Hotel Room With a View--and a Model Railroad!

Wouldn't you like to stay here?

So you want to make a reservation at a hotel in Japan. You explore the amenities: Wifi? Check. Breakfast? Check. Pool? Check. Model railroad layout? Check!

Yes, indeed; there are hotels in Japan that offer you all the usual amenities—and a model railroad layout.

One of them is the Washington Hotel, located in Tokyo. It offers a room complete with a layout. You can bring you own trains or rent them from the front desk.

Bring a friend! There are two tracks, so two of you can run trains.

The room isn’t cheap: $265 a night. This isn’t a problem for many, apparently; according to one report, there is a month-long waiting list to rent the room.

Click here to watch a video of the layout in action. Click here to read an article about this hotel room with a layout.

Another hotel with a model railroad room is the Hotel Metropolitan in Nagano.

The hotel is owned by JR East, which operates train services in the eastern part of Japan. The idea to put a layout in a room is part of the chain’s efforts to promote tourism in Nagano.

In addition to operating model trains, guests can watch real trains arrive and depart the Nagano train station, which is right beside the hotel.

As at the Washington Hotel, the room is almost fully booked on weekends, and weekday bookings are also strong.

If you want to stay there, prepare to pay; one night costs $968. If that’s too rich for you, you can also rent it for an hour for $33.

Hotels in Japan aren't only places with train themes; you can find layouts in restaurants and bars, too. More on that in the future.