How to Ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen (Bullet Train) in Japan!
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Kawaii fans, did you know that you can ride a Hello Kitty train in Japan?
It’s called the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, and it’s completely pink with whimsical carriages!
You can buy exclusive merchandise on board, and there are plenty of enchanting photo opportunities found throughout.
It’s every Sanrio fan’s dream come true, and you must book if you have the time in your itinerary.
Here is how to ride the Hello Kitty bullet train with everything you need to know.
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen will end on the 17th May 2026. So, make sure to ride this kawaii train while you still can.
What is the Hello Kitty Shinkansen?
The Hello Kitty Shinkansen is a special 500 bullet train service operated by JR West.
It first launched in 2018 as a means to promote tourism in western Japan and is known as the most kawaii train journey in the world.
It’s decorated in pink and has two carriages with Hello Kitty theming that make gorgeous photo opportunities.
A decision was made recently to stop this service in 2026 after a successful eight-year run.
It will be sorely missed by kawaii fans as it made a glorious way to travel in this region.
Where does the Hello Kitty bullet train go?
The Hello Kitty Shinkasen is seen as a ‘friendship train’ between the different regions of western Japan.
It makes 18 stops between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, and many of these stops are popular tourist areas. These are all the stops:
- Osaka Prefecture: Shin-Osaka
- Hyogo Prefecture: Kobe, Nishi-Akashi, Himeji, Aioi
- Okayama Prefecture: Okayama, Shin-Kurashiki
- Hiroshima Prefecture: Fukuyama, Shin-Onamichi, Mihara, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima
- Yamaguchi Prefecture: Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki
- Fukuoka Prefecture: Kokura, Hakata
In Hakata Station, they have a special Hello Kitty shop and café you can visit.
The only things to consider are that there is only one service per day in each direction, and it’s the slowest of bullet trains.
But most Sanrio fans won’t care that the journey takes longer, as the ride is so stinking cute.
When does the Hello Kitty train run?
The Hello Kitty bullet train operates almost daily, but please check the latest schedule for operating dates, as there are rest days.
The Hello Kitty Train leaves from Hakata at 07:04 and arrives in Shin-Osaka at 11:25.
It then leaves from Shin-Osaka at 11:37 and arrives in Hakata at 15:51.
Remember, this train stops running on the 17th May 2026. I have a feeling it will get busier as Sanrio fans will want to experience it before it finishes.
How much does the Hello Kitty Shinkansen cost?
The great thing about the Hello Kitty Train is that it costs the same amount as a normal Shinkansen journey.
So, you don’t pay any more money to ride on this pretty pink train! It’s even included with a JR Pass and JR West Pass.
The cheapest and shortest journeys you can take would be one stop. For example, Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe.
That journey takes 13 minutes and costs around ¥3,350 (£15 approx). It’s just enough time to visit the gift shop and snap some photos.
If you did the entire journey from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, it takes around 4 hours and 14 minutes and costs ¥15,600 (£73).
My friend and I rode this train as part of our day trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka. We had 45 minutes on board this way, but it flew by!
Do you need to book tickets?
No, you don’t need to pre-book tickets for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. You could buy them on the day, as it runs like a normal service.
But, if you’re set on riding it, I would have your tickets secured beforehand to save time and guarantee your place.
Tickets go on sale around 30 days before, but the JR website won’t say ‘Hello Kitty Shinkansen’.
The service is called Kodama on the Sanyo line, and you need to look for the numbers 842 (from Osaka) or 849 (from Hakata).
Just note that even if you buy tickets in advance, all seating in Car 2 or the carriage with Hello Kitty seating is jiyuseki, meaning unreserved.
So, I would get to the station early to stake your claim in the queue if you want to sit down, as the seats in that carriage are very popular.
We got there around 30 minutes before and were the third in line to board.
Watching the Hello Kitty Shinkansen arrive
I’m not going to lie, when I saw the Hello Kitty train arrive at Shin-Osaka station, I squealed with excitement.
I have dreamed about riding this train for so long; seeing this pink beauty pull in was pure joy. The entire train is decorated with ribbons and bows!
The carriages each have one of the 8 Hello Kitty mascots, showcasing a different region of western Japan.
For example, she’s holding a strawberry for Fukuoka and a globe fish for Yamaguchi.
The pink ribbons that run along the train symbolise joining hands and the wish to connect.
If you want to get some photos of the train from the outside. You’ll need to be quick, as it only stops in each station for a few minutes!
Usually, it’s only 60 seconds on a regular Shinkansen, but this train stops a little longer at each stop, as they know fans appreciate it.
Inside the Hello Kitty Train
There are only two cars onboard the Hello Kitty train that are decorated with Sanrio theming. These are:
- Car 1 or “Hello! Plaza”
- Car 2 or “Kawaii! Room”
As most people have booked this special train for the theme, you can expect these carriages to be very popular.
It wasn’t as busy as I was expecting it to be on our ride from Shin-Osaka.
