1975 JNR Hakodate Main Line CNAOTAKA HIROTA

Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will host the "Commemorating 100 Years of Showa: Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" from July 22 (Wed), 2026, to August 3 (Mon), in the Special Exhibition Hall on the 7th floor of the Main Building. This exhibition is designed to allow visitors to experience the scenery of Japan and its railways up close, featuring valuable archival footage owned by NHK and works by Naotaka Hirota, a leading railway photographer. It will trace the memories of the Showa era woven by railways, including the 100-year history of timetables, nostalgic model railways, and the history of ekiben (station bento boxes).

Additionally, special events will be held as part of the exhibition, including a special talk show by railway photographer Naotaka Hirota and actor Miki Murai, as well as a gallery talk and signing session by travel YouTuber Shioneru.

Exhibition Overview: "Commemorating 100 Years of Showa: Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition"

Dates: July 22 (Wed), 2026 – August 3 (Mon) [Last day until 6:00 PM]

*Last admission is 30 minutes before closing each day.

Venue: Special Exhibition Hall, 7th Floor, Main Building, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store

Admission Fee: General ¥1,000 / University & High School Students ¥800 (Junior high school students and below free, tax included)

Organizer: NHK Enterprises

Cooperation: West Japan Railway Company, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd., The Railway Museum, JTB Publishing Inc., Kato Co., Ltd., Canon Marketing Japan Inc., Hiroshima Station Bento Co., Ltd.

Sponsorship: Japan Railway Station Vendors Association

Planning & Production: NHK Enterprises, Clevis

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Special Events for Visitors of "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" to be Held!!

To commemorate 100 years of Showa, a special exhibition "Commemorating 100 Years of Showa: Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" will be held, bringing back to life trains and railway scenes that once graced Japan's railway history but can no longer be seen. Alongside this, talk events will be held.

Special Talk Show by Railway Photographer Naotaka Hirota × Actor Miki Murai

Naotaka Hirota (Photographer) Miki Murai (Actor/Talent)

They will discuss highlights and behind-the-scenes stories of the "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition," as well as the charm of nostalgic and now-defunct railways. Enjoy the world of nostalgic railways through a dialogue format with these two individuals, who are deeply knowledgeable about railways, while viewing their treasured photos and materials.

Date & Time: July 22 (Wed) from 1:00 PM (approx. 60 minutes) *Doors open at 12:30 PM

Venue: Mitsukoshi Theater (6th Floor, Main Building, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store)

[How to Apply for Talk Show]

On the day, July 22 (Wed), starting at 10:00 AM, numbered tickets will be distributed to the first 400 people at the entrance of the "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" on the 7th floor of the Main Building, in front of the ticket sales counter.

(Participation Condition 1) An admission ticket (including invitation tickets) is required.

(Participation Condition 2) Valid for one person only upon presentation of an MI Card Plus, MI Tomonokai Card, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Shareholder Discount Card, or Driving Record Certificate.

*Admission tickets will be sold at the venue entrance and ticket sales counter. Admission fee is ¥1,000 for general admission and ¥800 for university/high school students.

*Those purchasing admission tickets will receive a numbered ticket after purchasing their ticket at the venue entrance.

*Please check the official website in advance for details.

Naotaka Hirota (Photographer)

Born in Tokyo in 1935. A leading figure in Japanese railway photography. He has authored over 250 works, ranging from photo collections to children's picture books, and is known for establishing the genre of "railway photography." In 1988, he became the first chairman of the Japan Association of Railway Photographers.

Miki Murai (Actor/Talent)

Born in Kyoto in 1979. Debuted as an actress in an NHK drama in 2002. She is active in various travel, history, and quiz programs as an intellectual talent, including NHK's "Tetsu-Ota Senshuken" (Railway Enthusiast Championship) and "Japan's Strongest Castle Special."

Gallery Talk & Signing Session by Travel YouTuber Shioneru – A Must-Hear for Railway Fans!

Shioneru (Travel YouTuber)

Shioneru, who enriches travel with railways and cuisine, will discuss the charm and enjoyment of railway journeys and ekiben related to nostalgic railways, delving into the profound world of trains to enhance your appreciation of the exhibition. A signing session will also be held.

