Bringing smiles to Tohoku children in the region devastated by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011 and wishing for great Tohoku travels for our friends throughout Japan, the POKÉMON with YOU Train replaced the original on July 15, 2017. The new car concept will be “parents and children having fun with Pikachu together.”
Knowing as one of Japan’s “Joyful Trains”, imaginative trains that are “pushing the limits on train design to create a new way to travel,” the Pokémon with You train is an immersive experience. You’re certain to agree that “riding the train is no longer just about the destination but about how you get there.” You’ll feel just like Ash Ketchum as you travel through Japan’s beautiful countryside with Pikachu at your side.
This new train is covered inside and out with everyone’s favorite electric rodent – Pikachu himself! People can enjoy a fun outing with the lively Pikachu on the train!
Train Information
Style: Joyful Trains – Pokémon theme
Service interval: Ichinoseki to Kesennuma Stations
Start operation day: December, 2012
Operate by: East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
Train Interior
The Pokémon with You train is color-coordinated to match yellow Pikachu and his brown stripes, inside and out. On the train’s exterior, you’ll be greeted by a passel of excited pikachus. Inside, you can choose from one of two fun Pikachu-themed cars.
Front of the Car
There is also a mini-driver’s seat at the front of the car, so children can experience “driving” the Pokémon train! Staff are on-hand to keep the children entertained and to snap priceless pictures of this once-upon-a-childhood experience.
Car 1: Communication Seats (reserved seating cars)
Parents can relax in the Communication Seat at Car 1, with its thunderbolt carpet and Pika-patterned curtains and seatbacks. Each seat is even decorated with its very own Poké ball, each one a different variety. Numerous Pikachus hide along the walls. Views from the train’s large windows include mountainous terrain and lush farming fields.
Car 2: Playroom Car
Children can explore to their heart’s content in the Playroom at Car 2. The yellow flooring is littered with Pika footprints, and Pikachu is everywhere! A large Pikachu reclines in the center of the car, and smaller life-sized counterparts can be found on the sofas, allowing you to sit with your favorite Pokémon.
The Pokémon train and Tohoku Region story
The JR Pokémon train is about more than nostalgia or having a good time, however. It is also a philanthropic ideal. The Pokémon train was devised in 2012, after the Tohoku region had been devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March of 2011. “The aim was to bring a smile back to the faces of the children of these hard-hit areas… as well as attract tourists back to the region”. So far, the train has succeeded in this mission, carrying over 40,000 smiling passengers between 2012 and 2017.
Train routes
The Pokémon with You train runs of the JR Ofunato Line between Ichinoseki and Kesennuma. The one-way trip lasts about two hours. The train will stop at:
– Ichinoseki
– Rikuchu-Matsukawa
– Geibikei
– Surisawa
– Semmaya
– Orikabe
– Kasennuna
How to get to the Pokémon train from Tokyo
You can use your Japan Rail Pass to travel from Tokyo to Ichinoseki, where you can board the Pokémon train. Please note that tickets for the Pokémon train are not sold outside of Japan.
Tickets go on sale one month prior to the travel date, and require an additional charge when using the JR Pass. Book early, as reservations for this unique train tend to fill up quickly.
Social Media
Website: https://jreast.travel/joyfultrain/pokemon.php
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pokemonwithyoutrain/?hl=en
