Starting today, Universal Studios Japan will have a Super Nintendo World train to celebrate theNintendo-themed section of the amusement park, covered with Mario, Luigi, and otherSuper Mariocharacters.
Nintendo fans have been excited for the theme park ever since the Japanese gaming giant announced its partnership with Universal Parks back in 2015. Super Nintendo World was initially slated to open prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but both the 2020 Olympics and Nintendo World’s grand opening have since been canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. But shortly ahead of a soft opening for Nintendo World, a mini Nintendo Direct featured a tour withMariocreatorShigeru Miyamoto, who introduced himself as Mario’s dad.
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Japan’s JR Sakurajima train line in Osaka, also nicknamed the “Yumesaki Line,” meaning “blooming dreams,” takes travelers to Universal Studios Japan. Starting today, one of the trains on this line will be wrapped inSuper Mariocharacters, including Mario, Peach, Toad, Bowser, and many more. Universal Studios Japan also features other franchises such as Sanrio’sHello Kitty, Sesame Street, andHarry Potter. Likewise, in the past, the Yumesaki train has donned Sanrio-themed wrapping andSesame Streetcharacters like Elmo.
It’s pretty normal to see Japan dressing up its trains in pop-culture and other eye-catching attire, especially due to the heightened tourism in the country. Trains and monorails taking travelers to and from theTokyo Disney Resortare dressed in Mickey ears and sometimes other limited-time decorations.
And thanks toleaked footage of Super Nintendo World, buses have been spotted around the theme park celebrating theSuper Mariofranchise. When it finally opens, Nintendo World will have attractions such as Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, an augmented reality ride based on theMario Kartgames. Nintendo fans are also getting excited for the themed restaurants, such as Yoshi’s Snack Island, where players can snack on the Green Shell Calzone filled with yakisoba and cheese, and a Yoshi yogurt drink flavored with either cantaloupe or mango.
Elsewhere in the park, fans can snack on the Block Tiramisu, brandishing the iconic question mark on the front, or Mario’s Bacon Cheeseburger. And in the leaked photos, Nintendo fans have spottedhidden Pikmin around Nintendo World, meaning regular visitors could have some fun the same way Disney fans hunt for Hidden Mickeys, or perhaps this means Nintendo has plans to makePikminattractions.
The theme park was geared to open on February 4, but due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, Universal Studios Japan announced thatNintendo World’s opening would be delayedindefinitely.