Date & Time: July 25, 2026 (Sat)

Gallery Talk: From 1:00 PM (approx. 30 minutes) *Standing room only

Signing Session: From 1:30 PM (approx. 1 minute per person)

Venue: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store, Main Building 7th Floor, Special Exhibition Hall

Gallery Talk: Gallery space within the exhibition venue

Signing Session: Near the entrance of the exhibition venue

Capacity: Limited to 50 people

(Target audience: Purchasers of "Travel YouTuber Shioneru's Railway Exploration Diary" (Icarus Publishing) and admission tickets)

[How to Apply for Talk Show & Signing Session]

On July 25 (Sat), starting at 10:00 AM, numbered tickets will be distributed to the first 50 people who purchase "Travel YouTuber Shioneru's Railway Exploration Diary" (Icarus Publishing) at the merchandise sales corner of the "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" on the 7th floor of the Main Building.

[Participation Requirements]

- An admission ticket (including invitation tickets) is required.

- Valid for one person only upon presentation of an MI Card Plus, MI Tomonokai Card, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Shareholder Discount Card, or Driving Record Certificate.

*Admission tickets will be sold at the venue entrance and ticket sales counter. Admission fee is ¥1,000 for general admission and ¥800 for university/high school students.

*Those purchasing admission tickets will receive a numbered ticket after purchasing their ticket at the venue entrance.

*Please check the official website in advance for details.

*Attendance may be limited if the venue is full. Thank you for your understanding.

Shioneru (Travel YouTuber)

From Tokyo. Loves railways and travel, and shares his travel experiences on social media. Published his first book, "Travel YouTuber Shioneru's Railway Exploration Diary" (Icarus Publishing), in 2025. Currently appearing on CS Railway Channel's "Shioneru no Tetsudo Shiawase Bishoku Tabi" (Shioneru's Happy Gourmet Railway Journey).

Ekiben Gallery Talk – Food Culture Spread with the Development of Railways –

Yoshifumi Okuyama (JR West Railway Culture Promotion Office)

A gallery talk by Yoshifumi Okuyama from JR West, who researches ekiben and regional food culture.

He will discuss the "Ekiben Exhibition" at the venue and the appeal of ekiben as a food culture.

Date & Time: August 1 (Sat) 1From 11:00 AM, 2From 2:00 PM (approx. 20 minutes each)

Venue: "Ekiben Exhibition Corner" within the Special Exhibition Hall, 7th Floor, Main Building, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store

Content: "Ekiben and Regional Food Culture"

Capacity: Approximately 20 people (standing room only)

*Admission to the exhibition venue with an admission ticket is required to participate.

*Attendance may be limited if the venue is full. Thank you for your understanding.

Regarding the above talk events 1 and 2, if there is high inquiry volume, the application method may change. In such cases, we will announce it on the official Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store website below.

Yoshifumi Okuyama (JR West Railway Culture Promotion Office)

Works for JR West. Part-time lecturer at Sagami Women's University, recognized as a Japanese Cuisine Culture Inheritor by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He researches and studies the inheritance of ekiben and regional food culture, and works to disseminate their cultural value through exhibitions and symposiums.

Tokyo Metro x Mitsukoshi-mae: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Special Exhibition

Image provided by: Subway Museum

Tokyo Metro will celebrate its 100th anniversary of subway operation in 2027. In Showa 7 (1932), with the extension of the Ginza Line (then Tokyo Underground Railway), "Mitsukoshi-mae Station" opened as the first station in Japan to bear a company name. Later, in Heisei 1 (1989), the Hanzomon Line's Mitsukoshi-mae Station also opened. In addition to the history of Tokyo Metro, the exhibition will highlight historically valuable railway assets within the exhibition venue, such as the "three red lines representing Mitsukoshi" decorating the brick walls of the Ginza Line's Mitsukoshi-mae Station, and the design applied to the Hanzomon Line's Mitsukoshi-mae Station by Genichiro Inokuma, the original artist of Mitsukoshi's wrapping paper "Hana Hiraku."

Railway Goods Sales Corner (Free Admission)

Sticker "Shinagawa⇔Shinjuku" ¥400 Railway Embroidery Tote Bag: Three Generations of Rail Transport Vehicles ¥4,290 "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" Venue-Exclusive T-shirt: JNR Hakodate Main Line February 1965 ¥4,950

Over 400 types of railway goods, from nostalgic JNR merchandise to popular railway accessories, will be available. A limited-time railway market, featuring venue-exclusive items, will also appear, offering a delightful experience just by browsing.

Receive an Original Commemorative Gift! Stamp Rally Held

During the exhibition period, the first 3,000 participants who collect stamps from three designated locations related to the "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" will receive an "Original Visitor Commemorative Ticket (hard ticket)." Additionally, MI Card Plus or MI Card Basic members will receive an "Exclusive Member Original Sticker."

*Please check the official website in advance for details.

