Kyoto’s elevated railway to blend kawaii culture with upcycled train

Artist Sebastian Masuda, a leading figure in Japan’s Kawaii culture, will produce Japan’s first restaurant on a disused elevated railway line, set to open in Kyoto’s Umekoji district on 20 September 2025. Named FUTURE TRAIN KYOTO DINER & CAFE, the restaurant will feature an upcycled express train carriage as its centrepiece, blending dining, art and entertainment.

The establishment rose from a partnership agreement established in March 2025 between 11 entities, including JR West, Kyoto Station Building Development, and the City of Kyoto, to utilise the elevated railway space. Masuda joined as a collaborator to transform the abandoned line into a platform for a “future-bound train,” with a track record of the successful KAWAII MONSTER CAFE in Harajuku, which became a cultural landmark, attracting international celebrities.

The new restaurant’s immersive experience area, named “FUTURE BIRD,” is housed in the lead carriage of a decommissioned Thunderbird (681 series) express train. The carriage was transported from the Suita railyard and lifted onto the elevated tracks by a crane. Its exterior is painted a plum-blossom red, a nod to the Umekoji area, symbolising a connection between past and future.

Inside, the carriage is designed as the “engine room of a future-bound train.” In collaboration with digital creative company IMAGICA EEXS Inc., the space uses colourful, retro-futuristic decor combined with CG visuals, light and sound to create an immersive journey for visitors.

The dining experience is themed around a “KYOTO Diner,” fusing the lively atmosphere of a classic diner with local Kyoto ingredients and culture. The restaurant will offer a special reservation-only “FUTURE IMAGINATION Course,” which includes a 20-minute immersive experience in the FUTURE BIRD carriage, as well as a la carte options.

FUTURE TRAIN aims to become a new cultural hub in Kyoto, serving as a destination for tourists and a venue for cultural events, seeking to establish a new landmark where the city’s rich tradition and modern pop culture intersect.