【East Japan】6 Must-See Character Trains! Featuring the Disney Shinkansen, Hello Kitty, Evangelion, and Love Live! Trains

In Japan, special "character trains" themed around popular anime and other characters run all over the country. From the Disney Shinkansen and Hello Kitty to Doraemon and Evangelion, these trains are so captivating they can become the main purpose of your trip. The attention to detail extends beyond the exterior to the interior, offering a truly special railway journey. In this article, we'll introduce a curated selection of unique character trains operating primarily in the Kanto and Tokai regions of Eastern Japan.

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What are Character Trains?

Character trains are railway cars designed with popular characters from TV anime, Sanrio, or even original characters. The theme isn't limited to just the exterior; it often extends to the interior, the music played on board, and even includes related events like stamp rallies. The goal of these trains is to attract more visitors to a particular region and help revitalize the local area. Many of these trains run for a limited time only, so be sure not to miss them!

[JR East・JR Central] Disney Shinkansen "Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen" (Tohoku, Kanto-Koshinetsu, Tokai, Kansai) *Scheduled to end around mid-September 2025

The "Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen" is a special train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, themed after "Fantasy Springs," the new port that opened at Tokyo DisneySea® in June 2024. This special train is a collaboration between Tokyo Disney Resort® and JR Central, and it's the first time in the 60-year history of the Tokaido Shinkansen that a train has been given a special paint job on all cars. It's scheduled to run for a limited time, from February 21, 2025, until mid-September 2025, primarily on the "Hikari" and "Kodama" services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. It's a highly recommended Shinkansen for anyone traveling between Tokyo and the Kansai region.

In addition to the car designs, which are inspired by the three new areas of Tokyo DisneySea, the train's interior music is also Disney-themed. It plays "I See the Light," the popular song from the movie Tangled. While the train is scheduled to end its service in mid-September 2025, there's always a chance that a new Disney-themed Shinkansen might appear in the future!

• Operating Route: Tokaido Shinkansen: Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station
• Operating Period: February 21, 2025 (Friday) to around mid-September 2025 (tentative)
• Official Website: https://recommend.jr-central.co.jp/wdshinkansen/

[Tokyo Monorail] Kiki & Lala Monorail (Twinkle Tour Train) (Tokyo)

The Kiki & Lala Monorail (Twinkle Tour Train) is a collaboration between the Tokyo Monorail, which connects Hamamatsucho Station in Tokyo to the various Haneda Airport terminals, and Sanrio's popular characters, Little Twin Stars (Kiki & Lala). The train's interior is designed around the four seasons, and the headmarks also feature the Little Twin Stars. Be sure to look for the special star-shaped pink and light-blue hand straps, and the yellow moon-shaped ones inside the train. Original merchandise is also available for purchase at stations like Monorail Hamamatsucho.

• Operating Route: Monorail Hamamatsucho Station to Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Station
• Operating Period: November 29, 2021 (Monday) to an undecided end date
• Official Website: https://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/kikilala-monorail/

[Keio Corporation] Sanrio Character Wrapping Train (Tokyo)

The "Sanrio Character Wrapping Train" from Keio Corporation features designs of popular Sanrio characters. The train has been in operation since 2018 and was renewed in February 2025. Its new, sophisticated exterior uses a dark blue and gold color scheme that matches the decorations at Keio-Tama Center Station, the closest station to Sanrio Puroland. A key highlight is the artwork of Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters wearing Keio Corporation's uniforms.

Additionally, Keio-Tama Center Station is completely decked out in Hello Kitty decorations, including the clocks in the waiting rooms and on the platforms, and the waiting rooms themselves.

