Decorated trains in Japan
Of the countless trains running on Japan’s 20,000-kilometer (12,000-mile) rail network, a few are decorated with images of anime and manga characters, colorful ads, and designs by notable artists. Here is a small sample.
Pikachu on Seto line, Aichi prefecture
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Galaxy Express 999 train, Furusato-Ginga line, Hokkaido [Photo]
Characters from Leiji Matsumoto’s “Galaxy Express 999″ anime/manga adorn this train that used to run on the Furusato-Ginga line in Hokkaido. The train line closed down in 2006.
Galaxy Express 999 train, Furusato-Ginga line, Hokkaido [More photos]
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Pink ninja train, Iga line, Mie prefecture [Photo]
Matsumoto also created a series of ninja train designs for the Iga line in Mie prefecture, the birthplace of ninjutsu.
Blue ninja train, Iga line, Mie prefecture [Photo]
Here’s some video of the ninja trains cruising the Mie countryside:
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Spiderman train, JR Yumesaki line, Osaka [Photo]
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Some trains on the Kakogawa line in Hyōgo prefecture feature designs by graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo. Yokoo was born in Hyōgo.
Yokoo’s eyeball train, Kakogawa line, Hyōgo prefecture [More]
Yokoo’s waterfall train, Kakogawa line, Hyōgo prefecture [More]
Yokoo’s galactic travel train, Kakogawa line, Hyōgo prefecture [Photo]
Yokoo’s Y-junction train, Kakogawa line, Hyōgo prefecture [More]
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Doraemon train, Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shakō Line, Hokkaido [Photo]
This Doraemon train runs back and forth through the Seikan Tunnel, an undersea railway connecting Honshu and Hokkaido.
More Doraemon trains in Hokkaido
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Wild boar decoration, Eizan line, Kyoto prefecture [Photo]
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Kitarō train, Tottori line, Tottori prefecture [More]
Trains on the Tottori line in Tottori prefecture are decorated with characters from Shigeru Mizuki’s “GeGeGe no Kitarō” manga/anime series. Mizuki was born in Tottori prefecture.
Medama-oyaji on Kitarō train, Tottori line [More]
Kitarō train, Tottori line [Photo]
Ceiling inside Kitarō train, Tottori line [More]
Neko-musume train, Tottori line [Photo: Rie Nakaya]
Ceiling inside Neko-musume train, Tottori line [Photo: Rie Nakaya]
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Chunichi Dragons subway, Nagoya [Photo]
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Ninja Hattori-kun train, Himi line, Toyama prefecture [Photo]
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Ultraman trains, Tokyu Toyoko line, Tokyo [More]
These trains on the Tokyu Toyoko line in Tokyo were decorated to commemorate Ultraman’s 40th anniversary and promote a movie.
Ultraman train, Tokyo Tokyo line, Tokyo. [Photo: sanchome]
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Meiji Milk Chocolate ad (Enoshima) // Thomas train (Kyoto prefecture)
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Ad for Tokimeki Memorial 3, Tokyo-Arakawa line, Tokyo [More]
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Cyborg 009 train, Senseki line, Miyagi prefecture [Photo]
Miyagi prefecture is the birthplace of manga/anime artist Ishinomori Shōtarō, whose works include Cyborg 009 and the Kamen Rider Series. Some of his characters adorn trains on the Senseki line.
Himitsu Sentai Goranger train, Senseki line, Miyagi prefecture [More]
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Gunma Safari Park ad train, Joshin line, Gunma prefecture [Photo]
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Anpanman train, JR Shikoku, Shikoku [Photo, More]
Yanase Takashi, creator of the Anpanman anime series, is from Kochi prefecture in Shikoku. The JR Shikoku railway network operates some Anpanman-themed trains.
Anpanman train interior, JR Shikoku, Shikoku [More]
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One-Piece ad train, Enoshima Electric Railway [More]
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Pichon-kun on the Skytrain, Bangkok, Thailand [Photo]
Japanese characters can occasionally be found on trains in other countries. This photo shows Pichon-kun, the robot mascot of Japanese air-conditioning manufacturer Daikin, on the side of the Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand.
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YKK train ad, Yamanote line, Tokyo [Photo]
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Pokemon on Tohoku Shinkansen [Photo]
I actually live in Shikoku and the Anpanman train is ridiculously popular. I kind of love it myself, it makes everybody happy when it goes by. And once a year all my students at the local kindergartens go on an Anpanman Train field trip. It’s the highlight of their year.
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Hi, thanks for this very nice collection of cool trains.
I’d like to make a small correction to one of your captions; the photo labelled with “Kamen Rider train” actually shows a Super Sentai series, not Kamen Rider, which was also created by Shotaro Ishinomori. This particular group is Himitsu Sentai Goranger. Of course, it’s very possible that the train shows one or more of the many Kamen Riders created by Shotaro Ishinomori, but this particular picture is not of them.
Thanks!
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No esta sinchan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
keremos a sinchan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
y a songoku!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
y songo anda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pikolo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chicho terremoto!!!!!
mark lenders!!!!!!
oliver y bengi!!!!!!!!
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Anime train never coming back…
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I like these trains, it s awesome!
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So awesome! I wish they would do this in NYC!
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es que aqui no hay dragon ball z???
jejej
saludos!
Gabriel
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I love these trains! makes me want to ride on them all day hehe.
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wooow.. such a cute decorate~ love the one with doraemon face :D
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Awesome ! THanks for all the great photos !
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The inside of the Anpanman train makes me think I would feel like I was in a nursery if I were to go in.
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Love it or leave it… On one hand, decision making in Japan is a real pain in the ass, on the other hand, old, large companies like JR & Co make dreams come true and don’t hesitate to get manga & other trains on the track. Definitely a reason to stay here (although I’m not fond of manga)
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in Denmark where i live this is called graffiti.. we are so boring and obsessed with functionalism that it makes me sick
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