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I just came back from a vacation in Japan for a week.  I was surprised though that many department stores and hobby shops there actually carried a decent selection of train items.  Most of them had a full selection of Kato and Tomix N scale items and some even had HO and Z-scale too.  There are some really good train stores in the US but none of them are really in my area.  The last train store in my area closed down over a year ago.  It seems like the model train hobby is doing pretty well over there.  I think one of the reason is trains impact people lives more because most people in a major city like Tokyo use subways and commuter rail. Also the intercity passenger trains like the Nazomi Shinkansen are world class and are heavily used.  Has anyone else traveled to Japan and noticed this?

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After seeing all these cool items it made me really want to think about modeling Japanese trains in N Scale.  That is cool that there is a group in the US that model Japanese Railways. I also rode on alot of trains while I was there. 
Originally Posted by SJC:

I had never seen any Japanese items in my area until this group, the Japan Rail Modelers, formed and began coming to many local shows. Really neat layout with lots of detail. 

 

Originally Posted by John A DeAlto:

FECguy, That's nice to know. How the Prices. Thanks, John 

The exchange rate is better then it has been in years. I payed around $46 JR Freight Class EF-210-100 locomotive by Kato that is conventional and $21 for two flatcars that were also by Kato. I do not know if the prices were the cheapest but they seemed fairly reasonable for items that are not really available in my area.  

Last edited by FECguy

Kato does make some beautiful toy trains. I actually own a few because I like Passenger trains and I live in Manhattan,NYC so not enough room to run them in O. One thing I like about the passenger trains Kato makes is that they bother accurately modeling the window placement in the passenger cars unlike most O scale makers. There also are quite a few model magazines in Japan and the quality of the magazines and modeling is quite high unfortunately after importing so are the prices.

 

Here are my Kato Virginia Railway Express commuter train 4 pack I got new for $100. No body in O scale is making a MP36PH anytime soon no doubt. Sorry Metra, GO transit, Mass Transit (T), Coaster and Metrolink fans.

 

Kato track is the gold standard of exactness in the hobby in general as I see it. The street trackage they are making for trollys is great stuff. Recently both Tomy and Kato have made some great very small trollys and even articulated LRVs that are just amazing.

 

As far as Japanese model railway layout themes there are many more modelers who chose to model railroads of the U.S. in Japan than modelers here who chose to model Japanese subjects. I feel like when I occasionally purchase model railroad mags from around the world this seems to be true all over. Modelers outside the states model the U.S. far more than Americans look elsewhere in their subject matter.

 

 My sub hobby.

 

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Last edited by Silver Lake
Originally Posted by Silver Lake:

Kato does make some beautiful toy trains. I actually own a few because I like Passenger trains and I live in Manhattan,NYC so not enough room to run them in O. One thing I like about the passenger trains Kato makes is that they bother accurately modeling the window placement in the passenger cars unlike most O scale makers. There also are quite a few model magazines in Japan and the quality of the magazines and modeling is quite high unfortunately after importing so are the prices.

 

Here are my Kato Virginia Railway Express commuter train 4 pack I got new for $100. No body in O scale is making a MP36PH anytime soon no doubt. Sorry Metra, GO transit, Mass Transit (T), Coaster and Metrolink fans.

 

Kato track is the gold standard of exactness in the hobby in general as I see it. The street trackage they are making for trollys is great stuff. Recently both Tomy and Kato have made some great very small trollys and even articulated LRVs that are just amazing.

 

As far as Japanese model railway layout themes there are many more modelers who chose to model railroads of the U.S. in Japan than modelers here who chose to model Japanese subjects. I feel like when I occasionally purchase model railroad mags from around the world this seems to be true all over. Modelers outside the states model the U.S. far more than Americans look elsewhere in their subject matter.

 

 My sub hobby.

 

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Kato makes some high quality models.  I like how their products are made in Japan still and they have not exported their production to a cheaper labour country.  It almost makes me want to get into N-scale.  Yeah it seems like people like US prototype stuff globally.  There is alot history and lore about US railroads which probably helps their popularity.  Unfortunately in the US it is tough to get none US prototype equipment which may be a factor of why it is niche here. 

Originally Posted by FECguy:

I just came back from a vacation in Japan for a week.  

If you ever go to Tokyo do not forget to visit the Tenshodo shop in Ginza; Tenshodo is a jeweler shop at the ground floor and a very large model railroad shop on 4 floors above. Leave your wife at the ground floor to look around and look around at the 4 MRR floors; you can easily spent an hour over there. (http://www.tenshodo.co.jp/)

Last edited by sncf231e

In my 'former life' (pre-retirement) I did a fair amount of travel to Japan.  Made lots of good friends, saw lots of interesting places.  Learned about their model railroading hobby.

