Joyful Train
Joyful Train is the name given to railway rolling stock or train sets operated by the JR Group in Japan primarily for charters, special events, tourist excursions, and other similar purposes.
History
The "Joyful Train" concept can be traced back to 1960, when a 1935-vintage SuHaShi 29 dining car was converted into a Japanese-style o-zashiki train with tatami flooring and shoji paper screens on the windows. This could be coupled to regular service trains for use by charter parties. A second car was similarly modified in April 1961.Lines in operation
JR Hokkaido
DMU
JR East
Shinkansen
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
JR West
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
JR Shikoku
DMU
JR Kyushu
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
Past Joyful Train sets
JNR
Loco hauled
JR Hokkaido
DMU
JR East
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
JR Central
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
JR West
EMU
DMU
Loco hauled
JR Shikoku
Loco hauled
JR Kyushu
DMU
| Name | Japanese | Classification | No. of cars | Accommodation | Introduced | Withdrawn | Converted from | Depot/region | Remarks |
| Aso 1962 | あそ1962 | KiHa 58 series | 2 | Seating | July 2006 | 26 December 2010 | KiHa 58 series | Kumamoto | |
| Holland Village Express | オランダ村特急 | KiHa 183-1000 series | 4 | Seating | 20 March 1988 | July 1992 | Purpose built | - | Operated in conjunction with 485 series Ariake EMU services between Kokura and Hakata. Converted to become Yufuin no Mori II. |
| Siebold | シーボルト | KiHa 183-1000 series | 4 | Seating | March 1999 | March 2004 | KiHa 183-1000 series | - | Converted from former Yufuin no Mori II. Converted to become Yufu DX. |
| Toro-Q | TORO-Q | KiHa 58 + ToRa 70000 + KiHa 65 | 5 | Seating | October 2002 | August 2010 | KiHa 58 + ToRa 70000 + KiHa 65 | - | DMU cars repainted and reverted to regular use following withdrawal of train. |
| Yufu DX | ゆふDX | KiHa 183-1000 series | 4 | Seating | March 2004 | January 2011 | KiHa 183 series | Oita | Formerly Holland Village Express, Yufuin no Mori II, and Siebold. Withdrawn 10 January 2011 and converted to become Aso Boy. |
| Yufuin no Mori II | ゆふいんの森II | KiHa 183-1000 series | 4 | Seating | July 1992 | March 1999 | KiHa 183-1000 series | - | Converted from former Holland Village Express. Converted to become Siebold. |