This may be due to the recent price increase of the JR Pass or the fact that the commute takes a lot longer for locals.
But it was a bit of a scrum to get on board initially, as everyone was rushing to get seats.
As our journey was so short, we skipped the seating area and headed straight to the gift shop.
Things to do on the Hello Kitty Shinkansen
There are quite a few things to do in both of the kawaii carriages.
We only had 45 minutes on board, but we barely sat down as we were busy enjoying the experience and capturing everything.
Here are all the whimsical things to do on the Hello Kitty train journey.
1. Visit Car 1 / Hello Plaza
There are no seats in Car 1 of the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, as this is home to the Hello Plaza.
This kawaii room is completely pink and spacious. It has a gift shop, gachapon and photo opportunities throughout.
I loved the pink benches in this room. You could sit and get a photo with a display featuring the current date as a souvenir.
They even had plushies and signs you could pose with to remember your precious time.
2. Collect a timetable card & storybook
As part of this special service, everyone is welcome to pick up a free Hello Kitty Shinkansen timetable card.
This was so adorable, and it’s small enough to fit in your wallet. It makes a great souvenir.
You can also take one of their storybooks that explains the tale of this friendship train in more detail.
3. Buy Hello Kitty Train souvenirs
The gift shop is easily one of the best things on board, as it’s filled with exclusive Hello Kitty Shinkansen souvenirs.
You’ll find pens, keyrings, toys, tote bags, pink train-shaped water bottles and sweet snacks. They even had drip bag coffee.
My favourite part was their selection of exclusive plushies. Of course, I bought a stuffed Hello Kitty dressed as a train attendant!
You can take your kawaii haul home in their special carrier bags for a small fee.
Important: the gift shop only accepts cash. So, if you have your eyes set on a lot of stuff, make sure to have adequate funds with you.
4. Hello Kitty Shinkansen Gachapon
In true Japanese fashion, there is a Hello Kitty Shinkansen Gachapon machine on board.
This can be found in the gift shop, and you need to purchase a special coin for ¥500 to use it.
Instead of toys, you’ll receive a capsule containing a random pouch decorated in the colours of the 8 Hello Kitty regional mascots.
I got an orange one for Yamaguchi with a globe fish, and my friend got green for Okayama with sweets.
5. Eat a Hello Kitty Shinkansen Ekiben
If you’re feeling peckish during your kawaii train journey, why not buy a Hello Kitty Shinkansen Ekiben?
It’s a bright pink bento box shaped like the Hello Kitty train and has a wonderful lunch inside.
You’ll find rice with star-shaped carrots, a meat and tofu patty, asparagus and a chocolate-filled marshmallow as dessert.
It’s not the most filling meal, but it makes the most adorable lunch.
6. Check out the cute pink bathrooms
Even the bathrooms on board the Hello Kitty train are stunning.
Although the toilets are pretty standard, the washroom area has had a pink makeover with kawaii stickers.
The door is left open, and everyone who passes this gorgeous vestibule gets a mirror selfie.
7. Visit Car 2 / Kawaii Room
The next car is the Kawaii Room, which has lots of purple and pink seating with Hello Kitty branding.
Usually, every seat has a Hello Kitty sheet, but our train only had plain white.
As we were only onboard for around 45-minutes, we barely sat down here as there was so much to do.
But we both loved getting photos with the Hello Kitty sunshades that were on all of the windows.
Plus, the floor and doors were pink and decorated with polka dots and bows.
8. Take photos with a life-size Hello Kitty
The best part of visiting the Kawaii Room is getting photos with a life-size Hello Kitty!
She’s dressed like a JR train attendant and stood on a pink stool with a bow so that you can pose with her.
Right next to her is a map of the train journey and all of the stops that this train makes.
Depending on when you visit, you may need to wait as there is often a queue. But it moves quickly as everyone wants their photos before they get off.
There is also an oversized carriage area that has been decorated, but passengers don’t typically use this for luggage to be respectful.
Is the Hello Kitty Shinkansen worth it?
Yes, if you’re a fan of Hello Kitty or anything cute, then you must ride this kawaii bullet train.
This was a dream come true for me and something I had wanted to do for years. I had such an enchanting time.
It’s a shame they are stopping this service, but you still have a few months to enjoy it before it’s gone forever.
It’s such a cute way to travel across Japan, and makes a long train ride all the more fun. You must add it to your kawaii bucket list.
My top tips
- If your heart is set on riding this train, I would book tickets in advance so that your place onboard is guaranteed.
- Get in line for carriages 1 & 2 around 30 minutes before boarding. This is to secure a seat and enter the gift shop early, as goods sell out.
- The Hello Kitty Shinkansen is the slowest bullet train in Japan, but you’ll need to be quick to get photos of it at the station before it zooms off.
- The Hello Kitty bento boxes aren’t always sold on board, but you can find them in Shin-Osaka and Hakata Stations.
- In November, the carriages were boiling. Almost uncomfortably hot. So, dress in layers.
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