Nothing sucks the life out of you more than a mundane commute to work. Luckily, Japan’s themed trains are here to break the cycle of sadness!
The joy of Japan’s themed trains
Looking like something out of Disneyland, Japan’s themed trains make you forget you’re on an otherwise monotonous public transport system. Instead, you get the vibe of a theme park or carnival the moment you see an unusually colorful carriage approaching your platform.
If you happen to be here even for a short stay, there is a high chance you’ll encounter at least one of Japan’s themed trains during your visit. There are no public schedules of when they may appear, but it’s the surprise factor that really brings the excitement!
The Anpanman train
I had the privilege of catching the “Anpanman train” on one of my night trips in Japan. Anpanman is a popular children’s superhero cartoon in Japan that originated from a picture book written by Takashi Yanase.
With about 1,500 episodes aired and over 80 million books sold across the country, Anpanman is a character you’ll likely become acquainted with during your stay in Japan. Anpanman loosely translates to “red bean bun man,” a reference to the sweet Japanese dessert that the character’s head is made out of.
It’s no surprise that this character has become a national icon of sorts, and you’ll likely see his face on advertisements, food branding, and of course, themed trains! In fact, Anpanman even surpassed Hello Kitty in popularity despite the latter’s global recognition, becoming Japan’s top-grossing character.
Now that we know who Anpanman is, it may be less of a surprise that Japan dedicated an entire train to the character. While I don’t consider myself a fan of the series (not yet anyway), even I had to appreciate the effort put into decorating this train in Anpanman visuals.
Upon boarding, it is made very clear what this train is all about with a big sign at the carriage door reading “ANPANMAN TRAIN.” The wackiness just continues when you take a seat only to see a ceiling full of rainbows and characters from the show.
Fortunately, I was blessed with the Anpanman train when I needed it most. After a long day of cycling the Shimanami Kaido track, I was exhausted, freezing, and filthy, but somehow this colorful train full of children’s cartoon characters managed to brighten up the long, painful journey home.
Naruto Shippuden x Mount Fuji
I may not be a fan of Anpanman, but the greatest ninja anime series in history is another story. Spotted at Kawaguchiko station was this stylish Naruto Shippuden-themed train featuring a full cast of fan-favorite characters.
In collaboration with the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park located near Mount Fuji, this train serves a greater purpose than passenger entertainment. In fact, it is an advertisement for the Naruto x Boruto Fuji Hidden Leaf Village.
For those that don’t have a clue what I just said, it’s basically an ad for a Naruto theme park within the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park. Hence, the train also displays beautiful visuals of Mount Fuji as a backdrop for the featured anime characters.
Japan has always been a nation that incorporates anime and manga into its culture and society. Whether it’s clothing, restaurants, cafes, or public transport, popular anime characters are often used as promotion tools to upsell.
In addition to anime-themed trains, it is not uncommon to see anime-themed buses, cars, taxis, and even airplanes! For fans of the medium, Japan can prove to be an awfully exciting place as normal day-to-day activities can quickly become a memorable highlight!
The Netflix train
A rare find on the Yamanote Line is the sleek black Netflix-themed train. Despite running through Tokyo’s major cities including Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku, this train does not show itself quite as much as some of Japan’s other themed trains.
When inside, it’s completely up to chance what Netflix series will be featured on the train walls and TV screens. I happened to board a Netflix train at Shin-Okubo station featuring Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure-themed carriages.
Of course, Japanese Netflix features far more anime TV programs than western servers. It’s not all anime though, as some of these black trains will also feature themes based on popular Netflix shows such as Squid Game or Crash Landing on You.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!