  • Most model railroaders in Japan cannot afford the luxury of dedicated space for a permanent layout. 
  • An operating session...singly or as a group (also very popular)...often consists of creating a layout with interconnecting track pieces, quick/reliable electrical connections/harnesses, ready-built buildings, etc., for the evening on the tatami (floor grass mat) in a common room.  At the end of the session, it's all taken down carefully and stored for the next time.
  • Ergo, smaller scales...especially N...are very popular, well supported. O scale?...not so much.
  • And, Kato track is, indeed, a benchmark in the industry for accuracy, reliability, portability, flexibility of design.
  • Kato's largest market is Japan, not the U.S..
  • Kato preferably manufactures complete passenger trains, not an assortment of cars and engines from which a hodge-podge of trains can be made up.  This reflects the strategy of their 1:1 railroad equipment, too: Complete trains.  If you have an opportunity to see a complete Kato catalog (in Japanese, of course!) of the equipment they manufacture, it will be a mind-blowing experience and insight into their hobby/market.
  • Kato models are extremely accurate in their representations.  Slathering a bazillion logos/names on common body/engine moldings would seem to be nigh unto heresy.
  • Riding the Shinkansen (commonly referred to as 'the bullet train') is an unforgettable experience.  But even boarding the train is noteworthy.  In the U.S.A., at an urban station awaiting a train that will have very limited station time, crowds of people mill about.  As the train slows to a stop, the crowds 'congeal', scamper for a door, creating a blob of humanity trying to funnel through the doorway.  At a Shinkansen station?...There are lines on the station platform indicating the door positions for the train.  People quietly, politely get in line according to the markings.  The train arrives precisely on time, comes to a stop precisely in position according to the door markings.  All doors open simultaneously, the people quickly, smoothly file onto the train, the agent blows his whistle, the doors close, the train leaves.....ON TIME!
  • So, yes, trains are VERY much a part of Japan life, and proudly so, which is why model railroading is so popular among the people, young and old.  Around here?....not so much anymore, sorry to say.

Just a few accumulated thoughts, memories.....FWIW.

 

KD

 

I modeled Japanese trains from 2007 until 2012 when O gauge caught my eye. Tomix is the largest Japanese N gauge train and track line and usually first train for Japanese children.  Tomytec is a sub line of Tomix.  Both Tomix and Kato have large showrooms in Tokyo. Most current prototype trains are available, especially in N gauge.

 

Most Japanese trains are electrically powered, but Japanese modelers do not use working overhead just dummy poles probably because of the small size and temporary nature of layouts.

 

It is rare to see an O gauge item listed with a Japanese dealer.

 

For more information on Japanese train modeling try JNS (Japanese Modeling & Japan Rail Enthusiasts Forum.

 

Hobby Search is a larger Japanese online model train dealer, dealing mostly in N gauge.

Last edited by Bill Robb

Look how big the Kato line is........Also check out the Green Max line......I bought a number of Green Max structure kits just because they were so COOL and cheap! Per capita I know Japan has many more model railroaders than the USA. N scale rules, Z is more popular than in the USA and they have T scale 1/450!!!

Just look at Kato track offerings.....things like a double cross over with full remote control for around $40!! Good looking stuff......tempts me often....then I recall all that track cleaning and trying to work on a N scale loco!!! 

I know that N is really big there, and there are lots of Japanese N trains to have.  But I would love to get any of these in O.

 

O is in desperate need to get some Japanese rolling stock.  At least MTH is doing some European items.  But Japan has a large and diverse rail history that is being neglected in O.  I'd so buy Japanese bullet trains, commuter trains, and trollies.

That 2nd from the left is good....the OLD Bullet Train.....but those Platypus lookin things....ugh.

 

O scale Japanese models would be a hard sell in Japan. Many layouts in Japan are about 2x3 feet......urban settings. What are you going to do in O scale in that space. This is whyT scale 1/450 was invented by the Japanese.......when the make a T scale Big Boy that runs well......I may have to have one with about 100 reefers......think of the layout I could build in my 28 x 40 foot room!!!  

Originally Posted by sinclair:

I know that N is really big there, and there are lots of Japanese N trains to have.  But I would love to get any of these in O.

 

O is in desperate need to get some Japanese rolling stock.  At least MTH is doing some European items.  But Japan has a large and diverse rail history that is being neglected in O.  I'd so buy Japanese bullet trains, commuter trains, and trollies.

