Japanese shinkansens, or bullet trains, are high-speed trains that connect major cities and regions all across Japan. Shinkansen trains are famous for their incredible speed, punctuality, comfort, and safety, and are often cheaper and more convenient than plane travel.
While a regular Shinkansen is very impressive, every now and then a limited-edition design is released onto the network. With famous anime characters, world-famous artists’ works, or even foot spas, these fantastic, colourful, unique versions are something special. Known as Joyful Trains, they are some of the most incredible designs that fans love to see.
Hello Kitty Shinkansen
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen is a bullet train operating since 2018 that features a design inspired by the popular Sanrio character Hello Kitty. Probably the cutest of all the shinkansens, the train runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line in western Japan between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations.
The outside of the train features a lovely pink design, with Hello Kitty’s distinctive bow, and plenty of little Hello Kittys posing down the length of the train. The interior is also decorated with Hello Kitty-themed designs, including the Kawaii Room, which is decorated head to toe in pink designs, the perfect photo op! The Hello Kitty Shinkansen is popular among tourists and fans of the character, and is still running as of 2023.
Mickey Mouse Shinkansen
The Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey Shinkansen is a special bullet train service that ran on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line between May and November 2019. It was designed to celebrate the 90th-anniversary celebrations of Mickey Mouse, the popular Disney character.
The train was decorated with colourful illustrations of Mickey Mouse enjoying a holiday on the island of Kyushu, fumbling with a spilling suitcase filled with watermelons, a hat, and sunglasses! The train stopped at Hakata, Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo stations. It was a fun and exciting way to explore the island of Kyushu.
Toreiyu Tsubasa Shinkansen
The Toreiyu Tsubasa train was a ‘foot bath’ shinkansen that ran between JR Fukushima station and JR Shinjō station along the Yamagata line. This beloved train operated from 2014 until 2022, when a lack of tourism caused by Covid-19 forced it to discontinue. The most unusual feature of the Toreiyu Tsubasa shinkansen was the hot spring bath car where passengers could relax with foot baths, sit on tatami mat seating, and drink at an onboard sake bar. Throughout, it had elegant fruit motifs, celebrating the fruit producing area of Yamagata.
Genbi Shinkansen
The concept of the Genbi Shinkansen was to be the world’s fastest art museum! Decorated with the works of contemporary artists, it operated on the Joetsu Shinkansen line in Niigata prefecture until 2020. The train featured artwork by contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Shinji Ohmaki, reproduced in magnificent colour on the side of each carriage. The train’s interior was also decorated with artwork inspired by the artists’ works, such as wall and floor murals, coloured seats, and even featured a kids playroom!
Neon Genesis Evangelion Shinkansen
The Neon Genesis Evangelion Shinkansen was a train that featured a design inspired by the popular Japanese animation series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Easily distinguished by its electric purple and green design, it was designed to look like Evangelion Unit-01 mecha from the anime series. Inside, the seats were purple, and there was even a replica plug-in cockpit!
It was first launched in November 2015, and ran until May 13, 2018, when it made its final journey in front of crowds of admirers. The train was operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), travelling the Sanyo Shinkansen line between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations.
Doctor Yellow Shinkansen
The Doctor Yellow Shinkansen is unique for shinkansens – they don’t take any passengers. Doctor Yellow shinkansens are test trains with yellow paintwork that are used to inspect the tracks and overhead wires of the Shinkansen lines in Japan, which is where they get their name. They are some of the fastest shinkansens, testing speed limits of the rail network. While there are multiple in operation, they have no timetables and seeing one is rare, leading some to think that spotting one means good luck!
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The special edition shinkansens are a lovely touch of Japanese pop culture or art, combined with an iconic Japanese transport icon. Seeing one or having the chance to ride on one is rare, but an incredible experience if you’re lucky!
Joyful trains aren’t limited to shinkansens either; Japanese intercity and local trains also have amazing designs, such as the Pokemon With You train in Tohoku, the lovely Kairi train, and the Fruitea Fukushima. There are even steam trains such as the Yamaguchi steam train!
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