News On Japan

Percy Train is Huge Hit on Children’s Day

SHIZUOKA, May 05, 2026 (News On Japan) - A large number of families gathered at Oigawa Railway in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, on May 5th for Children’s Day, where the popular “Percy” steam locomotive from the Thomas the Tank Engine series drew enthusiastic crowds.

“Percy has just arrived, its green color matching the fresh spring foliage, billowing strong smoke and creating an impressive sight,” said announcer Yuki Takizawa during a live broadcast.

Oigawa Railway began operating the refurbished steam locomotive as “Percy” in March 2026, primarily on weekends and public holidays.

On May 5th, the train ran between Shin-Kanaya Station and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station, and as Percy appeared before them, families eagerly took commemorative photos.

“It was really cool,” one child said, while a parent added, “It was our first time seeing Percy, and I think I was even more moved than my child.”

Although the Percy train was nearly fully booked on May 5th, seats remain available for services running from May 6th through May 10th.

Source: SBSnews6

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 15 (Chan-hom) is forecast to strengthen slightly as it moves northwest before turning westward and potentially making landfall in southern Tohoku or the Kanto region on the night of August 11, with the latest forecasts shifting the storm's expected track farther south.

Raccoons are increasingly invading homes across Japan, damaging roofs and wiring, contaminating buildings with large amounts of urine and feces, and raising concerns over agriculture, native wildlife and the spread of disease as their population continues to expand.

Nagasaki marked the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on August 9 with a memorial ceremony near the hypocenter, where Mayor Shiro Suzuki declared nuclear weapons an "absolute evil" and called on the Japanese government to uphold its Three Non-Nuclear Principles.

Transport services were gradually returning to normal on August 9 after Typhoon No. 13 caused widespread cancellations and shutdowns across Okinawa, although air travel remained disrupted as airlines worked to restore schedules and accommodate passengers stranded during the opening days of Japan's busy Obon holiday period.

Typhoon No. 13 was moving slowly west on the night of August 8 and was expected to approach the Chinese mainland by the night of August 9, but Okinawa, Amami and parts of southern Kyushu remained at risk from strong winds, intermittent heavy rain and dangerous seas even as the storm's center moved farther away.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Nara Park's famous deer are increasingly spilling into residential areas and farmland as their population reaches a record high, creating new problems for residents even as the animals remain a major attraction for visitors to the ancient capital.

Maids from Akihabara maid cafes joined shrine maidens from Kanda Myojin and members of the public on August 8 to sprinkle water across the shrine grounds in Tokyo, calling out "Cool down!" as they took part in a summer tradition aimed at easing the midsummer heat.

Disney On Ice opened its Osaka run on August 8, bringing Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters to the rink for a special production celebrating the show's 40th anniversary in Japan.

All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines are expected to lower fuel surcharges on international tickets issued in September and October after a decline in the fuel prices used to calculate the additional fees.

Japan is one of those countries that people visit once and then return to again and again and again, because it is unlike any other place on the planet.

The rainy season appears to have ended in the Hokuriku region and both southern and northern Tohoku, the Japan Meteorological Agency said on August 5, marking the apparent end of the season across the entire country.

A fire destroyed a wooden reception building at a subtemple within the grounds of Kodaiji in Kyoto on August 3, burning about 60 square meters but leaving no one injured and causing no damage to the temple's main buildings or cultural properties.

The legal speed limit on many residential roads will be lowered from 60 kilometers per hour to 30 kph on September 1, as police urge drivers to recognize that pedestrians should take priority on narrow neighborhood streets.