The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation will launch a project to renovate one carriage that has been used for many years on the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) with a special design.
With the aim of improving the appeal of the Toden and revitalizing the area along the line, the project will bring in Eiji Mitooka (Dawn Design Institute), who has designed many trains, including JR Kyushu’s cruise train “Seven Stars in Kyushu.” The project will renovate one 8500-series carriage, which has been in operation for more than 30 years, into a new Tokyo landmark under the concept of “fun Toden.”
The current exterior, which is white with a green stripe, will be renovated into a golden yellow color that recalls the heroic appearance of the former Toden, which Mitooka described as “a cool golden yellow tram that I first saw at Tokyo Station when I was 15 years old.” The symbol mark featuring the letters “TODEN” will be an accent. The interior will make abundant use of wood, and the seats will be designed in a variety of patterns to create a space where people can enjoy traveling while sightseeing.
To make this renewal a reality, Toei Transportation will be conducting its first crowdfunding campaign, with donations to cover part of the renovation costs. The goal is 17 million yen, and backers will receive rewards such as an invitation to the unveiling ceremony, participation in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and an assortment of vehicle design goods.
Donations can be made from as little as 3,000 yen, and will open on the CAMPFIRE project page from noon on Friday, May 23, 2025. The renewed vehicles are scheduled to begin operation around spring 2026.
