Great news for rail fans — Yumekukan is finally back after nearly two years and is now open to the public again!
For those who may not know, Yumekukan (“Dream Space”) was a luxury train operated by JR East. It consisted of three beautifully designed cars and first entered service in 1989, mainly for charter and special runs. Since it didn’t have its own power supply car, it was always coupled with standard 24 Series passenger cars and hauled by a locomotive.
After 19 years in service, the train was retired in 2008. Two of the three cars were preserved in front of a shopping mall in Misato City, Saitama, but unfortunately they were closed to visitors in 2024 due to deterioration. Thankfully, Kiyose City in Tokyo stepped in and took over the cars. They were carefully relocated to Kiyose Chuo Park and, after restoration work, reopened to the public on February 1.
When I visited the park, I was immediately struck by how stunning the cars looked. Please check out the photos! The green one is the dining car, OShi 25 901 of the 24 Series. The red one is the lounge car, OHafu 25 901. What impressed me most was how faithfully they have been restored. I even spotted a small freshly painted notice on the underfloor equipment reading “Push, automatic water supply” and “Drain cock for air control” — such a wonderfully detailed touch!
The interior isn’t open yet, but I’ve heard it may be used as a restaurant in the near future. I’m really looking forward to that day.
Under the winter sunlight, Yumekukan was shining beautifully. Kiyose Chuo Park truly feels like a dream space now.
