is the name given to railway rolling stock or train sets operated by the JR Group in Japan primarily for charters, special events, tourist excursions, and other similar purposes. Traditionally, this term is only used for chartered trains dedicated to large group travel, but in recent years, it has expanded to include sightseeing trains and tourist trains as well, often called in Japanese, and their distinctions are made ambiguous. This page includes all trains considered "Joyful trains" and "Sightseeing trains".
History Origins The "Joyful Train" concept can be traced back to 1960, when a 1935-vintage SuHaShi 29 dining car was converted into a Japanese-style o-zashiki train with tatami flooring and shoji paper screens on the windows. This could be coupled to regular service trains for use by charter parties. A second car was similarly modified in April 1961.
The first train to directly be called "Joyful Train" was the Salon Express Tokyo, a European styled train. The term has since been applied in retrospect to all trains produced before then that fits the descriptions. Many conversions of trains were done due to surplus rolling stock after the abolishment of certain express lines, and purpose-built Joyful Trains are rare. All cars on a Joyful Train are considered Green Cars.
Recent years Since the bursting of Japan's Bubble Economy, small group travel using buses have become more mainstream, and opportunities to use group trains have decreased, and so have been the demand of European style salon trains. Some JR companies such as JR Kyushu once completely abolished chartered trains in order to save costs, and European-styled Salon Trains disappeared from JR Central's rolling stock after the retirement of the Euroliner in 2004.
On the other hand, this shift has led JR companies to target individual travellers directly with sightseeing trains, in an attempt to increase regional development. The first JR-operated train to be referred to as a 'tourist train' was the Nostalgic View Train, launched by JR East in 1990. Unlike previous Group trains, the Nostalgic View Train exclusively operated on the Gono Line as a primarily sightseeing-oriented service. Due to the popularity of the train, it was later supplanted and replaced by the Resort Shirakami which continue to operate today, and other JR East lines followed suit with Kirakira Uetsu on the Uetsu Line (later replaced by the Kairi) and Kirakira Michinoku in the Nanbu area of Aomori. Onboard such tourist-oriented trains, one can enjoy local products, famous sake, or other activities. Sometimes, JR companies has not used the term "Joyful Train" to refer to tourist trains, but since tourist trains are often operated as group trains as well, railway hobby magazines often use both terms, if not use them interchangeably.
Lines in operation JR Hokkaido DMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Dōhoku Ryūhyō no Megumi 道北 流氷の恵み KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2018 KiHa 40 - Part of the Hokkaidō no Megumi (Blessings of Hokkaido) set. Name means "Northern Hokkaido: Blessing of Drift Ice". Dōtō Mori no Megumi 道東 森の恵み KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2018 KiHa 40 - Part of the Hokkaidō no Megumi (Blessings of Hokkaido) set. Name means "Eastern Hokkaido: Blessing of the Forest". Dōnan Kai no Megumi 道南 海の恵み KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2018 KiHa 40 - Part of the Hokkaidō no Megumi (Blessings of Hokkaido) set. Name means "Southern Hokkaido: Blessing of the Sea". Dōō Hana no Megumi 道央 花の恵み KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2018 KiHa 40 - Part of the Hokkaidō no Megumi (Blessings of Hokkaido) set. Name means "Central Hokkaido: Blessing of Flowers". Sanmei 山明 KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2019 KiHa 40 - Part of the Sanshisuimei set. Both converted due to popular demand after the unveiling of the Hokkaido no Megumi trains. Shisui 紫水 KiHa 40 series 1 Seating 2019 KiHa 40 - Part of the Sanshisuimei set. Ryuhyu Monogatari 流氷物語 KiHa 40 series 2 Seating 2017 KiHa 40 Abashiri Originally ran by a KiHa 54 series train. Currently runs using two of the aforementioned Hokkaido no Megumi trainsets, being Dohoku Ryuhyo no Megumi and Doto Mori no Megumi.
