Rolling Stock that supports Shinkansen safety on a daily basis, which cannot be seen in everyday life. In addition, visitors can sit in a Shinkansen Grand Class seat, actually operate machinery at the touch of a button, and even ride in a vehicle during inspections!
Grand Class seat!
You can raise and lower the pantograph with the push of a button!
In-car information display unit allows you to display text in your favorite setting!
Under-floor inspection car (cat car) that moves around while inspecting the under-floor of the Shinkansen
The bogie of a W7 Series train that was damaged by the flooding of the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture (2019) was also on display. Initially covered in mud, they were cleaned and polished by employees of the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Office... The train cars that experienced the disaster have taken on a new role as a symbol of Train Park Hakusan.
A bogie damaged by the flooding of the Chikuma River

One large and two small driving simulators!

The main attraction here is the Hokuriku Shinkansen driving simulator experience, the first of its kind in Japan! There are large and small seats, and the experience is the same, but the large simulator is especially popular because it allows visitors to feel like they are driving in a real driver's cab. On this day, the large simulator had already been reserved in advance, so I tried the small simulator!
Large simulator
Small simulator
In the driving simulator, you can drive between one station for about 10 minutes. First, decide which section you want to drive by following the on-screen guidance. This time, we chose the course from Shin-Takaoka Station to Kanazawa Station! You can also choose the weather and time of day, so you can enjoy different scenery on the same course. Driving support with pictures and audio is available, so even first-time drivers can drive with peace of mind.
First, select the starting station!
After choosing the weather and support availability, you are ready to go!
Can you successfully stop the train when you get to the station?
Uniforms are also available for rent, so why don't you experience what it is like to be a real driver? (The number of uniforms is limited.) Additional tickets are required for the driving simulator experience, so we recommend that you make a reservation as soon as possible.
Uniforms for rent
About additional tickets

Playground featuring trains and Hakusan's nature! Children Playing Area

Entering the "Children's Play Area" on the third floor, the first thing you will see is the large net play equipment with the motif of Mt. Visitors can climb up to the top using the net stretched to the ceiling, play on the bouldering and sliding slides, or go through the tunnel by following the railroad tracks.
Large net playground equipment with a Hakusan motif
After passing through the tunnel...
There is also a digital attraction with various sea creatures swimming around on the walls, and a baby playground where children aged 0 to 2 can play safely. On sunny days, visitors can also enjoy rowing on the artificial grass outside on a ride that travels along the tracks. This area is equipped with a nursing room and children's restroom, and there are lockers next to the entrance to store luggage and a space to leave strollers.
Baby stroller parking lot
Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult in the "Children's Playing Area" and are not allowed to play alone. Socks are required, so be sure to bring your own.

Shinkansen Observation Area" where you can observe inspection and maintenance work at Hakusan General Rolling Stock Depot.

The 4th floor is connected to the adjacent Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard by a connecting bridge. Incidentally, a Shinkansen train passes right in front of the bridge, so if your timing is good, you can see the powerful Shinkansen here as well.
View from the connecting bridge
Entrance to the observation deck
Once in the tour area, visitors can experience a space that is rarely seen, such as the actual maintenance and inspection of the Shinkansen trains in the rail yard. The rail yard can accommodate up to five Shinkansen trains, and on this day, four Shinkansen trains were lined up in a row!
Inside the Hakusan General Rolling Stock Yard
Shinkansen under maintenance and inspection
As mentioned in the ticket section, you can enter the "Shinkansen viewing area" on the 4th floor with a ticket for the 1st or 3rd floor, so if you have time, please stop by here as well!

Rooftop Observation Room Area" where you can see the running Shinkansen up close from both indoors and outdoors.

Last but not least is the free "Observation Room Area" on the rooftop. This area is popular as a photo spot, where you can see the Shinkansen up close as it speeds by at speeds of 260 km/h. The Shinkansen is also available on the opposite side of the tracks. Also, if you turn your head to the opposite side of the tracks, you can see the magnificent Hakusan Mountains if the weather permits! (Unfortunately, it was cloudy and yellow sand on the day of the photo shoot, so you could hardly see it. ......)
The train passes right by at a speed of about 260 km/h!
If the weather is good, you can see Mt. Hakusan like this image
(Unfortunately, it was cloudy and yellow sand on the day of the photo shoot.) There is a roof on the rooftop, but if it is cold or rainy, you can watch the bullet train through the glass in the observation room. There are several timetables in the museum, so if you want to see the bullet train running, I recommend you to check them out as soon as possible! If you want to see the bullet train run, we recommend that you check the timetable as soon as possible. The estimated passing time is only a guide, so be sure to wait early for a good view of the tracks.
You can see the Shinkansen even from inside the building.
Predicted passing time of the Shinkansen
How was it? We recommend this new spot for both families with young children and adults who love trains. It can be enjoyed on a sunny day or even on a rainy day, so if you like the Hokuriku Shinkansen, please come and visit us!
For train + accommodation "Kaga Area" reservations, please see [JR East View Dynamic Rail Package].
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