Japan’s Beloved “Doctor Yellow” Track-Testing Train to Retire
With its official schedule undisclosed and its sighting considered a rare occurrence synonymous with good luck, the track-testing “shinkansen” bullet train “Doctor Yellow” has conquered the hearts of many. Unfortunately, JR Central and JR West, the companies operating the beloved Doctor Yellow trains, recently announced that the iconic yellow trains will be retired in 2025 and 2027 respectively. As this might be your last chance to see Doctor Yellow, read on to find out all about Doctor Yellow, including where and when to see it!
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What Is Doctor Yellow?
The safety of Japan’s shinkansen is partially thanks to Doctor Yellow.
Doctor Yellow is the nickname given to the high-speed test trains commonly operating on the Sanyo Shinkansen and Tokaido Shinkansen lines from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Tokyo. These special trains are named so for their diagnostic function and their bright yellow color which was chosen to make the trains more visible at night. As yellow also symbolizes happiness in Japan and Doctor Yellow’s schedule is not made public, catching sight of a Doctor Yellow train is considered to bring the viewer good luck, which contributed to its immense popularity over the years.
With only seven cars, Doctor Yellow is shorter than normal shinkansen and can reach up to 270 km/h. The sophisticated equipment onboard can analyze track alignment, abnormalities in rail signals, and wear in overhead wiring, as well as test the safety of the tracks after an earthquake.
How Many Doctor Yellow Trains Are There?
There are two slightly different models of Doctor Yellow: one for JR Central on the Tokyo-Shin Osaka route and one for JR West on the Shin Osaka-Hakata route. Additionally, JR East operates an equivalent diagnostic train called East-i.
Where Can You See Doctor Yellow Trains?
Great photo spots to capture Doctor Yellow in operation include the tracks near Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, one of Yurakucho's shopping landmarks, and the railway bridge located behind the Nippon TV building in Shiodome which is easy to capture from Shiodome’s Yurikamome Station. Another station where you can get a good look at Doctor Yellow is Odawara Station, specifically platform 14.
If awe-inspiring backdrops are what you are looking for, you can photograph Doctor Yellow together with Mt. Fuji at the Fuji Social Welfare Council - Eastern Civil Plaza and as it passes the Tokaido Shinkansen Fujikawa Bridge. Finally, if you want to witness bright yellow sunflowers matching the color of Doctor Yellow, head to Gifu’s Ogaki Sunflower Field for a truly memorable sight.
When Can You See Doctor Yellow Trains?
Doctor Yellow trains run once about every 10 days. You can search for “ドクターイエロー運行日” (Doctor Yellow operating days) to find the days, times, and stations you should aim for, predicted by Doctor Yellow enthusiasts, such as dr-yellow.com (Japanese only).
Find predicted dates by month: https://dr-yellow.com/?page_id=1176
Find estimated operating times and stations: https://dr-yellow.com/?page_id=95
Doctor Yellow Trains Set for Retirement
JR Central is planning to stop Doctor Yellow inspections around 2025, while JR West will cease Doctor Yellow operations from January 2027. From 2027, both companies are planning to utilize some of the new Tokaido Shinkansen "N700S" equipped with the right technology to check and analyze possible problems with the tracks.
If you love Japanese trains, keep an eye out as, before Doctor Yellow’s final run, JR Central plans to hold several themed events such as displays of it being washed, opportunities to ride the train, and the chance to buy commemorative souvenirs.
Thumbnail: PIXTA
The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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