A Frightening Journey That Makes Kids Cry: Kyoto’s “Monster Train” Departs on August 13

Reported by You T-Ru / Comprehensive Report

In addition to Taiwan’s Ghost Festival celebrations in summer, Kyoto, Japan, will also welcome the “Monster Train.” Starting August 13, trains will run for five days between Arashiyama and Shijō-Ōmiya Stations. The train interiors are decorated with ghostly motifs, lit up with special lighting, and even feature people dressed as monsters who will accompany passengers on their journey.


▲ A monster looks out the window. (Photo / from the Randen Monster Train Facebook page)

With fluorescent blue lighting illuminating the train, red-haired, pale-faced, and terrifying monsters of all kinds appear throughout the carriage, scaring young children into screaming. This is Kyoto’s annual summer “Randen Monster Train,” which will run on five days — August 13, 14, 15, 23, and 24 — with five departures each day. For kids, the roughly 20-minute ride is a spooky journey alongside monsters, and many children end up bursting into tears and rushing off the train the moment it arrives at the station.

%Addition? Stay? The extremely scary version. (Photo / from the Randen Monster Train Facebook page)


Randen Monster Train
Operating Dates: August 13, 14, 15, 23, 24
Operating Times: ① Arashiyama → 17:05 ⇒ Shijō-Ōmiya → 17:27 Arrival
                   ② Shijō-Ōmiya → 17:45 ⇒ Arashiyama → 18:07 Arrival
                   ③ Arashiyama → 18:35 ⇒ Shijō-Ōmiya → 18:57 Arrival
                   ④ Shijō-Ōmiya → 19:15 ⇒ Arashiyama → 19:37 Arrival
                   ⑤ Arashiyama → 20:05 ⇒ Shijō-Ōmiya → 20:27 Arrival