Hello Kitty bullet train to debut in Japan on June 30

West Japan Railway Co. said Friday it will begin operating a Hello Kitty-themed shinkansen on June 30.

The interior and seats of the 500-series shinkansen, to be used for daily round trips between Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka Prefecture and Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture, will feature Sanrio Co.’s Hello Kitty character, the railway operator said.

The special train, to be decorated with pink ribbons like the character, will be used to promote local attractions and specialty goods, and passengers will have the chance to pose for photos with a big Hello Kitty doll.

「ハローキティ新幹線」18年6月より運行！500系新幹線が生まれ変わる https://t.co/xjNHT6ge0o pic.twitter.com/h1jN82RVS0

— Fashion Press (@fashionpressnet) May 18, 2018

The first Hello Kitty train car, dubbed “Hello! Plaza,” will introduce areas in western Japan for a limited period of time, starting with Tottori and Shimane prefectures.

The railway company recently wrapped up the operation of a bullet train featuring a design inspired by the popular Japanese animation series “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

LATEST NATIONAL STORIES

Two women named for Japan's Akutagawa, Naoki literary awards

Two female novelists were selected Wednesday to receive Japan's prestigious Akutagawa and Naoki literary awards for their works, one of which depicts stalker-like behavior by a woman and the oth...

Okinawa files another lawsuit over U.S. base landfill work

The Okinawa Prefectural Government on Wednesday filed another lawsuit against the central government as it seeks to halt the ongoing landfill work for the relocation of a U.S. air base within th...

Japan's record-breaking free diver Sayuri Kinoshita dies after accident

A record-breaking Japanese female free diver died Monday following an accident last week, having fallen from her apartment in the southern island prefecture of Okinawa, according to police and her ...