Japan’s Unique Railway Journeys: Adorable Doraemon & Kumamon Trains!

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Attention rail fans: With the yen’s exchange rate plummeting, are you planning an unconventional trip to Japan? According to “Tracing Trams: Encountering Urban Landscapes in Japan,” we’ve selected two uniquely Japanese “character-themed trams,” including the super cute Doraemon and Kumamon trams. Have you visited these fan-favorite rides yet?

▲ The MLRV1000 series tram, remodeled as a Doraemon tram, features an exterior designed in Doraemon’s signature colors.

▲ Interior decor of the Doraemon tram.

▲ This tram stop has no platform; whenever the tram stops, regardless of whether there are passengers, all vehicles in both directions must temporarily halt to yield.

▲ Cherry blossoms at Takaoka Castle Park.

Takaoka: The Waku Waku Line

The streetcar “Waku Waku Line” in Takaoka city runs through the streets of the hometown of Doraemon’s creator, Fujiko F. Fujio. In addition to the Doraemon tram, even the one-day pass is designed in a Doraemon theme. Takaoka itself is a very small town, but the famous cherry blossom spot “Takaoka Castle” attracts throngs of visitors every spring equinox. Taking the streetcar away from the suburbs to Nishiki City, the rustic countryside vibe takes you back several decades.

The “Waku Waku Line” is a route rich in historical and cultural significance, with almost every section holding cultural value. Its name, “Waku Waku Line,” has an interesting backstory. Typically, railway names are derived from place names, but “Waku Waku Line” has no connection to any location. Instead, it is named after Japan’s oldest collection of poetry, the “Manyoshu,” making it one of the few railway lines in the world named after a significant literary classic.

The current Waku Waku Line fleet is very simple, consisting of only two models and a total of eleven trams—quite a small number. One reason is that the line has infrequent service, with trains running only every fifteen minutes, and the entire line can be traversed in just fifty minutes. The one-day pass for the Waku Waku Line costs 800 yen, and to promote Doraemon, the design of the one-day pass also incorporates Doraemon elements. It’s the most unique one-day pass I’ve used on any tram line in Japan, and Doraemon fans simply can’t miss it.

▲ A second-hand train purchased by Kumamoto Electric Railway from Tokyo Metro’s Ginza Line, remodeled into a Kumamon-themed tram.

▲ The oldest currently operating tram on the Kumamoto City Tram, model 1060 series from 1951.

▲ A retro tram, model 101, remodeled from model 8800 series.

▲ Kumamoto City Tram and Kagoshima City Tram are the only two tram systems in Japan featuring grass-covered tracks. When the light rail trams pass by, the urban scenery is significantly enhanced.

Kumamoto: Kumamoto City Tram

When you think of Kumamoto, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Don’t say tramways to me—of course, it’s the wildly popular “Kumamon”! The emergence of Kumamon is tied to the opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen. As Kumamoto is located in central Kyushu, concerns about being marginalized by the new high-speed rail led the city to strategically launch urban marketing efforts across Japan and overseas. The mascot “Kumamon” was created as part of this initiative.

Kumamoto City in central Kyushu boasts a 12-kilometer tram network operated by the Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau. The Y-shaped network operates on two routes. The busiest section between “Ichibancho” Station and “Kenjomachi” Station has had its railbed transformed from stone to grass, allowing trams to glide over lush green turf. When the European-style light rail trams “9700 series” or “0800 series” pass by, the scene resembles something out of a European city. Currently, only Kumamoto City Tram and Kagoshima City Tram in Japan feature grassy tracks, and they are also the southernmost tram systems in the country.

Additionally, most trams in Japan operate with a single staff member who serves as both driver and conductor. However, Kumamoto City Tram’s low-floor trams also have conductresses who handle fare collection, station announcements, and safety notices, sharing the responsibilities of the driver.

The above images and text are excerpted from “Tracing Trams: Encountering Urban Landscapes in Japan,” written by Yu Feng, published by Times Publishing.