Loco hauled Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Furano Biei Norokko 富良野・美瑛・ノロッコ 510 Series 3 Seating 1998 50 Series Furano Ends in 2026 Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko くしろ湿原ノロッコ号 510 Series 4 Seating 1989 50 Series Kushiro Ends in 2026. Has a dedicated DE10 Class locomotive. SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen SL冬の湿原 ? 5 Seating 8 January 2000 14 Series, SuHa 43 Kushiro Only runs in January and February every year. Equipped with a grill that passengers could use to grill seafood.
JR East EMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Nagomi 和 E655 series 5 Seating July 2007 Purpose-built Tokyo Also used as the train of the Emperor of Japan The Royal Express ザ・ロイヤルエクスプレス Izukyu 2100 series 8 Seating July 2017 Izukyu 2100 Series Izu Jointly operated by Tokyu Corporation, JR East and Izukyu Corporation B.B.Base BOSO BICYCLE BASE 209-2200 series 6 Seating 2018 209 series Makuhari
DMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Koshino Shu*Kura 越乃Shu*Kura KiHa 40/48 3 Seating 2014 KiHa 40/48 series Niitsu Oykot おいこっと KiHa 110 series 2 Seating 2015 KiHa 110 series Nagano The name "Oykot" comes from a letter reversal of "Tokyo", intending to create a sense of rural Japan, opposite to Tokyo. POKÉMON with YOU Train POKÉMON with YOU Train KiHa 100 2 Seating 2012 KiHa 100 Ichinoseki Resort Shirakami "Aoike" リゾートしらかみ「青池」 HB-E300 4 Seating/semi-open compartments 2010 Purpose-built Akita Replaced KiHa 48 series. Resort Shirakami "Buna" リゾートしらかみ「橅」 HB-E300 4 Seating/semi-open compartments 2016 Purpose-built Akita Replaced KiHa 48 series. Resort Shirakami "Kumagera" リゾートしらかみ「くまげら」 KiHa 48 4 Seating/semi-open compartments April 2006 KiHa 48 Akita Resort View Furusato リゾートビューふるさと HB-E300 2 Seating 2010 Purpose-built Nagano Tohoku Emotion TOHOKU EMOTION KiHa 110-700 series 3 Seating 19 October 2013 KiHa 110 series Morioka KiHa 110-701 + KiHa 111-701 + KiKuShi 112-701 High Rail 1375 はいれーる いちさんななご KiHa 110 series 2 Seating 1 July 2017 KiHa 110 series Nagano View Coaster Kazekko びゅうコースター風っこ KiHa 48 2 Seating June 2000 KiHa 48 Sendai Side windows are removed, and metal bars were installed with plastic covering. Kairi 海里 HB-E300 series 4 Seating 2019 Purpose-built Niigata Features a different headlight design than the sets used on Resort Shirakami services. Successor to 'Kirakira Uetsu'. Hinabi ひなび HB-E300 series 2 Seating December 2023 HB-E300 Series Iwate Converted from former Resort Asunaro set Satono SATONO HB-E300 series 2 Seating April 2024 HB-E300 Series Yamagata Converted from former Resort Asunaro set
Loco hauled Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks SL Banetsu Monogatari SLばんえつ物語 12 series 7 Seating 29 April 1999 12 Niigata SL Gunma SLぐんま 12 series 7 Seating ? 12 Gunma Refurbished in April 2020.
