The Japan Railway West Co. has debuted a Hello Kitty bullet train, which will run on its Sanyo Shinkansen line between Osaka and Fukuoka.

 

Love it or hate it, Hello Kitty is a mainstay in Japanese pop culture – featuring heavily on food products, cosmetics, and major tourist attractions.

This week, the Sanrio character made its debut on a themed Japan Railway West Co. (JR West) bullet train plying the Sanyo Shinkansen line, which connects the cities of Osaka and Fukuoka.

Launched following the popular character Evangelion train, which ran from late 2015 until May of this year, the Hello Kitty-themed bullet train looks set to be equally loved by travelers and locals alike.

Based on the artist impressions from on the JR West website, the train will feature a bright pink interior decked out with the character and its trademark bows and ribbons.

Most notably, the first carriage will not have any seats and will instead showcase regional specialties, delicacies, and souvenirs for passengers to purchase.

The second will feature motifs of the adorable feline and her friends, as well as a photo booth for passengers to capture memories of their ride.

Instead of the iconic Shinkansen jingle, the train will ring the original Hello Kitty theme tune as it arrives at each station.

A Hello Kitty café and a souvenir shop will also be opened from June 30 onwards at Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Tickets available here.