A typically calm two-and-a-half-hour journey on Japan’s renowned bullet train turned into a thrilling zombie apocalypse on Saturday, as passengers screamed in terror. Marketed as the “world’s first haunted house experience on a running shinkansen,” the event attracted around 40 thrill-seekers eager for a spine-chilling ride between Tokyo and Osaka.
Inspired by the 2016 South Korean action-horror film “Train to Busan,” the experience took a dramatic turn shortly after departure. Actors strategically positioned in the train seats transformed into zombies, attacking fellow passengers and heightening the atmosphere of horror.
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Kenta Iwana, an organizer from the group Kowagarasetai, which translates to “scare squad,” explained that they aimed to depict how the typically safe and reliable shinkansen could devolve into chaos in an instant.
Joshua Payne, a 31-year-old American tourist, expressed his excitement, stating, “I literally felt like I was in the film, just sitting here watching it take place in front of me.” He appreciated the unique experience of traveling from Tokyo to Osaka while participating in the performance.
This zombie-themed ride is part of Central Japan Railway Company’s efforts to diversify its offerings after the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted long-distance travel. The company has previously hosted various events on the shinkansen, including sushi restaurants and wrestling matches.
Marie Izumi, from JR Central’s tourism subsidiary, initially doubted the feasibility of the zombie ride but was impressed by its execution, recognizing “new possibilities” for future events on the train, such as concerts and comedy shows.
While the ride included props like toy chainsaws and guns, organizers avoided graphic depictions of violence to maintain the train’s family-friendly reputation. The two-and-a-half-hour journey also featured lighter moments, with performances by zombie cheerleaders, magicians, and even a choreographed dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Passengers reported that the immersive experience justified the ticket price of up to 50,000 yen (about $335). One attendee, Naohiko Nozawa, 30, remarked, “The appearance of so many different kinds of zombies kept me entertained all the way.”