Japan to Retire Iconic 'Long Nose' Shinkansen from January 2027

JAKARTA - The operator of the West Japan Railway Co., (JR West) last month announced its plans to retire two legendary trains that have become popular icons in its service.

The first train to be retired is the Shinkansen Series 500 bullet train known as the 'Long Nose' from regular services from January 2027.

Known for its iconic blue line and "long nose" with a sharp tip, the 500 series began operating in 1997 at an operational speed that matched the record, 300 kilometers per hour. This makes it one of the fastest trains.

"We have an emotional bond with this train. Our company will continue preparations so that many people can witness its retirement," JR West President Shoji Kurasaka said, quoted by Kyodo News (1/7).

After ending regular service on January 13, 2027, JR West plans to use the 500 series for special services before being completely withdrawn in July 2027, reported The Japan News.

The trains used to operate on the "Nozomi" service connecting Tokyo Station and Hakata Station in southwest Japan. However, since 2010, these trains only operate between Shin-Osaka Station in western Japan and Hakata.

The limited edition of the train includes collaborations with the animated series "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and the character "Hello Kitty" from Sanrio Co.

In addition to the Series 500, JR West also announced the retirement of the iconic "Yellow Doctor" train used to diagnose damage to the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines in January 2027.

The retirement of the T5 Doctor Yellow edition occurred after the retirement of the T4 edition owned by Central Japan Railway Co. in January 2025.

No replacement is planned and the N700S bullet train will be equipped with the same fault detection devices, according to JR West.

It is known that the Doctor Yellow train is very popular because fans believe seeing it brings happiness.