Japan has a new Kirby themed train that you can ride until March 2026
A large-scale collaboration between the Japanese private railway operator, Hankyu Railway, and the popular Nintendo video game character, Kirby, is now underway.
The extensive campaign, which began on Friday, the 22nd of August, features a wide variety of themed events and products, including specially decorated trains, a stamp rally, and exclusive merchandise and food.
The main highlight of the collaboration is a specially wrapped Kirby train that is operating on the Kobe, Takarazuka, and Kyoto lines.
Each of the three lines features a unique, line-exclusive headmark and exterior sticker design, and the interior is decorated with posters that look back on the history of the Kirby series.
A special feature of the wrapped trains is the inclusion of plush toys of Kirby and Waddle Dee, wearing custom-made conductor’s hats, “riding” in the conductor’s cabin.
A digital stamp rally is also being held from the 2nd of September to the 24th of November, with seven different stamp locations set up at various stations, each with its own photo spot.
Participants who collect four of the seven stamps will receive an original rubber magnet as a prize.
A special, original design “Hankyu Railway & Hankyu Bus 1-Day Pass” is also being sold to help visitors enjoy the event.
In a unique and unprecedented move for a Hankyu Railway collaboration, the event also features special background music.
New, “train-themed” arrangements of classic music from the Kirby video games are being played at various stations and commercial facilities along the lines.
An extensive line of 28 different collaboration goods are being sold, including plush toys of Kirby wearing a special hat and pochette, as well as pass cases and keychains.
Gashapon vending machines inside Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station and Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Station will also offer an exclusive set of mini figures based on the collaboration.
A menu of seven different collaboration food and drink items is also available at various station-side shops and vending machines.
Other related events include special decorations and character greetings at the Hankyu Sanbangai and NU Chayamachi shopping centers, and wrapped buses on the Hankyu Bus lines.
The “Kirby x Hankyu Railway” collaboration is scheduled to run until the 17th of March, 2026.
For those looking to ride or take photos of the new Kirby-themed train, you can use the official timetable to plan ahead.
The train schedule will be updated weekly, so you’ll need to check back just before your planned journey to find out when the train will be running.
If you’re planning on taking part in the stamp rally, you can head over to the official page to find out how to enter.
Full details regarding the collaboration can be found on the official Hankyu website.
© Nintendo / HAL Laboratory, Inc. ©Hankyu Corp.
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