The latest RM Modeler magazine has a report on the JAM convention, and I noticed something that may interest HO modelers- a full size operational HO scale layout. This blog has some pictures:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/sihowme31/archive/2014/08/22
It replicates the Choshi Dentetsu in Chiba Pref. namely the area around the Yamasa Soy Sauce Plant. It's a tail chaser, but note how the factory buildings provide an effective scene divider. Also note the Tomix display layout, which also uses trees and vegetation to provide a screen to make the layout appear larger and avoid the toy train "round and round" look. Also effective is the use of slight curves rather than tangent track. I think the Tomix layout has been displayed before, and is part of ongoing sales promotion.