Anime fans, prepare for an unforgettable journey! The One Piece Shinkansen debuted in spring 2025, transforming the iconic Sanyo Shinkansen line into a moving tribute to Eiichiro Oda’s legendary series.
Following the success of themed trains like the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, this collaboration between JR West and the beloved One Piece franchise brings the vibrant world of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates to Japan’s high-speed rail network.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the One Piece Shinkansen—its route, features, and how to hop aboard.
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One Piece Shinkansen route
The One Piece Shinkansen will traverse the Sanyo Shinkansen line along the Setouchi Sea along the southern coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. It connects major cities in western Japan from Osaka to Fukuoka.
The Sanyo Shinkansen also includes stops in Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, and Hiroshima.
Five different types of train service operate on the Sanyo Shinkansen: Sakura, Hikari, Kodama, Nozomi, and Mizuho.
One Piece bullet trains will run mainly on Kodama services, meaning stopping at all stations along the route.
One Piece bullet trains features and launch dates
The One Piece Shinkansen project comprises 3 bullet trains.
Setouchi Blue Shinkansen
The first train unveiled was Setouchi Blue which started running on April 12, 2025. It’s named after the Setouchi region, the area near the Seto Inland Sea that the Sanyo Shinkansen services.
In the spirit of the anime and the world of the Grand Line, the first One Piece-themed bullet train was inspired by the concept “Let’s go to the Grand Rail”.
The train’s exterior has a blue design that evokes the sea and features vibrant artwork of Luffy, the Straw Hat Pirates, and iconic symbols from the anime. The designs are unique to the train and newly-drawn for the project.
Inside, expect immersive decor inspired by the Grand Line, including pirate-themed seating and decorations.
Tony Tony. Chopper Shinkansen
The second One Piece Shinkansen train to launch was the Tony Tony Chopper, debuted on May 28, 2025. This super-cute white, pink, and blue train is named after the popular member of the Straw Hat Pirates who loves candy.
Monkey D. Luffy Shinkansen
The 3rd in the One Piece series is called Monkey D. Luffy and launched on July 2, 2025. Its design is inspired by the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, with a white, red, and gold color scheme reminiscent of Luffy’s iconic straw hat.
JR West has also announced that exclusive One Piece merchandise will be available for purchase at stations along the route.
How to ride the One Piece Shinkansen
The One Piece Shinkansen is included with your JR Pass, which covers most services on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. However, if the train runs on Nozomi or Mizuho services, you’ll have to pay a small supplemental fee to ride.
You can also ride the One Piece Shinkansen with many of the Regional Passes offered by JR West, including the Kansai Wide Area Pass and the Sanyo-San’in Area Pass.
Advance seat reservations are highly recommended, especially as this themed train is expected to be a popular attraction.
One Piece Shinkansen operation calendar
From July 2, 2025, all 3 trains (including the Monkey D. Luffy train) will operate each day. There’s no way to know in advance which of the three One Piece-themed trains you’ll be riding on, as this is not available to check on the schedule.
A new calendar will be introduced starting from October 1, 2025 onward. JR West are expected to announce updated schedules closer to the date. Stay tuned for more!
One Piece Shinkansen timetable
The One Piece Shinkansen follows a fixed timetable. From July 2nd through September, three trains run in each direction daily.
One train in each direction runs the full route between Shin-Osaka to Hakata, while the other two in each direction travel shorter distances between Okayama and Hakata. Below are the schedules for the One Piece Shinkansen from July 2nd through September.
Towards Hakata
The Kodama 847 service covers the full trajectory of Shin-Osaka to Hakata. Both Kodama 835 and 857 only cover Okayama to Hakata.
| Train | From | Departure | Arrival in Hakata |
| Kodama 835 | Okayama | 7:19 | 10:00 |
| Kodama 847 | Shin-Osaka | 10:37 | 14:51 |
| Kodama 857 | Okayama | 16:50 | 19:51 |
Towards Okayama/Osaka
All 3 services heading towards Okayama and Osaka start at Hakata.
| Train | Destination | Departure | Arrival |
| Kodama 840 | Shin-Osaka | 6:21 | 10:25 |
| Kodama 850 | Okayama | 10:52 | 13:55 |
| Kodama 874 | Okayama | 20:32 | 23:21 |
You can view the full One Piece Shinkansen timetable along with exact departure and arrival times at each station by visiting the official page and selecting your travel date.