All aboard, Hello Kitty fans!
Japan Railway Co. and Sanrio have launched what may just be the cutest train in all of history – a Hello Kitty themed Shinkansen bullet train! All decked out in bright pink and purple Hello Kitty gear, fans of the Sanrio character are definitely in for a treat!
In case you didn’t know, the Shinkansen line of bullet trains are considered to be the fastest in Japan. With that being said, you can expect this Hello Kitty-themed train is no different – just a whole lot cuter! In addition to its charming design, guests will also be greeted with no other than Conductor Hello Kitty herself upon entering the train!
Here's everything you need to know about the Hello Kitty bullet train in Japan:
- Where can I catch the Hello Kitty bullet train?
- Where are the Hello Kitty train stations?
- How long is the journey on the Hello Kitty train?
- How do I buy tickets for the Hello Kitty train?
- What can I expect on the Hello Kitty train?
Where can I catch the Hello Kitty bullet train?
The Hello Kitty bullet train is a regular Kodama service that runs from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Shin-Osaka at 6:32 a.m. and 11:12 a.m. The return trip departs from Shin-Osaka at 11:32 a.m. and arrives in Hakata at 4:11 p.m. The earlier train will almost certainly be quieter, so keep that in mind if you're travelling during peak hours and really want a pink seat.
The eight-car Kodama service, which stops at all stations, is slower than the 16-car Nozomi or Hikari services that zip between Tokyo and Hakata. The journey between Shin-Osaka and Hakata takes four and a half hours, which is more than double the time of the faster services.
Where are the Hello Kitty train stations?
The Hello Kitty train stops at train stations in six Japan prefectures. The train stations are:
- Fukuoka Prefecture: Hakata, Kokura
- Yagamuchi Prefecture : Shin-Shimonoseki, Asa, Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama, Shin-Iwakuni
- Hiroshima Prefecture: Hiroshima, Higashi-Hiroshima, Mihara, Shin-Onomichi, Fukuyama
- Okayama Prefecture: Shin-Kurashiki, Okayama
- Hyogo Prefecture: Aioi, Himeji, Nishi-Akashi, Shin-Kobe
- Osaka Prefecture: Shin-Osaka
How long is the journey on the Hello Kitty train?
The full journey takes over 4 hours.
How do I buy tickets for the Hello Kitty train?
The Hello Kitty train is covered under a few Japan rail passes including:
What can I expect on the Hello Kitty train?
You can expect an overload of cuteness and lots of pink!
There are eight carriages in total aboard the Hello Kitty train but most of the Hello Kitty action take place in the first two carriages. Carriage one, Hello! Plaza, actually doesn't have any passenger seats. It's more of a Sanrio shop instead of a proper train carriage. It's got all the Hello Kitty merch you can dream of, even the limited-edition station master Kitty-chan. When you visit the first carriage, you'll be gifted a souvenir "Hello Kitty Shinkansen" story book. You can also buy souvenir snacks here.
Carriage two, Kawaii Room, is the only passenger carriage of the Hello Kitty train that is fully decked out from floor to roof of Hello Kitty. This is the best place on the train to snap some IG-worthy photos to capture your experience on the adorable Hello Kitty bullet train.
Looking for more Hello Kitty experiences on your Japan holiday?
If this Hello Kitty-themed train isn’t enough to curb your obsession, you can travel to Tokyo and visit Tokyo Sanrio Puroland! Apart from Hello Kitty, you’ll also meet a bunch of other Sanrio characters here, too!
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