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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Hy?go prefecture feature designs by graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo. Yokoo was born in Hy?go.

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Yokoo's eyeball train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]

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Yokoo's waterfall train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]

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Yokoo's galactic travel train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [Photo]

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Yokoo's Y-junction train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]

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Doraemon train, Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shak? Line, Hokkaido [Photo]

This Doraemon train runs back and forth through the Seikan Tunnel, an undersea railway connecting Honshu and Hokkaido.

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More Doraemon trains in Hokkaido

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Wild boar decoration, Eizan line, Kyoto prefecture [Photo]

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Kitar? train, Tottori line, Tottori prefecture [More]

Trains on the Tottori line in Tottori prefecture are decorated with characters from Shigeru Mizuki's "GeGeGe no Kitar?" manga/anime series. Mizuki was born in Tottori prefecture.

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Medama-oyaji on Kitar? train, Tottori line [More]

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Kitar? train, Tottori line [Photo]

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Ceiling inside Kitar? train, Tottori line [More]

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Neko-musume train, Tottori line [Photo: Rie Nakaya]

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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.

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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 Sh?tar?, whose works include Cyborg 009 and the Kamen Rider Series. Some of his characters adorn trains on the Senseki line.

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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.

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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]