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Hello Kitty Shinkansen Let’s take a trip with Hello Kitty! Service available all the way from Shin-Osaka to Hakata!

Hello Kitty HARUKA

Hello Kitty HARUKA

DESIGN

Exterior

Designed in a ribbon motif, embodying the wish to
join hands and connect with different regions.

Interior

The interior decoration is highlighted by a special design, conveying a playful spirit steeped in imagination and the Hello Kitty outlook on life.

CAR1 HELLO!PLAZACar 1 is crafted as special display space, enabling passengers to mingle with the charms of various different regions.

CAR2 KAWAII!ROOMCar 2 is adorned in fashionably cute decorations, geared to furnish added pleasures to all onboard. At the Photo Spot, pause to snap a pic or two with Hello Kitty for another precious memory of this fun-packed Shinkansen jaunt!

CONCEPT MOVIE

Other members of the Hello Kitty gang also ride the Shinkansen, right by your side!

How many of these cute charmers can you spot?

TAKE A TRAIN

  • How To Ride
  • Operation Days
  • Service Stations & Arrival Times

OVERVIEW of Hello Kitty Shinkansen

Car 1: Regional display space “HELLO! PLAZA” Car 2: Special interior “KAWAII! ROOM” (non-reserved seats) Note:The Car 2 KAWAII! ROOM is nonreserved seating. The Car 1 HELLO PLAZA also features unrestricted access. When the train is crowded, there may be waits to enter these cars. *For illustrative purposes only.

  • Note:
  • The Car 2 KAWAII! ROOM is nonreserved seating.
  • The Car 1 HELLO PLAZA also features unrestricted access.
  • When the train is crowded, there may be waits to enter these cars.

How to Ride the Hello Kitty Shinkansen

You can board the train with a
JR-WEST RAIL PASS.

Recommended to take the Hello Kitty Shinkansen is the JR-WEST RAIL PASS and its unlimited ride offer. The following passes also provide access to Hello Kitty Shinkansen trains.

Nonreserved seating passes (limited to specific areas)
- Kansai Wide Area Pass
- Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
- Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass
- Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass
- Setouchi Area Pass
- Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Reserved Seating Passes
- Sanyo-San’in Area Pass
- Sanyo-San’in-Northern Kyushu Pass

Note: To use reserved seats, prior to boarding visit the JR-WEST Ticket Office, display your rail pass and obtain a reserved seat. Passengers without reserved seat tickets are limited to nonreserved cars.

Available Ride Passes

In addition to passes, riding is also possible
when purchasing tickets between specific areas(besides regular tickets, express tickets are also required to board on such occasions).

Use of Nonreserved Seating
- Tickets may be purchased on the day of your trip. Please ask for nonreserved express tickets at the JR-WEST Ticket Office, Green Ticket Vending Machines or other designated locations.
Use of Reserved Seating
- Please purchase reserved express tickets at the JR-WEST Ticket Office, Green Ticket Vending Machines or other designated locations from 10:00 a.m. one month before you plan to ride.

Operation Day Calendar

2020.10.1-2020.2.29

Hello Kitty Shinkansen operation days

Note:

Please note that as a result of operation conditions and other reasons, there may be occasions when sudden changes occur in train status and scheduling.

Notification of the operation schedule from March 2020 will be made when it is determined.

Train service stations and arrival times

  • Kodama No.730
  • Kodama No.741

Note:

Be sure to confirm operation days.

Kodama 730 and 741 are regularly scheduled trains operated daily.

Further details are available on the Japanese-language website*.
The plentiful contents here include the Hello Kitty Shinkansen Project Story,
Hello Plaza display schedules and other helpful information!

*As noted, this website appears only in Japanese.