[Simultaneous Event] "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" Related Events

Starting July 29 (Wed), the "Taste of Japan Ekiben Festival with Your Heart" will be held in the Food Collection on the B1 floor of the Main Building.

Ujike Kakimeshi: 1 bento ¥1,481 | Miyama Nouen: Setouchi Shiitake Chirashizushi: 1 bento ¥1,481

Ekiben, which colorfully adorns travel, will gather at the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Food Collection!

Ekiben, indispensable for railway journeys, will be brought together from all over Japan at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. Popular ekiben from across the country will be available, such as Otaru Station's "Umi no Kagayaki" (Shining Sea) with its luxurious seafood from Hokkaido, and Himeji Station's "Miyama Nouen Taikoban: Attōteki, Setouchi Shiitake Chirashizushi" (Miyama Farm's Signature Dish: Overwhelmingly Delicious Setouchi Shiitake Chirashizushi) with its impressive shiitake mushrooms upon opening.

Dates: July 29 (Wed) – August 4 (Tue)

Venue: Food Collection, B1 Floor, Main Building

[List of Participating Bento]

❶ Miyama Nouen Taikoban Attōteki Setouchi Shiitake Chirashizushi (Himeji Station, Hyogo Prefecture) ¥1,481, ❷ Ujike Kakimeshi (Akkeshi Station, Hokkaido) ¥1,481, ❸ Umi no Kagayaki (Otaru Station, Hokkaido) ¥2,580, ❹ [Reprint] Omi Beef Sukiyaki Jōtō Bento (Kusatsu Station, Gunma Prefecture) ¥1,401, ❺ Unagi Mabushi (Toyohashi Station, Aichi Prefecture) ¥1,631, ❻ Katsu Anagomeshi (Hiroshima Station, Hiroshima Prefecture) ¥1,601, ❼ Large! Torotto Kakuni Meshi (Izumi Station, Kagoshima Prefecture) ¥1,801, ❽ Shiitake Bento Subarashii Take (Tottori Station, Tottori Prefecture) ¥1,601, ❾ Yakisaba Sushi 8 pieces (Fukui Station, Fukui Prefecture) ¥1,728, ❿ Nihonbashi Daizo Jōmaku no Uchi Bento (Tokyo Station, Tokyo) ¥1,701.

*Other items will be announced on the official website as they are confirmed.

*Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

Model Railway Culture Exhibition and Introduction to Railway Towns

1. Model Railway Culture Exhibition – KATO's Proposal for Japanese Scenery and Manufacturing –

This exhibition proposes a space to rediscover Japan's cultural value through model railways, with the concept that "model railways are cultural devices."

2. Introduction to Railway Towns

Introducing the charm of railway towns across Japan, including those that have continued since the JNR era, and other towns with connections to railways.

Dates: July 22 (Wed) – August 3 (Mon)

Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM [Last day closes at 5:00 PM] *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing each day.

Venue: M Stage, 1st Floor, New Building (Entrance from Chuo Dori)

Admission Fee: Free

Regarding Photography within the "Reviving Japanese Railways Exhibition" Venue

Photography is permitted within the venue for personal use, except in areas marked "No Photography." Please take your own photos.

1. The following actions are prohibited.

- Flash photography, and photography using equipment such as tripods and selfie sticks.

- Close-up photography that may damage exhibits or display cases.

- Video recording.

- Actions that obstruct other visitors' viewing (long shooting times, cutting in line, continuous shooting, unusual shutter sounds, etc.).

- Secondary processing or alteration of exhibits.

2. If other visitors are captured in your photos, please be aware that their portrait rights may be infringed upon when publishing those photos.

Use is at your own risk. The exhibition organizers assume no responsibility.

3. Photography for reproduction, distribution, or commercial use is strictly prohibited.

- Please note that photography within the venue may be suspended at the organizer's discretion due to crowd conditions.

◆ Regarding the use of photos taken on SNS, etc.

- Cannot be used for profit.

- Modifications or alterations to the artwork photos are not permitted.

- Please display the credits (title, artist name).

- If visitors are captured in your photos, please be aware that their portrait rights may be infringed upon when publishing those photos.

- Use is at your own risk. The organizers and venue assume no responsibility.

◆ Venue Precautions and Requests

- Admission may be restricted or you may be asked to wait during crowded periods.

- Please refrain from touching the exhibits.

- Please refrain from making phone calls within the venue.

- Admission is permitted until 30 minutes before closing each day.

- Each ticket is valid for one person, one entry only.

- All prices include tax.

- Please note that event details may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event