Of the countless trains running on Japan's 20,000-kilometer (12,000-mile) rail network, a few are decorated with images of anime and manga characters, colorful ads, and designs by notable artists. Here is a small sample.
Pikachu on Seto line, Aichi prefecture
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Galaxy Express 999 train, Furusato-Ginga line, Hokkaido [Photo]
Characters from Leiji Matsumoto's "Galaxy Express 999" anime/manga adorn this train that used to run on the Furusato-Ginga line in Hokkaido. The train line closed down in 2006.
Galaxy Express 999 train, Furusato-Ginga line, Hokkaido [More photos]
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Pink ninja train, Iga line, Mie prefecture [Photo]
Matsumoto also created a series of ninja train designs for the Iga line in Mie prefecture, the birthplace of ninjutsu.
Blue ninja train, Iga line, Mie prefecture [Photo]
Here's some video of the ninja trains cruising the Mie countryside:
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Spiderman train, JR Yumesaki line, Osaka [Photo]
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Some trains on the Kakogawa line in Hy?go prefecture feature designs by graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo. Yokoo was born in Hy?go.
Yokoo's eyeball train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]
Yokoo's waterfall train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]
Yokoo's galactic travel train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [Photo]
Yokoo's Y-junction train, Kakogawa line, Hy?go prefecture [More]
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Doraemon train, Seikan Tunnel Tappi Shak? Line, Hokkaido [Photo]
This Doraemon train runs back and forth through the Seikan Tunnel, an undersea railway connecting Honshu and Hokkaido.
More Doraemon trains in Hokkaido
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Wild boar decoration, Eizan line, Kyoto prefecture [Photo]
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Kitar? train, Tottori line, Tottori prefecture [More]
Trains on the Tottori line in Tottori prefecture are decorated with characters from Shigeru Mizuki's "GeGeGe no Kitar?" manga/anime series. Mizuki was born in Tottori prefecture.
Medama-oyaji on Kitar? train, Tottori line [More]
Kitar? train, Tottori line [Photo]
Ceiling inside Kitar? train, Tottori line [More]
Neko-musume train, Tottori line [Photo: Rie Nakaya]
Ceiling inside Neko-musume train, Tottori line [Photo: Rie Nakaya]
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Chunichi Dragons subway, Nagoya [Photo]
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Ninja Hattori-kun train, Himi line, Toyama prefecture [Photo]
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Ultraman trains, Tokyu Toyoko line, Tokyo [More]
These trains on the Tokyu Toyoko line in Tokyo were decorated to commemorate Ultraman's 40th anniversary and promote a movie.
Ultraman train, Tokyo Tokyo line, Tokyo. [Photo: sanchome]
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Meiji Milk Chocolate ad (Enoshima) // Thomas train (Kyoto prefecture)
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Ad for Tokimeki Memorial 3, Tokyo-Arakawa line, Tokyo [More]
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Cyborg 009 train, Senseki line, Miyagi prefecture [Photo]
Miyagi prefecture is the birthplace of manga/anime artist Ishinomori Sh?tar?, whose works include Cyborg 009 and the Kamen Rider Series. Some of his characters adorn trains on the Senseki line.
Himitsu Sentai Goranger train, Senseki line, Miyagi prefecture [More]
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Gunma Safari Park ad train, Joshin line, Gunma prefecture [Photo]
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Anpanman train, JR Shikoku, Shikoku [Photo, More]
Yanase Takashi, creator of the Anpanman anime series, is from Kochi prefecture in Shikoku. The JR Shikoku railway network operates some Anpanman-themed trains.
Anpanman train interior, JR Shikoku, Shikoku [More]
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One-Piece ad train, Enoshima Electric Railway [More]
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Pichon-kun on the Skytrain, Bangkok, Thailand [Photo]
Japanese characters can occasionally be found on trains in other countries. This photo shows Pichon-kun, the robot mascot of Japanese air-conditioning manufacturer Daikin, on the side of the Skytrain in Bangkok, Thailand.
