Sparkling Dreams Shinkansen

　When I went to meet guests at Kyoto Station, I spotted women standing in the queue on the platform, smartphone in hand. They were there to catch the ‘Sparkling Dreams Shinkansen’, which is running from June this year until March next year. To mark the 25th anniversary of Tokyo DisneySea, the carriages are wrapped in designs featuring familiar characters such as Mickey Mouse and Chip and Dale.

　With only two to four services running per day, and as the train arrived at Kyoto Station just after midday on this particular day, it was an ideal time to take photographs, and a large crowd had gathered.

　Last year, the ‘Wonderful Dreams Shinkansen’—the first Disney-themed Shinkansen to run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line—made its debut. This is the second instalment of the campaign. I wonder what sort of Shinkansen will be delighting us next year.