Hello Kitty Shinkansen will cease to operate in the spring of 2026. :(

https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/artic...shinkansen.pdf

Goodbye Kitty.

We hardly knew ya. Never rode it, but did ride Hello Kitty Haruka. Train otaku all along the right of way taking pictures and video.

Hello Kitty Shinkansen has been running since 2018 between Shin-Osaka and Hakata; the train has been in operation for a lot longer than I would have guessed. Hello Kitty Shinkansen will be replaced with ONE PIECE Shinkansen.

There is only one Hello Kitty Shinkansen, and it runs only once a day between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. There are three different ONE PIECE Shinkansen (Setouchi Blue, Tony Tony Chopper, and Monkey D. Luffy), so there are three ONE PIECE Shinkansen running between Shin-Osaka and Hakata daily. The car #1 of Hello Kitty Shinkansen is Hello Plaza, which is an open public space without passenger seats, has Hello Kitty displays, including a movie on a large screen, and a Hello Kitty souvenir shop. ONE PIECE Shinkansen does not have such an open public space on board.

ONE PIECE Shinkansen

Very sad news for me. Fortunately, I was able to ride it once on the very long journey from Shin-Kobe to Shin-Osaka (after spending a night at the Peanuts Hotel). I spent most of the ride in the gift shop, but was still able to make a spirited jaunt through the other cars before arriving at the final destination.

Participants of “FT Japan Do 2026” in Hiroshima will be travelling on Hello Kitty Shinkansen between Hiroshima and Shin-Kurashiki on Saturday, 4 April. It will only be one-hour’s ride but should be long enough to take photos in “Kawaii Room” (Car 2) and visit “Hello Plaza” (Car 1 aka The Shop).

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37606943-post12.html

I was able to get one last ride a few weeks ago, all the way from Kobe to Okayama. On my previous 15 minute trip last year, I had the merchandise car to myself. However, this time there was a queue winding all the way down and back through the length of the car. Sadly, the available merchandise was considerably less than before. I was excited about the OP train, but it just won't be the same experience without the Hello! Plaza car & shop.

See spoiler for photos: