Overwatch collaborates with JR Central for an Oshi Tabi experience on the Tōkaido bullet train to Osaka. Learn more about the details below.
Overwatch Oshi Tabi to Osaka
From July 17 to September 23
Overwatch unveiled a collaboration with Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, or bullet train, bound for Osaka, Japan. Fans can embark on the Overwatch Oshi Tabi, which is a fandom and pop culture travel campaign held on the Shinkansen, to obtain free smartphone and desktop wallpapers, a novelty item, and original merchandise. The collaboration will run for a limited time from July 17 to September 23, 2026.
"Heroes gather on the Tōkaido Shinkansen. Join them on their journey to Osaka and take on fun missions to enjoy on board!" JR Central's website read, referring to the Overwatch characters Kiriko, D.Va, Mercy, Hanzo, Genji, Wrecking Ball, and Jetpack Cat on the key art.
Take a Quiz, Redeem Wallpapers, and Buy Exclusive Merch
The Overwatch Oshi Tabi is divided into three main sections: an on-board quiz and smartphone wallpaper; a PC wallpaper and novelty gift; and exclusive visual merchandise sold at Animate Osaka Nipponbashi.
To participate in the first activity, fans must access the campaign website, perform a "speed measurement" to confirm they are riding the Tōkaido Shinkansen, and take a quiz. Answering all questions will reward them with a random wallpaper. As the wallpaper obtained will not repeat, fans can replay the quiz multiple times until they collect all seven Overwatch characters.
Notably, access to the quiz may be limited in certain areas—such as between Tokyo Station and Shin‑Yokohama Station—where the Shinkansen is considerably slower or the signal or GPS is weak.
In the second activity, Oshi Tabi participants can redeem a free PC wallpaper and a Shinkansen Boarding Certificate by completing the same speed-measurement and survey. They must present the boarding certificate at the Animate Osaka Nipponbashi store to receive a multi-cloth novelty item featuring the collaboration key art.
The certificate is valid only for 24 hours from issuance or until the end of the day on September 23. Participants can redeem it only once per day, and must do so in person on a device that can access the internet, as screenshots will not be accepted.
At the end of the journey, Animate Osaka Nipponbashi offers collaboration visual merchandise for purchase, highlighted by an exclusive pop‑up shop opening from July 17 to July 26, 2026. Items include button pins and acrylic stands featuring different Overwatch heroes, as well as an Overwatch bucket hat.
Fans can visit the store during its business hours: weekdays, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and weekends and holidays, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Depending on crowd conditions, staff may issue numbered entry tickets.
Oshi Tabi Takes Fans on a Journey With Their “Oshi”
Oshi Tabi is a fandom activity unique to Japan's Shinkansen, where JR Central partners with a variety of IPs and personalities to connect fans with their "oshi"—their favorite anime characters, manga, video games, idols, Vtubers, artists, and other pop-culture figures—through travel on the bullet train.
"Take just one step away from your usual daily routine. Both the small discoveries and the moments that make your heart skip a beat are things you can only encounter because of this very journey," the official website said in Japanese.
Overwatch isn't the only Oshi Tabi event scheduled for the coming months. Other collaborations that are currently running on the Tōkaido Shinkansen include the following, among many others:
⚫︎ J-pop Girl Group: Candy Tune - June 1 to July 31, 2026
⚫︎ Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen - May 22 to August 3, 2026
⚫︎ Game: Blue Archive - May 22 to August 31, 2026
⚫︎ Game: Pokémon Pokopia - April 17 to August 31, 2026
⚫︎ Anime: BanG Dream! Yume∞Mita - June 1 to September 30, 2026
Considered a form of pop culture pilgrimage, Oshi Tabi is also tied to Japan's "oshikatsu" subculture, a lifestyle centered on supporting one's favorite character or celebrity with whom they are emotionally invested. It is a portmanteau of the words "oshi" (bias) and "katsu" (activity) and can be likened to stan culture in the West.
Overwatch is a popular hero shooter available on PC (Steam and Battle.net), PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. For more information about the game, check out the article below!
Sources:
X/Twitter | JR Central × Overwatch
JR Central | Overwatch Collab: Payload to Osaka
