Original models created during the design process of the Romancecar VSE to be unveiled for the first time! An exhibition on the planning of the VSE will be held at the Romancecar Museum starting July 15.

The Romancecar Museum (Location: Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Director: Jiro Yoshihisa) will hold a special exhibition titled "The Making of the VSE - Design, Technology, and Service that Create Excitement" from July 15 (Wed) to August 31 (Mon), 2026. The exhibition will showcase 12 models, blueprints, and concept sketches actually used during the design process of the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000).

The Romancecar VSE (Series 50000) on display.

Original models to be unveiled for the first time.

This exhibition will feature materials such as multiple models, blueprints, and paint proposals used during the design phase. These materials illustrate the process leading to the final product, and it is the first time that original models used to study the car body shape will be publicly displayed. Visitors can compare the VSE currently on display at our museum with the materials from the development process, allowing them to experience the trial and error involved in vehicle design.

Additionally, an audio guide by Noriaki Okabe, representative of Noriaki Okabe Architects' Network, who was in charge of the overall design of the VSE, will be available through visitors' smartphones. Mr. Okabe himself will explain the reason for choosing white for the car body and the innovations made for a comfortable interior space.

During weekend talk events held during the exhibition period, there will be a lecture by Noriaki Okabe on the theme of "Design," as well as discussions with stakeholders on "Technology," including episodes of modifying existing Romancecars for testing to pursue the VSE's superior ride comfort and explanations of the mechanisms of the implemented devices. By learning about the considerations in each specialized field, visitors can gain a renewed appreciation for the depth of the VSE.

Furthermore, to coincide with the summer vacation period, content will be provided for families to enjoy the VSE. In addition to explanatory texts that are easy for children to understand for the aforementioned exhibits, a program where a VSE illustration appears when stamps are layered, and worksheets that can be used for free research will be available, allowing children to learn about the vehicle's features and structure in a fun way. Moreover, crew and station staff will hold events where children can wear junior crew uniforms and take commemorative photos with the VSE in the background.

As a facility where both children and adults can learn and have fun, the Romancecar Museum will continue to convey the value of the Romancecar by visualizing the ideas, design, and development processes behind its design, technology, and services to the next generation.

Details of this event are as follows:

Details

1. Special Exhibition "The Making of the VSE - Design, Technology, and Service that Create Excitement"

Exhibits will include multiple models, blueprints, and paint proposals used during the design phase. Concept sketches of the interior drawn by hand, and 1/20 scale models used to study the car body shape will be introduced. In addition, explanatory panels using drawings and illustrations will be displayed regarding technical features such as the tilting bogie system.

To make it enjoyable for children as well, explanatory texts that simply summarize each exhibit will be provided.

Concept sketch (example) Bogie diagram (example)

Exhibition Period: July 15 (Wed) to August 31 (Mon), 2026

Exhibition Venue: 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery, various locations

Cooperation: Noriaki Okabe Architects' Network, Japan Transport Engineering Company

2. Audio Guide by Noriaki Okabe

An audio guide by Noriaki Okabe, who handled the overall design, will be delivered through a smartphone app, explaining the reason for choosing white for the VSE's car body and the innovations made for a comfortable interior space. Listening to this while viewing the interior and exterior will allow for a renewed appreciation of the VSE's depth.

Noriaki Okabe

Period: July 15 (Wed) to August 31 (Mon), 2026

Venue: 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery, inside and outside the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000)

Experience Time: Approx. 20 minutes (8 chapters)

Cooperation: Noriaki Okabe Architects' Network

*Requires download of the smartphone app "Pocket Curator®".

3. Talk Events with VSE Stakeholders

(1) [Design] Lecture "The New Travel Space Aimed for by the VSE - Railway Vehicles Designed by an Architect -"

Noriaki Okabe will give a lecture on the planning and conceptualization process of the VSE up to the completion of its design. He will share specific episodes on how his experience in architecture and his knowledge from designing automobiles and passenger ships were reflected in the VSE.

In addition, to provide an opportunity to foster interest in design-related professions, free admission slots will be offered to junior high and high school students.

Speaker: Noriaki Okabe

Date: August 29, 2026 (Sat)

Time: 18:00 - 20:00

Venue: In front of the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

Capacity: 50 people (including 10 free admission slots for junior high and high school students)

Participation Fee: ¥3,000 (tax included) per person *Includes admission fee.

Application Method:

<Application for Free Admission Slots for Junior High/High School Students>

This will be a lottery. Applications can be made on the following page from July 15 (Wed) 12:30 to July 20 (Mon) 23:59. Lottery results will be sent by email on July 22 (Wed). Junior high and high school students eligible are those born between April 2, 2008, and April 1, 2014.

<General Applications>

This is a fully reservation-based system on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made on the following page from July 24 (Fri) 12:30.

