JR Central unveiled the special design Shinkansen, “Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen,” in collaboration with Tokyo Disney Resort at the Hamamatsu Factory in Shizuoka and Hamamatsu on February 17. This is the first time the Tokaido Shinkansen has a special design train since its opening in 1964. It will operate for a limited time from February 21 to mid-September.
The N700A (train number: G25) features designs on both sides of each car, inspired by the themed port “Fantasy Springs” at Tokyo DisneySea, which opened in June 2024. Each car has a different design, with Cars 4, 7, 10, 12, and 14 featuring the “Frozen Kingdom” theme, Cars 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15 the “Rapunzel’s Forest,” and Cars 3, 6, 9, 13 the “Peter Pan’s Neverland.” The front and rear cars, Cars 1 and 16, integrate the three themes into a single design.
Specially designed headrest covers and sticker decorations on the back tables are featured, except in Car 7 (the “S Work Car”) and the Green Cars (Cars 8-10). Additionally, the train’s melody includes “I See the Light” from the film Tangled.
JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa introduced the special-painted Shinkansen at the unveiling ceremony, saying it was “not the usual Shinkansen with the blue line on the side” but a “special-painted Shinkansen.” He also expressed his hope that visitors would enjoy Tokyo Disney Resort as if they were in a dream, in line with the train’s name “Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen.”
During the ceremony, Mickey Mouse, dressed in blue attire inspired by the natural surroundings and magical springs of Fantasy Springs, attended and escorted President Niwa onto the stage for commemorative photos.
▲Mickey escorting JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa
The first train will depart Nagoya at 6:43 AM on February 21, heading to Tokyo as Hikari 632. On the same day, it will also operate as Nozomi 213, Nozomi 238, and Nozomi 465.
From the following day, it will primarily operate as “Hikari” and “Kodama” between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. The specific operation schedule is available on the special event website. According to JR Central, bookings for the Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen have exceeded that of other Shinkansen trains, with approximately 90% of reservations made for the first train Hikari 632 on the 21st.
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