By MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department

The Totoro bus stop isn’t enough to satisfy fans anymore. A cute Totoro train has appeared at the Qidu Railway Park in Keelung, featuring four train carriages showcasing the Studio Ghibli cartoon character “Totoro Bus.” In addition to the front of the train being painted to resemble the Totoro Bus, the body of the train is also painted with characters from the “Kiki’s Delivery Service” cartoon and scenes of Totoro boarding the train, making it very eye-catching.

The newly launched Totoro train was initiated by Qidu’s young local neighborhood chief, Chiu Chi-yen. Shortly after taking office, Chiu actively sought ways to promote his community, which led him to recall the previously popular Totoro bus stop at Keelung’s Zhongzheng Park. He thought, why not bring a Totoro train here? With the support of local councilors, Chiu began collaborating with the mysterious artist behind the Totoro bus stop paintings to create the Totoro train.

The front of the train features a smiling Totoro cartoon character running into the station. The body of the train also depicts scenes from Studio Ghibli’s “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” including the little witch flying on her broomstick and the curious black cat peeking out. The cutest part might be the corner where little Totoros are getting ready to board the train – an extremely charming sight. Chiu Chi-yen hopes that through the Totoro train, he can add a new highlight to Qidu Railway Station and encourage more people to explore the local sights. However, although the Totoro train quickly captured public attention after its launch, many netizens have raised questions about copyright authorization.

[Updated] January 9, 2016

After news of this attraction spread, it drew skepticism from many netizens and experts, who believe the display was not authorized. As a result, the neighborhood chiefChiu Chi-yen decided to temporarily suspend the exhibition on the evening of January 8. Although many visitors were disappointed, the local neighborhood chiefChiu Chi-yen also shifted from the joy of the morning to a more subdued and melancholic mood, statingthat he had learned a lesson from this incident. There are many unauthorized tourist attractions in Taiwan, and similar events warrant collective reflection and review.

The Studio Ghibli Craze Hits Taiwan – Four Famous Totoro Bus Stops You Should Know