Mickey Mouse is popular the world over and JR have taken note with the revealing of a new themed series 800 bullet train service inspired by the Disney mascot. The new Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey is a Mickey Mouse Shinkansen bullet train experience which is coming to JR this spring from May 17th and is sure to be a big hit with mouse fans.
As part of Mickey’s 90th-anniversary celebrations, Disney and JR have teamed up to create a specially decorated 6 carriage Shinkansen train which will run on the Island of Kyushu between May and November (although the end date may change). This new service will carry on the tradition of previous JR campaigns featuring beloved animation characters like the Hello Kitty Shinkansen and Pikachu train.
This new seasonal service will be fully available to Japan Rail Pass holders and offers a fantastic way to enjoy the sights of Kyushu in style.
Update:The Mickey Mouse Shinkansen will not be available from November 27, 2019. At the moment, it is unknown if it will run again in 2020.
Exploring Kyushu island with Mickey
To get ready for the summer season in Kyushu in the South of Japan, JR has created this special train service to help families get out and explore the beauty of the island. This service will be available to both regular ticket holders and holders of a Japan Rail Pass.
Kyushu is famous for many different things. Most notably its natural beauty and fruits, with the many watermelons that grow on the island and its tradition of artisanal pottery. A little of that Kyushu character has been captured for this special service.
Mickey Mouse Shinkansen route
The Mickey Shinkansen service launches initially on May 17th 2019 with an invitation-only service, before beginning regular service from May 18th onwards. The service will, however, run the full length of Kyushu island between Hakata station in Fukuoka and Kagoshima, stopping also at Kumamoto, along the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
Despite this campaign being conducted in partnership with the Disney company, the train service will not in fact run as far as Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea. However, it will, of course, be possible to continue onward to these destinations with additional JR services.
Train stations served by Mickey Mouse Shinkansen (covered by JR Pass):
- Hakata (Fukuoka)
- Chikugo Funagoya
- Kumamoto
- Sendai (Kagoshima)
- Kagoshima-Chuo
Mickey Mouse Shinkansen design
The outside of the train will be depicted with a colorful mural of Mickey excitedly heading out to start his vacation on Kyushu. He is shown fully prepared with a stylish straw hat – similar to those worn by local schoolchildren – to protect him from the summer sun.
He will also be carrying a loaded suitcase of traditional items from the island, such as watermelons, a bathing bowl, and a local map. The inside of the Shinkansen will also be decked out with themed seat covers and a specially decorated interior.
Mickey Mouse Shinkansen schedule and operation days
The calendar for June has been published. There are two possible schedules depending on whether the day is even or odd. Keep in mind in June, the Mickey Mouse Shinkansen will not operate on the 17th, and on the 18th it will have a special schedule, which you can consult on the JR Kyushu website.
Schedule for odd days of June:
| Day | Train number | Train name | Arrival and Departure time | In-vehicle sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odd Days | 5302A | Tsubame 302 | Kumamoto 6:21 to Hakata 7:11 | |
| 5311A | Tsubame 311 | Hakata 7:34 to Kumamoto 8:24 | ||
| 5316A | Tsubame 316 | Kumamoto 9:11 to Hakata 10:01 | ||
| 5319A | Tsubame 319 | Hakata 10:42 to Kumamoto 11:34 | ✔️ | |
| 5328A | Tsubame 328 | Kumamoto 15:10 to Hakata 15:57 | ✔️ | |
| 5331A | Tsubame 31 | Hakata 16:59 to Kumamoto 17:49 | ✔️ | |
| 5336A | Tsubame 336 | Kumamoto 18:06 to Hakata 18:55 | ✔️ | |
| 5339A | Tsubame 339 | Hakata 19:17 to Kumamoto 20:07 | ||
| 5353A | Tsubame 353 | Hakata 23:35 to Chikugo Funagoya 23:59 |
Schedule for even days of June:
| Day | Train number | Train name | Arrival and Departure time | In-vehicle sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Even days | 5300A | Tsubame 300 | Chikugo Funagoya 6:00 to Hakata 6:26 | |
| 5309A | Tsubame 309 | Hakata 7:01 to Kumamoto 7:51 | ||
| 5312A | Tsubame 312 | Kumamoto 8:10 to Hakata 8:58 | ||
| 5409A | Sakura 409 | Hakata 13:18 to Kagoshima-Chuo 14:54 | ✔️ | |
| 5406A | Sakura 406 | Kagoshima-Chuo 15:30 to Hakata 17:07 | ✔️ | |
| 5333A | Tsubame 333 | Hakata 17:32 to Kumamoto 18:21 | ✔️ | |
| 5342A | Tsubame 342 | Kumamoto 19:30 to Hakata 20:18 | ||
| 5345A | Tsubame 345 | Hakata 20:36 to Kumamoto 21:24 |
Disney and Mickey Shinkansen merchandise
In addition to the specially designed trains, the Go! Waku Waku with Trip with Mickey trains will also see the launch of a collection of limited-edition merchandise.
These special products will also be decorated with the Mickey mural design seen on the interior and exterior of the train carriages. These will be exclusively available during the duration of the campaign.
This merchandise will include:
- Notebooks
- Stationary
- Pin badges
- Tote bags
- Toy Shinkansen
- Keyrings
The special edition products will be on sale on the bullet trains themselves and also in the stations the service calls at.
For more detailed information you can visit JR Kyushu official site: https://www.jrkyushu-wakuwaku.jp/
For Mickey fans, this summer is the perfect time to visit the Southernmost Island of Japan with a JR Pass. Explore this beautiful corner of the Japanese archipelago with a tour guide like no other.