Dr. Yellow - 医者 ☀️

Who is Dr. Yellow? A Japanese celebrity perhaps! This isn’t your average Shinkansen—it’s the rare, bright yellow diagnostic train that zips along Japan’s bullet train tracks, secretly checking for imperfections like a high-speed railway doctor.

But here’s the kicker: Dr. Yellow is retiring this year. That means no more lucky glimpses of this legendary train in the wild. Seeing him is like spotting a shooting star—blink, and you miss him. Unlike regular Shinkansen, which run on predictable schedules, Dr. Yellow operates in secrecy, with unannounced routes and only a few appearances a month. Trainspotters strategize, wait for hours, and track past sightings just for a chance to see him flash by.

And guess what? I didn’t blink. Departing from Osaka, I caught sight of Dr. Yellow in all his glory—a moment of pure Shinkansen serendipity. As if that weren’t enough, I had just took photos of cute Dr. Yellow-themed ekibens (because yes, even Japan’s trains get their own lunchbox merch) - what are the freaking odds? I’ll never have a chance to see him again and I got to!

It must have been good luck to stay in the Shinkansen themed hotel room! Because I also received a Dr. Yellow gift bag! Manifested.

A rare train, and a rare moment? Consider me bless-ed.Read more