Japan has over 27,000 km of railway lines, and the Japanese have found ways to make trains do things no other country would attempt. Foot baths on board, trains driven by cats, stations inside department stores, and a train that runs through an apartment building. These are real, operating services you can ride today.

Trains with Extraordinary Features

Toreiyu Tsubasa — Foot Bath Shinkansen

Route: Fukushima → Shinjo (Yamagata) What: A modified Shinkansen with tatami-mat seating and actual hot foot baths in the last car. Soak your feet while watching the Yamagata countryside pass by. Season: Weekends and holidays (seasonal operation) Book: Reserved seats only, at JR East ticket offices JR Pass: ✅ Covered

Tama Train — Cat Station Master

Route: Wakayama → Kishi (Wakayama Electric Railway) What: A local train themed entirely around cats, in honor of Tama — the calico cat who became station master of Kishi Station in 2007 and saved the railway from bankruptcy. Tama passed away in 2015, but her successor Nitama continues the tradition. The train is covered in cat illustrations, has cat-shaped seats, and cat-eye headlights. Cost: ¥410 one way JR Pass: ❌ Not covered

Iyotetsu Botchan Train — Steam Replica

Route: Around Matsuyama city (Ehime) What: A replica of the steam train described in Natsume Soseki’s famous novel “Botchan” (1906). Tiny locomotive pulling tiny carriages through Matsuyama’s streets to Dogo Onsen — Japan’s oldest hot spring. Cost: ¥1,300 JR Pass: ❌ Not covered

Hankyu Kyoto Line — Through an Apartment Building

Not a train, but: In Osaka, the Hanshin Expressway passes through the 5th-7th floors of Gate Tower Building. The building was there first, the highway was built through it. While not a train, it is perhaps the most Japanese infrastructure solution ever devised. View it from Fukushima Station area.

Themed and Character Trains

Anpanman Train

Route: Various routes in Shikoku What: Trains themed around Anpanman, Japan’s beloved children’s character. Multiple train types on different routes across Shikoku — some with Anpanman-shaped seats and play areas. JR Pass: ✅ Covered (JR Shikoku lines)

Pokémon Train (POKÉMON with YOU Train)

Route: Ichinoseki → Kesennuma (Iwate/Miyagi) What: A Pikachu-covered train with a play car full of Pokémon plushies and games. Hugely popular with families. Book: Reservation required — sells out fast on weekends JR Pass: ✅ Covered

Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) Trains

Route: Various (special limited-time runs) What: JR Kyushu and other operators regularly run anime-themed trains. Designs change seasonally. Check current collaborations when planning your trip.

GeGeGe no Kitaro Train

Route: Yonago → Sakaiminato (Tottori) What: Themed after the classic yokai (monster) manga. Six different character trains. Sakaiminato Station is “Kitaro Station” with monster statues lining the street from station to town. JR Pass: ✅ Covered

Unusual Stations

Tsurumi Line’s Most Remote Stations

Several stations in rural Japan are famous for having zero passengers — unmanned, unstaffed, surrounded by nothing but nature. Train enthusiasts (called “tetsudo otaku”) make pilgrimages to these “secret stations.”

Koboro Station (小幌駅) — Hokkaido Japan’s most inaccessible station. Surrounded by cliffs and accessible only by train or a dangerous mountain trail. Only 1-2 trains stop per day. No road access, no buildings, no purpose — just the platform.

Tazawako Station area hidden stops Several stations on the Tazawako Line in Akita Prefecture have single daily users or none at all.

Stations That Are Experiences

Doai Station (土合駅) — Gunma The underground platform is 70 meters below the surface, accessed by 486 steps. It takes 10 minutes just to climb from the platform to the exit. Known as “Japan’s deepest station.”

Tsukimino Station (月野駅) — Shizuoka A tiny station surrounded by tea plantations. Step off the train into a green ocean of tea fields.

Neko no Hosomichi (Cat Alley) — Onomichi, Hiroshima While not a station, the hillside paths of Onomichi — accessible from Onomichi Station — are famous for wandering cats, art installations, and nostalgic old houses.

Railway Museums

The Railway Museum (鉄道博物館) — Saitama

JR East’s massive railway museum. Real trains you can enter, driving simulators, diorama of Japan’s entire rail network. 45 minutes from Tokyo (Omiya Station area). Admission: ¥1,330

SCMAGLEV and Railway Park (リニア・鉄道館) — Nagoya

JR Central’s museum featuring Shinkansen history and a maglev test car. Includes the world speed record-holding maglev train. Admission: ¥1,000

Kyoto Railway Museum (京都鉄道博物館)

53 real trains from steam locomotives to modern Shinkansen. Working turntable with steam engines. SL steam train rides available. Admission: ¥1,200

Tobu Railway Museum — Saitama

Smaller but charming museum focused on Tobu Railway history. Great for children. Admission: ¥210

Train Etiquette You Need to Know

  1. Silence — No phone calls on trains. Set your phone to manner mode (マナーモード)
  2. Backpacks — Hold in front of you or place on the luggage rack. Never wear on your back in a crowded train
  3. Priority seats — Near the ends of each car. Give up for elderly, pregnant, disabled, or parents with small children
  4. Eating — Generally acceptable on long-distance trains and Shinkansen. Avoid eating on local commuter trains
  5. Women-only cars — Marked with pink signs. Available during morning rush on some lines. Men should not enter during designated hours

Planning a Train Otaku Trip

For serious train enthusiasts, Japan is paradise. A suggested 7-day itinerary:

Every day is a different train experience. Every train tells a different story about Japan.