• Operating Route: All Keio lines and some sections of the Toei Shinjuku Line
• Operating Period: Starting March 10, 2025 (Monday)
• Official Website: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000420.000007643.html

[Manyo Line] Doraemon Tram (Toyama Prefecture)

The Doraemon Tram is a streetcar on the Manyo Line, which connects the cities of Takaoka and Imizu in Toyama Prefecture. It began operation to commemorate the 100-year pre-birth anniversary of Doraemon, the iconic character from manga artist Fujiko F. Fujio, who was born in Takaoka City. The tram runs about eight round trips a day between Takaoka Station and Koshi-no-Kata Station (some trips end at Yonejima-guchi). The exterior is a classic Doraemon blue, adorned with his red ribbon collar and yellow bell. You can also spot Doraemon's secret gadgets, like the "Anywhere Door," and his favorite snack, dorayaki!

• Operating Route: Manyo Line, Koshi-no-Kata Station to Takaoka Station
• Official Website: https://www.manyosen.co.jp/

[Izuhakone Railway] "Love Live! Sunshine!!" Wrapping Trains

1. YOHANE TRAIN (Train Set 7502) (Shizuoka Prefecture)

The Izuhakone Railway's Sunzu Line, which runs between Mishima Station and Shuzenji Station in Shizuoka Prefecture, has been operating a special wrapping train since June 23, 2023. This train celebrates the TV anime broadcast of Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-, a spin-off of Love Live! Sunshine!!.

The entire train is adorned with designs of the main characters, including the protagonist, Yohane. The headmarks are also a highlight, featuring stylish illustrations of Yohane and her wolf companion, Lailaps.

• Operating Route: Sunzu Line: Mishima Station to Shuzenji Station
• Operating Period: From June 23, 2023 (Friday), with no scheduled end date
• Official Website: https://www.izuhakone.co.jp/sunzudaiyu/sunzu-recommendation-article/p000496.html

©PROJECT YOHANE

2. HAPPY PARTY TRAIN (Train Set 3506) (Shizuoka Prefecture)

On the Sunzu Line, a wrapping train has been running since April 8, 2017 (Saturday), to commemorate the release of "HAPPY PARTY TRAIN," the 3rd single from the fictional nine-member female school idol group "Aqours" from "Love Live! Sunshine!!".

For this train as well, please pay attention to the headmarks. To coincide with the birthdays of the "Aqours" members, the train in fiscal year 2025 is operating with headmarks featuring newly drawn illustrations to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the collaboration between Izuhakone Railway and "Love Live! Sunshine!!". (The character on the headmark changes depending on the period.)

• Operating Route: Sunzu Line: Mishima Station to Shuzenji Station
• Operating Period: From April 8, 2017, until further notice
• Official Website: https://www.izuhakone.co.jp/sunzudaiyu/sunzu-recommendation-article/p000583.html

©2017 Project Love Live! Sunshine!!

[Entetsu Train] "Evangelion Train" (Shizuoka Prefecture)

Tenryu Hamanako Railroad ("Ten Hama Line") and Enshu Railway ("Entetsu") are developing various initiatives to attract tourists to the area around Tenryu-Futamata Station, the model location for "Third Village" in the movie Shin Evangelion. The "Evangelion Train" on the Entetsu line is one such initiative. It operates as a two-car train consisting of one "Unit-02/Asuka (red)" car and one "Unit-08/Mari (pink)" car.

An "Enshu Railway/Tenryu Hamanako Railroad Common One-Day Pass" with an Evangelion design is currently on sale. It is valid for the day of purchase and costs 1,600 yen for adults.

Also, original keychains ("Shin-Hamamatsu Project ver.") are on sale for 600 yen each.

Furthermore, the "Human Instrumentality Project Stamp Rally 2025," a collaboration with Evangelion, is currently being held (from April 20, 2025 (Sunday) to February 28, 2026 (Saturday)). During the event, you can get a limited edition sticker if you collect 10 different stamp designs!

• Operating Route: Tenryu Hamanako Railroad: Kakegawa Station to Shinjohara Station; Enshu Railway: Shin-Hamamatsu Station to Nishi-Kajima Station
• Operating Period: From November 17, 2021
• Official Website: https://www.tenhama.co.jp/akadencollabo.tenhama.co.jp/

If you love these characters or their worlds, you should definitely try riding these character trains.