Application HP: https://one-odakyu.com/campaign?id=20260725c1

(2) [Technology] Dialogue "The Ultimate Ride Comfort Achieved by the VSE - A Unique Articulated Structure -"

This dialogue will cover episodes of modifying existing Romancecars for testing to pursue ride comfort, as well as the mechanisms of the implemented devices.

The dialogue will feature Hiroshi Shinmura from Japan Transport Engineering Company, who was in charge of manufacturing, and Jiro Yoshihisa, Director of the Romancecar Museum, who has been involved in vehicle development at Odakyu Electric Railway for many years.

In addition, to provide an opportunity to foster interest in technology-related professions, free admission slots will be offered to junior high and high school students.

Test bogie attached by modifying a Romancecar.

Speakers: Hiroshi Shinmura, Deputy General Manager, Equipment Department, Railway Business Headquarters, and Project Team Leader, Future Innovation Department, Japan Transport Engineering Company

Jiro Yoshihisa, Director, Romancecar Museum

Date: July 25, 2026 (Sat)

Time: 18:00 - 20:00

Venue: In front of the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

Capacity: 50 people (including 10 free admission slots for junior high and high school students)

Participation Fee: ¥3,000 (tax included) per person *Includes admission fee.

Application Method: Both free admission slots and general slots are fully reservation-based on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made on the following page from July 8 (Wed) 12:30.

Junior high and high school students eligible are those born between April 2, 2008, and April 1, 2014.

Application HP: https://one-odakyu.com/campaign?id=20260725c1

(3) [Service] Talk Session "Special Services That Supported the VSE - Behind-the-Scenes Hospitality Told by Former Crew Members -"

Two former crew members who served on the VSE will engage in a dialogue, including demonstrations, about hospitality techniques and operational duties that supported safe operation. They will introduce the trial and error and specific initiatives of the time, touching upon the unique services of the VSE and the background of its introduction.

Speakers: Masayuki Nanzan, Kenji Murabayashi, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Date: August 1, 2026 (Sat)

Time: 1 11:00 - 12:00, 2 14:00 - 15:00

Venue: Inside the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

Capacity: 10 groups (20 people) per session

Participation Fee: ¥1,000 (tax included) per group *Admission fee is required separately.

Application Method: This is a fully reservation-based system on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made on the following page from July 15 (Wed) 12:30.

Application HP: https://one-odakyu.com/campaign?id=20260725c1

4. Summer Opening Event

To coincide with the start of the school summer vacation, crew and station staff will hold an event on the VSE. They will perform in-car announcements and other activities, and visitors can also enjoy taking commemorative photos wearing junior crew uniforms with the VSE in the background.

Commemorative photo (image)

Date: July 19, 2026 (Sun)

Time: 10:30 - 11:30 (In-car announcement demonstrations will be held 6 times at 10-minute intervals)

Venue: Inside and outside the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

5. VSE Lounge WEEK

The "lounge specification," where seats are arranged facing each other across the aisle, which was previously only available on charter trains, will be exhibited. The "lounge specification" was implemented based on Mr. Noriaki Okabe's idea to inherit the memory of lounges found in the rear observation seats of locomotive-hauled passenger cars in the past.

During the setup and dismantling periods of the exhibition, visitors can observe the gradual changes in the interior as the layout is modified.

Lounge specification (image)

Date and Time: July 19, 2026 (Sun) 13:00 - July 26, 2026 (Sun) 13:00

Venue: Inside the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

6. VSE Layered Stamp with "Secrets of the VSE" Worksheet

A program where a VSE illustration appears when stamps are layered on a special mount, and a worksheet that can be used for free research will be provided, allowing visitors to learn about the vehicle's features and structure in a fun way. The "Secrets of the VSE" worksheet will be given to those who purchase the special mount.

Layered stamp illustration (image)

Exhibition Period: July 15 (Wed) to August 31 (Mon), 2026

Exhibition Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (Special mount sales until 16:30)

Exhibition Venue: Inside and outside the Romancecar VSE (Series 50000), 1st Floor, Romancecar Gallery

Mount Sales Location: 1st Floor, Romancecar Academia I

Mount Sales Price: Stamp special mount ¥100 (tax included) (with "Secrets of the VSE" worksheet)

7. Petapeta-yaki Workshop

A workshop will be held where participants color within an illustration frame using special paints and then bake it to create a Petapeta-yaki.

Seven types of "exhibition vehicles," including the Romancecar SE (Series 3000) and VSE, will be available as designs. Once completed, they can be attached to refrigerators, windows, etc.

Petapeta-yaki (image)

Workshop Period: August 3 (Mon) to August 17 (Mon), 2026

Workshop Hours: 10:30 - 15:45 (Reception until 15:00)

Production Time: Approx. 30 minutes

Workshop Venue: 1st Floor, Romancecar Academia I

Participation Fee: ¥1,500 (tax included) (with special clear file)

*Payment is cash only.

*There is a limit to the number of each design available, and sales will end once supplies run out.

End