The Hello Kitty Shinkansen

  • Published on : 04/04/2018
  • by : Japan Experience

From Shin-Osaka Station to Hakata Station with a Japan Rail Pass

In March of 2018, JR West introduced the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, a special bullet train featuring motifs and imagery of the iconic Sanrio character!

Departure from Hakata: 6:42 (Kodama 730)
Hiroshima : 8:13
Okayama : 9:57
Himeji : 10:39
Shin-Osaka: 11:13

Departure from Shin-Osaka: 11:29 (Kodama 741)
Himeji : 12:02
Okayama : 12:38
Hiroshima : 13:55
Hakata : 15:38

Good news: as a Kodama bullet train, the Hello Kitty Shinkansen is covered by the Japan Rail Pass

Hello Kitty Shinkansen Car 1

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Hello Kitty Shinkansen Hakata

In car 1, dubbed "Hello Plaza!", you won't find any seats, but you'll be able to buy cakes, drinks, bags, plush toys and other Hello Kitty merchandise to fill up on kawaii-tude. Hostesses wearing uniforms with Hello Kitty themes are on hand to serve you and take your picture in designated areas.

Car 2 is a room that all Japanese pop culture-lovers will appreciate, with a bright pink interior adorned with Hello Kitty decor! Car 2, also features a special area that makes a magnificent backdrop for your photos, with Hello Kitty dressed in the JR West uniform and the different regions the train passes through on the wall. There's plenty of space for luggage and free-access seats, so you can get up close and personal with Japan's emblematic cat.Cars 3,7, and 8 are non-reserved seat cars. Cars 4,5, and 6 require a reserved seat ticket with assigned seating. 

Hello Kitty Shinkansen inside

Hello Kitty Shinkansen inside Charactere (JLM)

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