The Hello Kitty Shinkansen: Ride the Sanyo with Sanrio!
- Published on : 13/01/2026
- by : Joshua
- Youtube
JLM
In March of 2018, JR West introduced the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, a special bullet train featuring motifs and imagery of the iconic Sanrio character! In operation until spring of 2026, be sure to ride this celebration of one of Japan’s most famous pop-culture icons while you can!
Ride the famous Shinkansen with some world-famous company
In March 2018, JR West announced the introduction of a special Shinkansen bullet train: the Hello Kitty Shinkansen!
Since summer 2018, a 500 series Shinkansen has been running from Shin-Osaka to Hakata Station (Fukuoka) as the Kodama. Note that you'll be stopping at every station on the line, so you can take your time to savor the adorable interior of the high-speed train.
For a short trip, the Hello Kitty Shinkansen option is one-of-a-kind, especially if you're a fan of the Sanrio Universe.
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen
@shankar s. on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Interior of the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
@TRJN on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
JLM
Interior of the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
@TRJN on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
For a short trip, the Hello Kitty Shinkansen option is one-of-a-kind, especially if you're a fan of the Sanrio Universe.
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen will conclude its operations in spring of 2026, and while the official final date isn’t yet announced, fans of Sanrio ought to come out and ride this one-of-a-kind high-speed train!
Car details
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. 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 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 Charactere (JLM)
Departures and Schedule
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen operation schedule changes monthly. It operates on most days of the month, but a few days are designated when the Hello Kitty Shinkansen is not available. The calendar is periodically updated on their website.
The Shinkansen goes between Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka and Hakata Station in Fukuoka with one departure from each destination daily.
- Hakata Station (departs 7:04 AM) to Shin-Osaka Station (arrives 11:25 PM)
- Shin-Osaka Station (departs 11:37 AM) to Hakata Station (arrives 3:51 PM)
As the Shinkansen is classified as a Kodama Shinkansen bullet train, they will stop at a number of different stations along the way, including the following:
- Shin-Yamaguchi (Yamaguchi)
- Hiroshima (Hiroshima)
- Shin-Kurashiki (Okayama)
- Okayama (Okayama)
- Himeji (Hyōgo)
- Shin-Kobe (Hyōgo)
- Shin-Osaka (Osaka)
- and more!
Riding the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen operates as a Kodama service on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Tickets can be purchased like any other Shinkansen train—at JR ticket offices (Midori no Madoguchi), ticket machines, or online through JR West’s reservation systems—and there is no special surcharge for the themed train.
Travelers using the Japan Rail Pass can ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen at no extra cost by simply boarding unreserved cars, while pass holders with seat reservations included may also reserve seats in advance. Because the train runs only on select Kodama departures, it’s best to check the timetable ahead of time to match your travel plans.
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