All aboard! A brand new Mickey Mouse bullet train is launching in Japan this spring.

From May 17, 2019, the “Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey” shinkansen races between Hakata Station in Fukuoka and Kagoshima on Japan’s southern Kyushu island.

While the service doesn’t run to Tokyo Disney Resort, the good news is the JR Rail Pass is valid on the train. Keep reading for more information.

“Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey” Shinkansen

JR Kyushu is celebrating 90 years of Mickey Mouse by sending him on a holiday! The train features “Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey” designs which show Mickey on his travels with a suitcase full of items from the Kyushu region, including a straw hat, watermelon, and a local map. In Japanese, “Waku Waku” means something is exciting.

Go! Waku Waku Trip with Mickey designs

The outside of the train is wrapped in different Mickey artwork on each carriage. One fantastic touch is the tiny handles above the windows that make them look like suitcases!

Inside the train, the seats have new covers which give each passenger a straw hat and Mickey Ears.

Seat decorations inside each carriage

Go Waku Waku Trip Merchandise

To celebrate the new Mickey shinkansen, commemorative merchandise is available with the Waku Waku Trip designs. The items include notebooks, stationary, pin badges, tote bags, and a toy shinkansen.

Passengers can buy the merchandise on the train, but it’s also available at the stations the train goes through. So even if you’re not catching a train, you can still pick up a souvenir or two.

Merchandise including a pencil case, socks, tote bag, and key chains

How to Book Mickey Shinkansen Tickets

Shinkansen route from Hakata Station (Fukuoka) and Kagoshima

The JR Kyushu website now has the schedule for May 2019 and will release more information on the 25th of each month.

You can book tickets for each journey on the website, but if you’re planning a trip to a few different locations around Japan, then definitely check out the JR Rail Pass.

The JR Rail Pass is a multi-day discounted ticket that is valid on most of the high-speed trains around Japan. It’s a really cost-effective, comfortable, and time efficient way to see lots of what Japan has to offer. We can’t recommend it enough!

Check out our Japan Rail Pass Guide for all the details, how to buy, and suggested itineraries.

Kyushu might not be an area of Japan you’ve considered visiting, but there is a lot to experience on Japan’s southern island, including Kumamoto Castle, Fukuoka (where you can find some of the best ramen in Japan), the city of Kagoshima (which is next to the active Sakurajima volcano), and the Dutch theme park Huis Ten Bosch!

Information and images from the JR Kyushu website.