The departure ceremony for the special "Super Mario Train" at JR Hakata Station, held on the morning of November 29.
JR Kyushu kicked off its Super Mario Train campaign with a lively departure ceremony on November 29 at JR Hakata Station. Designed in collaboration with Nintendo, the campaign will run until June 30, 2026.
Mario and Luigi made a special appearance on the platform, and at around 9:40 AM, the train set off amid cheers. Children sporting Mario-themed merchandise waved and smiled as the train departed, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Asami Nishimoto, who visited with her family of four, said with a smile, "The train's design is so cute — it's exciting just to see it. Next time, I want to ride it with my children."
Wrapped in the World of Mario
The six-car train features colorful illustrations of Mario and Luigi running and swimming along a game course filled with pipes and coins, bringing the beloved video game to life.
The Super Mario-themed designs will also appear on buses and trains across Kyushu. The train will continue running on the Hakata–Oita route until June 30, 2026.
From December 14, buses on the Hikoboshi Line (Soeda–Hita) will showcase the Mario wrap. Starting February 7, 2026, the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (Takeo Onsen–Nagasaki) and, from March 7, the Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata–Kumamoto/Kagoshima-Chuo) will also feature the playful designs, letting fans of all ages enjoy a journey through the world of Super Mario.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
