Introducing the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, Japan’s Cutest High-Speed Train

Hello Kitty fans in Japan and abroad have a new way to enjoy the wildly popular character by Japanese company Sanrio. Train operator JR West on June 30 launched its newest high-speed service, the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. Running on the San’yō Shinkansen line, the train features carriages adorned inside and out with images of the adorable feline-like character.

Sporting a design inspired by Hello Kitty’s trademark ribbon, the pink and white train will run nearly every day between Shin-Osaka and Hakata Stations until the end of September with the goal of introducing passengers to places of interest in western Japan.

The Hello Kitty Shinkansen stands out with its pink ribbons and stripes.

Cars 1 and 2 provide riders the complete Hello Kitty experience, including seats, window shades, and even toilets bedecked in pink ribbons and images of the character. There are also special display corners introducing areas around western Japan. The Hello! Plaza in car 1 has a monitor that shows tourism information as well as a specialty shop offering souvenirs and other items. The Kawaii! Room in car 2 is also chock-full of images of Hello Kitty and has unreserved seating along with a special photo corner. Cars 3 to 8 are standard carriages, but even here sharp-eyed fans can find hidden Hello Kitties.

The pink-clad interior of the Hello! Plaza.

Fans wanting to ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen from Hakata Station will have to rise early as the limited express Kodama leaves at 6:40 am. The return train, however, departs Shin-Osaka Station at the more civilized time of 11:29 am. Hopeful passenger can book online via a dedicated page or just hop on one of the unreserved cars. The train will make one round-trip run every day, excluding July 18–20, August 8–10, and September 3–5 and 26–28 when it will head to the shop for routine maintenance.

The Kawaii! Room in car 2 has a photo corner featuring Hello Kitties of all sorts.

Photos

Hello Kitty’s ribbon serves as the train’s main motif.

A front view of the pink and white exterior.

The train’s logo is a Hello Kitty conductor.

There is a localized Hello Kitty for each of the eight western Japan prefectures. Cars 1 and 2 feature Fukuoka (left) and Yamaguchi.

Another view of the Hello! Plaza.

The video corner in car 1 serves up regional tourism information.

The Hello! Plaza has benches for passengers to sit and relax along with a store offering souvenirs and other specialty goods.

The first two carriages are decorated from end to end with ribbons and images of Hello Kitty.

The Kawaii! Room has a dedicated space for baby strollers and other luggage.

The photo corner features a large replica of Hello Kitty dressed as a train conductor.

The ribbon motif even appears on the doors between carriages.

Images of Hello Kitty adorn head rest covers and window shades.

Fans will love being surrounded by Hello Kitty.

Carriages are awash in pink.

Pink ribbons can even be spotted in the bathroom.

The sink area features polka-dotted pink dividers.

Ribbons and Hello Kitty decorate the train’s vestibules.

Hello Kitty offers some hygienic advice.

Ribbons have found their way onto just about everything on the train.

(Originally written in Japanese. Photos by Kusano Seiichirō.)