JR West EMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks La Malle de Bois La Malle de Bois 213 series 2 Seating Spring 2016 213 series Okayama WEST EXPRESS Ginga WEST EXPRESS 銀河 117 series 6 Seating/compartments/Sleeping car May 2020 117 series Kyoto
DMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Belles Montagnes et Mer ベル・モンターニュ・エ・メール ("べるもんた") KiHa 40 1 Seating October 2015 KiHa 40 Toyama Affectionally referred to as "Belmonta" (べるもんた). Hanayome Noren 花嫁のれん KiHa 48 2 Seating October 2015 KiHa 48 Ishikawa Nostalgie ノスタルジー KiHa 47 2 Seating Spring 2016 KiHa 47 Okayama Painted in JNR colors. Maru Maru No Hanashi ○○のはなし KiHa 47 2 Seating August 2017 KiHa 47 Yamaguchi Converted from former Misuzu Shiosai Ametsuchi あめつち KiHa 47 2 Seating July 2018 KiHa 47 Gotō Umiyamamusubi うみやまむすび KiHa 40 1 Seating July 2019 KiHa 40 Hyōgo Converted from former Tenkū no shiro Takedajōato etSETOra エトセトラ KiHa 47 2 Seating October 2020 KiHa 47 Hiroshima Converted from former Setouchi Marine View SAKUBI SAKURA SAKU美SAKU楽 KiHa 47 1 Seating July 2022 KiHa 47 Okayama
Loco hauled Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks SL Yamaguchi SLやまぐち号 35 series 5 Seating September 2017 Purpose-built Yamaguchi Replaced 12 series.
JR Shikoku Sightseeing trains are operated on each line of JR Shikoku. All of these trains are operated by DMUs, and there are no trains operated by electric trains. This is because most of the lines within JR Shikoku's jurisdiction are non-electrified.
DMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks Shikoku Mannaka Sennen Monogatari 四国まんなか千年ものがたり KiHa 185 series 3 Seating April 2017 KiHa 185 Kotohira All 3 cars have distinct paint schemes. Iyonada Monogatari (KiHa 185) 伊予灘ものがたり KiHa 185 series 3 Seating 3 April 2022 KiHa 185 Ehime Replaced former KiHa 47, which was retired in 2021. Shikoku Tosa Toki no Yoake no Monogatari 志国土佐 時代の夜明けのものがたり KiHa 185 series 2 Seating July 2020 KiHa 185 Kochi Kaiyodo Hobby Train 海洋堂ホビートレイン KiHa 32 1 Seating July 2011 KiHa 32 Matsuyama Has had 3 different paint schemes. Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Tetsudo Hobby Train 鉄道ホビートレイン KiHa 32 1 Seating March 2014 KiHa 32 Matsuyama Outwardly modified to resemble a 0 Series Shinkansen. Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Shiman Torokko しまんトロッコ KiHa 32 2 Seating 2014 KiHa 32 Shimanto The rear-end car is fully open. Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Oni Train 鬼列車 KiHa 32 1 Seating July 2021 KiHa 32 Kihoku Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Shimanto Good Luck Train Smile Eki-chan しまんと開運汽車 すまいるえきちゃん号 KiHa 32 1 Seating January 29, 2022 KiHa 32 Shimanto Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Welcome Nanyo! おさんぽなんよ号 KiHa 32 1 Seating February 21, 2016 KiHa 32 Shimanto Part of the Yodosen Fun Fun Trains that run on the Yodo Line. Yoshinogawa Torokko 藍よしのがわトロッコ KiHa 32 & 185 2 Seating 2020 KiHa 32 & 185 Tokushima
JR Kyushu JR Kyushu officially does not operate any Joyful Trains in the traditional definition. However, the following sightseeing trainsets that they operate are classified as "D&S Trains" (Design and Story trains), as according to JR Kyushu, each train has a design and a story based on the region that they operate in. In addition, the Trans-Kyushu Limited Express is classified as a D&S Train as well despite not appearing on this list. Most D&S Trains are converted from regular rolling stock into sightseeing expresses, and are designed by Eiji Mitooka. The Kampachi Ichiroku was designed by IFOO Corporation instead. However, the Seven Stars in Kyushu is not classified as a D&S train, but a "Luxury Sleeper train".
EMU Name Japanese Classification No. of cars Accommodation Introduced Converted from Depot/region Remarks 36 + 3 36ぷらす3 787 series 6 Seating/compartments October 2020 787 series Minami-Fukuoka 36 represents Kyushu (the 36th largest island in the world) and the 3 represents surprise, excitement, and happiness. In addition, "39" is pronounced like "Thank You" in Japanese.
DMU