A company named Kumata made some 0 gauge bullet trains:

 

Regards

Fred

Space definitely felt like a premium in Japan so temporary layouts make sense.  I wonder if micro layouts are popular over there.  I did notice most of the equipment being sold were full passenger sets based off of various commuter and intercity passenger trains.  Freight trains do not seem that popular to model.  I only saw a few freight trains while I was in Japan compared to way more passenger trains. I rode on the Nazomi Shinkansen and it was a great experience.  It made wish the US had actual high speed rail. 
Originally Posted by dkdkrd:

In my 'former life' (pre-retirement) I did a fair amount of travel to Japan.  Made lots of good friends, saw lots of interesting places.  Learned about their model railroading hobby.

  • Most model railroaders in Japan cannot afford the luxury of dedicated space for a permanent layout. 
  • An operating session...singly or as a group (also very popular)...often consists of creating a layout with interconnecting track pieces, quick/reliable electrical connections/harnesses, ready-built buildings, etc., for the evening on the tatami (floor grass mat) in a common room.  At the end of the session, it's all taken down carefully and stored for the next time.
  • Ergo, smaller scales...especially N...are very popular, well supported. O scale?...not so much.
  • And, Kato track is, indeed, a benchmark in the industry for accuracy, reliability, portability, flexibility of design.
  • Kato's largest market is Japan, not the U.S..
  • Kato preferably manufactures complete passenger trains, not an assortment of cars and engines from which a hodge-podge of trains can be made up.  This reflects the strategy of their 1:1 railroad equipment, too: Complete trains.  If you have an opportunity to see a complete Kato catalog (in Japanese, of course!) of the equipment they manufacture, it will be a mind-blowing experience and insight into their hobby/market.
  • Kato models are extremely accurate in their representations.  Slathering a bazillion logos/names on common body/engine moldings would seem to be nigh unto heresy.
  • Riding the Shinkansen (commonly referred to as 'the bullet train') is an unforgettable experience.  But even boarding the train is noteworthy.  In the U.S.A., at an urban station awaiting a train that will have very limited station time, crowds of people mill about.  As the train slows to a stop, the crowds 'congeal', scamper for a door, creating a blob of humanity trying to funnel through the doorway.  At a Shinkansen station?...There are lines on the station platform indicating the door positions for the train.  People quietly, politely get in line according to the markings.  The train arrives precisely on time, comes to a stop precisely in position according to the door markings.  All doors open simultaneously, the people quickly, smoothly file onto the train, the agent blows his whistle, the doors close, the train leaves.....ON TIME!
  • So, yes, trains are VERY much a part of Japan life, and proudly so, which is why model railroading is so popular among the people, young and old.  Around here?....not so much anymore, sorry to say.

Just a few accumulated thoughts, memories.....FWIW.

 

KD

 

 

Does Hobby Search ship to the US?
Originally Posted by Bill Robb:

I modeled Japanese trains from 2007 until 2012 when O gauge caught my eye. Tomix is the largest Japanese N gauge train and track line and usually first train for Japanese children.  Tomy is a sub line of Tomix.  Both Tomix and Kato have large showrooms in Tokyo. Most current prototype trains are available, especially in N gauge.

 

Most Japanese trains are electrically powered, but Japanese modelers do not use working overhead just dummy poles probably because of the small size and temporary nature of layouts.

 

It is rare to see an O gauge item listed with a Japanese dealer.

 

For more information on Japanese train modeling try JNS (Japanese Modeling & Japan Rail Enthusiasts Forum.

 

Hobby Search is a larger Japanese online model train dealer, dealing mostly in N gauge.

 

Model building, generally, is a much larger thing in Japan than it ever was in the US. There's a reason why some of the best model companies are from there. As I understand it, model building contests take on downright awe-inspiring levels for the quality and originality. Sadly, though, robot modeling has become a massive thing over there. If you ever pick up a copy of "Hobby Japan" from the last 10-15 years, you'll see that the vast majority of the models are of fictional robots.

A lot of TV in Japan in animated, as well (yes, even the stuff you'd never want kids watching, if you get my drift), which also says something about their culture.

I've got an assortment of Kato N scale, great stuff, gradually farming it out to my brother while I focus on O.   I still have a layout table for N, but haven't messed with it for years.  

 

I also have a Z oval and four locomotives and cars.   Nice for traveling.

 

"Don't yuck my yum!"  Not a bad little saying that I had not heard before.   All trains are yum.

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