Hello Kitty is a Japanese phenomenon, and there’s a Hello Kitty-themed bullet train that you can ride when you visit Japan.
A train with the famous pink feline runs a route in Japan, which could be the cutest train in the entire world. This train has been in service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line since June 2018, and it continues to be a fun event in Japan. If you want to ride one of the many bullet trains in Japan, this could be the train that you enjoy riding during your time in the island country.
Here are some cool things about the Hello Kitty bullet train.
The red ribbon treatment
Most might look at the ribbons and think they are pink, but the ribbon are called red ribbons and it’s a theme across the entire train. These ribbons represent the strengthening of the ties between the Shinkansen services and the western part of the country. If you get a JR West pass rom the Japan Railway West Co., riding this train is part o the deal and it makes for a fun event when you’re aboard.
This train succeeds another theme train
The Hello Kitty bullet train has been in service since 2018 and continues to stay in service, adding four months at a time to its run. There’s no telling if it will continue to be operational for many more years, but it could be. This train is the successor of the Evangelion train, which ran from 2015 until May 2022. This impressive and adorable train offers service on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, which connects Osaka and Fukuoka. The train stops at various places along the line, including Kobe, Okayama, and Hiroshima.
Cars of fun
The first two cars of this cute bullet train are as adorable as the incredible feline herself. These cars feature scenes from the character and her friends, including a phone booth. The first car is called Hello! Plaza, and it doesn’t have any passenger seats. That means this car shows the local specialties, delicacies, and souvenirs from the regions in the new JR West line.
The second car is called the Kawaii! Room and it is a passenger car that’s covered in Hello Kitty colors and characters to show off the character and her friends. This car features a large Hello Kitty doll in Shinkansen uniform.
You can explore these two cars when riding with the JR Pass and you can sit in the Kawaii! Room car which is all non-reserved seating. This means you’ll have a great time in the car.
The theme tune
Most trains ring a jingling bell while traveling, but not the Hello Kitty bullet train. This train rings the original Hello Kitty theme tune as it approaches the stations. This seems pretty appropriate, considering the theme of the train and where it travels. This cute jingle is part of the charm of this wonderful train that travels in Japan.
This train pays tribute to Western Japan
JR West has released eight original Hello Kitty designs holding various delicacies from each of the train stops along the way. There’s a green apple for Tottori prefecture, a strawberry for Fukuoka, and a black shell for Shimane prefecture.
As each was highlighted, so was a food or item from that area. The first to be displayed was Sanini, which is home to the Shimane and Tottori prefectures. Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, and Fukuoka followed. The Okayama Station features a takeaway box for each passenger called the Hello Kitty ekiben.
You’ll also find a special Hello Kitty café and souvenir shop, which sells exclusive merchandise related to Hello Kitty Shinkansen at the Hakata Station in Fukuoka.
Enjoy the activities
The theme makes the Hello Kitty bullet train a fun mode of transportation, but the activities that you can enjoy create an adventure aboard this cute and fun train. You can forget about the world rushing by outside as you experience the wonderland of activities made to keep you entertained.
Try you hand at the gachapon and check out the souvenirs that you can take home and enjoy. These exclusive items, combined with unique photo opportunities, make Hello!Plaza is a fun place to be where you can enjoy a great time on this train.
It’s an experience you should enjoy
If you’re looking for something fun to do and want to create a memorable experience through transportation, ride the Hello Kitty bullet train when you’re in Japan. Access to this train comes with the JR West pass, which allows you to enjoy a train themed by the most famous Japanese feline of all time.
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