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YKK train ad, Yamanote line, Tokyo [Photo]
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Pokemon on Tohoku Shinkansen [Photo]
Anzi
I actually live in Shikoku and the Anpanman train is ridiculously popular. I kind of love it myself, it makes everybody happy when it goes by. And once a year all my students at the local kindergartens go on an Anpanman Train field trip. It's the highlight of their year.
[]Ninpuu Kamui
Hi, thanks for this very nice collection of cool trains.
I'd like to make a small correction to one of your captions; the photo labelled with "Kamen Rider train" actually shows a Super Sentai series, not Kamen Rider, which was also created by Shotaro Ishinomori. This particular group is Himitsu Sentai Goranger. Of course, it's very possible that the train shows one or more of the many Kamen Riders created by Shotaro Ishinomori, but this particular picture is not of them.
Thanks!
[]topotospetas
No esta sinchan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
keremos a sinchan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
y a songoku!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
y songo anda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pikolo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chicho terremoto!!!!!
mark lenders!!!!!!
[]oliver y bengi!!!!!!!!
Mike Abundo
Anime train never coming back...
[]IBeer
I like these trains, it s awesome!
[]Pink Testicle
So awesome! I wish they would do this in NYC!
[]nev il-pinto
your kidding right
if not, learn your history
[]shimmy-shimmy-ya-ya
what exactly are you implying? the US sure has trains with mushroom clouds on it
[]gokuh
es que aqui no hay dragon ball z???
jejej
saludos!
Gabriel
[]?????GirlExcel??
I love these trains! makes me want to ride on them all day hehe.
[]hika12i
wooow.. such a cute decorate~ love the one with doraemon face :D
[]Stéfan
Awesome ! THanks for all the great photos !
[]H
The inside of the Anpanman train makes me think I would feel like I was in a nursery if I were to go in.
[]tabibito
Love it or leave it... On one hand, decision making in Japan is a real pain in the ass, on the other hand, old, large companies like JR & Co make dreams come true and don't hesitate to get manga & other trains on the track. Definitely a reason to stay here (although I'm not fond of manga)
[]dekay
in Denmark where i live this is called graffiti.. we are so boring and obsessed with functionalism that it makes me sick
[]Tabitha
i forwarded this link to bunch of my friends
we all agree that this should be done in NYC subways too =)
[]Enua
wow! Just amazing! This sort of things could only be in Japan :)
[]Eilish
Wonderful art moves in city!!
[]Tiashi
Awesome! :)
[]marka
Wow! I really love what they've done to the trains in Japan but I do feel that they've blatantly taken the 'idea' from what was originally done in the 70's/80's on NYC's infamous subways & what eventually spread worldwide to every countrys railways,freights & subway networks from londons underground tubes.paris,amsterdam.moscow,right across europe & as far as south africa & australia & they've cleverly done it in a corporate way. Commiting 'Graffiti' however is still for the main part illegal & individuals & crews are appraended & investigated & if caught face increasingly large fines or stiff & often lengthy jail sentences. I predicted a few years ago as the authorities have began to clamp down on graffiti offenders,increase security measures *aspecially here in London!* & the less likelyhood of 'graffitied up' trains 'running' that train & advertising companies were starting to 'borrow' *or should be take/steal* the ideas & techniques that were used by graffiti artists/vandals from NYC & graffiti artists/vandals across the world since the last 3 decades of last century.....of course the railway companies or indeed the advertisers would NEVER hold their hands up to this & admit it would they?????????? Please let's show alittle honesty & respect here. The idea of having 'cartoons' & other visual images on the interior & exterior of a train is firmly rooted with what all those young & many ghetto kids from NYC were doing 40 years ago & what started as a simple scrawl or tag has evolved into & evolved into the inspirational & beautifully complex artform that it is today.....would be nice if the graffiti artists got a chance to shine on the trains but maybe try to work alongside the railway companies rather than against them & under the cover of darkness risking arrest,heavy fines & long prison time. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING & PEACE FROM LONDON-UK
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