Whereas I might take issue with Japanese rail bureaucracy, Japan is still one of a handful of countries where I consider it a pleasure to travel by train. Whether it’s the 15-car trains running every two minutes during Tokyo’s rush hour, the tracks running right along the sea, or the peculiarly named stations, one could do far worse. On the other hand, a number of Japanese theme trains have caused me to furrow my brow.
There are around 130 private railway companies in Japan that offer passenger service; 73 are members of the Japan Private Railway Association. By no means are Japanese theme trains limited to private rail; to be sure, JR has a heap of its own. But with JR as the elephant in the room, the much smaller rail firms yearn to attract visitors to the less-populated regions that they often cover. Partnering up with a local mascot, manga publisher, or internationally-known brand to decorate rail carriages is an easy sell.
As one example, take the Hisatsu Orenji Railway, a line that serves 28 stations in Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures on the island of Kyushu.
Here’s a photo of Fukuro, or “bag” station (that’s the translated name; has to do with geography!) along the Hisashi Orenji line.
After a nice walk along the water, I had to board the next train to Yatsushiro.
But I must ask…why did it have to be designed like this?
Apparently, My Melody and Kuromi are in the Sanrio Hello Kitty canon. Great, but why couldn’t I at least board a Mario or Link-themed train, or a Gojira one?
Oh, because those are plying the Universal Studios Japan route, over in Osaka.
Not much I could do about that. In any event, I’ve got a few more examples of Japanese theme trains that might pique your fascination.
1: The Chiba Monorail in Chiba prefecture, where one of the big commodities is peanuts?
2: Mangattan by Shotaro Ishinomori, JR Senseki Line, Miyagi prefecture
Shotaro Ishinomori was a mangaka (manga author) from Miyagi. This train is dedicated to his work, and his museum in the city of Ishinomaki.
Gotta admit, with a name like Adultworld, I wasn’t expecting that.
3: Gegege no Kitaro, JR Sakai line, Tottori prefecture
My knowledge of anime is limited to a few Dragonball Z and Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure episodes, that’s it. Notwithstanding, that’s where a smidgen of research helps.
Gegege no Kitaro was created by mangaka Shigeru Mizuki, who grew up in the Yonago area of Tottori prefecture.
The above few theme trains are a mere drop in the bucket. Personally, I’d only seek out the Nintendo one — nostalgia is strong — and perhaps one for Yoshitaka Amano, the artist for the Final Fantasy series.
But to look at it another way, the trains might seek you out. You never know what will be trudging down that narrow-gauge.
After all of those trips throughout Japan’s vast rail network, don’t forget your rail souvenir!
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