All aboard train fanatics. The Shinkansen General Rolling Stock Center (ＪＲ東日本新幹線総合車両センター) in Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture is your ticket to unlocking the secrets behind the world famous speed machines: the shinkansen (bullet trains). The center is primarily a PR exhibition hall of Japan Railway's pride and joy, but also an informative mini museum and train fantasy playland for children.
All visitors first must check in with the guard at the front gate. You'll be asked to fill out a paper with your name and address, and you will be given a badge to wear while you walk around. The center is admission free, as is the parking lot several minutes away. Step inside the lawn area and be blown away by your first impression.
There before your eyes are several old JR East train models. Some of the bullet trains here broke speed records decades ago. The best part is you can step inside the front trains. Take a picture at the driver's seat, and appreciate how wide the train cars are compared to modern days. When you had your share, you can enter the museum part of the facility on the first floor to your left.
After entering the cleverly themed entrance which looks like a train station ticket gate, you reach a bullet train fan's paradise. Loads of information panels of the bullet trains can be found here. Unfortunately for the international traveler, most of everything is in Japanese. However, since it was not crowded when I visited, the staff played an English version of the film being projected in the movie corner for me. There are some mini models, diagrams, and train wheels on display, too. Children will be hypnotized for hours with the train toys and the static small shinkansen to step into. Many photo opportunities for parents here.
The facility is the real deal. Through the windows of the museum area you will see the large warehouses where bullet trains are being serviced. Three times a day at 10:00, 14:00, and 15:00, there are 20 minute study tours of the factory. I can't comment much on those as I was not able to attend due to my time schedule on the day. Please call for details as finding information online about the process in English or Japanese is difficult.
A visit to the Shinkansen General Rolling Stock Center is best suited for families with young children or train fans. The museum area is small, but when combined with a look around at the trains outside and the study tour, most visitors would spend between 45 minutes to an hour there, I think. Bathrooms, vending machines, and rest area are located across from the museum area. Closed weekends and holidays. You can find nearby restaurants easily. Access via a 15 minute train ride from JR Sendai Station to JR Rifu Station via the Tohoku line. Then walk 15 minutes. Or travel a 30 minute drive from Sendai.
