Pokemon is popular all over the world, but as one might expect, Poke-mania is huge in Japan, where it got its start. Pokemon can be found in all kinds of places in Japan, even decorating manhole covers or planes.
One example of this is a Pokemon train that's running in Japan. The train is completely decked out in images of Pikachu inside and out, delighting fans young and old alike.
A Twitter user recently shared images of the interior of the Pikachu train. While simply putting up Pikachu pictures likely would have been enough to appeal to some fans, the decoration obviously went far beyond that, evidenced by the photos. Pikachu's overall design has been used to decorate the train's entirety. Pikachu's footprints, tail, back stripes, and overall silhouette appear on the seats and floor of the train. Various types of Pokeballs can be seen mounted on the edges of seats, as well.
The next car of the train is also shown, which not only has decorations but large Pikachu plush toys, as well. This particular Pokemon train car is intended to provide kids with a place to play, as well as offering cute photo opportunities.
While Pokemon has been used to decorate all kinds of vehicles over the years, this particular train has an altruistic purpose. It got its start the year after the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, in an effort to bring people back to the region as tourists, and to help cheer up children who had gone through so much during that time. The train makes regular prolonged stops so that the riders can hop off and explore the area, and fans can also collect stamps at each stop on a special activity sheet.
Entering Japan as a tourist right now is a bit tricky, as there are limitations following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for those who are interested in riding the train, tickets can be purchased in advance. The train has seen redesigns over the years, so even fans who have ridden it before might want to check it out again on future trips to Japan.
Many game-related companies put in an effort to help raise funds and awareness for the affected areas following the 2011 earthquake, including Bungie and Square Enix. While the earthquake is just a memory for many, the Pikachu train continues its efforts to bring smiles and tourists to the region.
Source: JRailPass