SOTETSU PARK

“SOTETSU PARK” (Japanese reading: Sotetsu Pāku) is the Sotetsu Group’s exhibit in the Kids Village at GREEN×EXPO 2027. Its concept is “Friends & Habitats,” and its motto is “Look, everyone lives nearby!” Centered on a real car of the new 13000 Series train, which entered service in spring 2026, the roughly 1,000 m² park lets children learn about the creatures and nature along the Sotetsu Lines through play.

Highlights and exhibits

“Friends” means people and the living things around us; “habitats” means the places where each creature can live best. Sotetsu says the aim is for children to meet these friends, touch their habitats through play, and turn that interest into action to protect nature nearby. Announced elements include:

• A real 13000 Series car: one car, No. 13100 (the Yokohama-end lead car). Power supply equipment will be installed so the car’s systems can actually operate, and an inspection pit like those in train depots will let visitors look at the underfloor, normally seen only by maintenance staff. The number 13100 is one below the 13101, which is already in service.
• An elevated walkway: the ring-shaped roof, about 8 m high, forms a loop from which visitors can look down on the train and the park.
• Habitat play equipment: inspired by the streams, rivers and farmland along the line.
• A plaza and stage: exhibits and workshops by Sotetsu Group companies, Yokohama organizations and university students are planned.
• Characters and cards: collection cards and original characters introduce local wildlife. The special website currently features six “friends,” including the Japanese common toad, common kingfisher and Eurasian goshawk.

As of October 4, 2026, the “Make Friends!” and other content sections on the special website still read “COMING SOON.” In March, Sotetsu said more details would be released in December, 100 days before the opening.

Building and design

• The site covers about 1,000 m² including play and planting areas; the large roof is about 30 m in diameter and about 8 m tall.
• The ring roof is modeled on the Sotetsu Group’s group mark and is designed as a place where people gather; it also provides shade and shelter from rain.
• The 13000 Series car was trucked on public roads from the J-TREC Yokohama plant (Kanazawa Ward) and lifted onto the display track by a large crane. A video of the transport is available on Sotetsu’s official YouTube channel.
• The design and construction firms have not been named in official materials (as of October 2026).

About the exhibitor

The Sotetsu Group operates the Sotetsu Lines starting from Yokohama Station. Seya and Mitsukyo stations on the Sotetsu Main Line will be departure points for the reservation-only shuttle buses to the venue. In March 2025 the group became the first “project sponsor” of the expo, decorating stations and running wrapped trains and buses. It adopted a group biodiversity policy in September 2025.

Announcements so far

• Oct 1, 2024: The Expo Association named Sotetsu Holdings among the first eight Village exhibitors.
• Feb 20, 2026: Sotetsu announced SOTETSU PARK, its concept, its scale and the use of a real 13000 Series car.
• Mar 18, 2026: The special website opened, and pre-expo nature events were announced.
• Mar 19, 2026: The Expo Association published the exhibit outline and a rendering.
• May 20, 2026: A wrapped train featuring SOTETSU PARK began running (planned until September 2027).
• May 31, June 14 and July 26, 2026: Pre-expo programs were held, including a firefly night at Kodomo Shizen Park (postponed from June 7 due to bad weather).
• July 30, 2026: The 13000 Series car (No. 13100) was delivered to the site (announced August 28 with a transport video).
• Sept 10, 2026: A three-part bird-box program (October 2026 to March 2027) was announced; participants who wish to can present their findings at SOTETSU PARK in June 2027.
• Sept 14, 2026: Recruitment of park staff began.

On social media

The Sotetsu Group’s official X account (@sotetsu_group) announced the staff recruitment on September 15. On X (formerly Twitter), news of the 13000 Series car’s late-night road transport and delivery was widely shared, especially among railway fans, and the staff recruitment spread as a job listing (as of October 2026). Comments about the exhibits themselves are still few.

Before you go

• Location: Kids Village, marked “K” on the Expo Association’s venue map. Shimizu Corporation’s “Shimizu Mori no Machi” is in the same village.
• Reservations: The association will use same-day “viewing reservations” for some exhibits, but which ones has not been announced (as of October 2026).
• Duration, age range, accessibility: Not yet announced.

Sources:

• Expo Association: Village exhibits (exhibitors and venue map, Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• SOTETSU PARK special website (English) and Japanese site (checked 2026-10-04)
• Sotetsu Group press release, Feb 20, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Sotetsu Group press release, Mar 18, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Sotetsu Group press release, May 19, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Sotetsu Group press release on the 13000 Series delivery, Aug 28, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Sotetsu Group press release on the bird-box program, Sept 10, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• SOTETSU PARK staff recruitment notice, Sept 14, 2026 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Expo Association press release, Oct 1, 2024 (Japanese) and Mar 13, 2025 (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Expo Association press release, Mar 19, 2026 (PDF, Japanese) and Aug 27, 2026 on viewing reservations (PDF, Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)
• Expo Association: Access (Japanese) (checked 2026-10-04)

Note: exhibits and highlights will be updated as official announcements are made.