If you’re really into train simulation, you may know JR East Train Simulator, the official simulator released by East Japan Railway Company itself.
The simulator is available on Steam for $22.99 and comes with a massive range of DLC simulating plenty of different trains and lines around Tokyo and Eastern Japan.
While it’s certainly a niche sim compared to more global ones like Train Sim World 5, it enjoys “mostly positive” reviews and it has a dedicated fanbase. Incidentally, it was developed by Ongakukan, one of the pioneers of the train simulation genre with the Train Simulator franchise that debuted all the way back in 1995.
Soon, very dedicated fans with large disposable incomes will be able to massively increase their immersion with the release of the official Master Controller Unit in three different versions.
The JR East Train Simulator Official Master Control Unit includes all the controls you need to operate your trains, including a separate pedal for the horn, and it costs 2.5 million yen.
The Master Control Unit with Instrument Panell Monitor adds a set of realistic monitors showing your instruments, and it costs 3 million yen.
The Master Control Unit + Instrument Panel Monitor + Driver’s Cabin adds a full-fledged cockpit simulating the front of the cabin of JR East’s trains, including a built-in horn pedal. It costs 3.5 million yen.
Before you pull out your credit cards, I should probably translate these prices for you. They’re respectively $16,753, $20,103, and $23,454 at the current exchange rate. All three controllers are available on the East Japan Railway Company’s JRE Mall website.
All three units release on February 27.
If you’re still with me, the rather expensive pricing is explained by the fact that the units come with full metal construction (aluminum and iron) and are built with the expertise of Tsukasa, a Tokyo-based company established in 1962 that manufactures real train parts and works on train maintenance, on top of amusement park equipment.
It’s pretty much the perfect kind of pedigree to work on something like this, as you can see in the pictures below. They make trains and rollercoasters, after all.
The units’ full metal structure means not only that they’ll feel quite realistic, but they’re also built like tanks (or trains, in this case), weighing 21 Kg for the controller, 17 Kg for the instrument panel, and a whopping 55 Kg for the cabin assembly.
They’re also made-to-order, so if you plan on purchasing one, you’ll have to wait 3-4 months before delivery.
If you’re interested in railway simulation in Japan, you can also check out the Japanese Rail Sim series.