Railway in Japan launches tickets to cheer on Punch the monkey to boost zoo festival travel

KAMAGAYA, Chiba -- Hokuso-Railway Co., based in the city of Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, is selling "#Hang in there Punch cheering tickets" featuring photos of Punch, the hugely popular baby monkey that carried a stuffed toy at Ichikawa City Zoo, to commemorate a collaboration festival with the facility on May 17.

The zoo is near Hokuso-Railway's Omachi Station. A railway official said, "Many people come to the zoo by car, but we hope they will also use the railway and experience the appeal of the surrounding area."

The tickets went on sale on April 29 and are sold as a set of two, one priced at 620 yen (around $3.90) and the other at 380 yen (around $2.40), for a total of 1,000 yen (around $6.30) including tax. A total of 3,000 sets will be sold. The front features five photos, including images of Punch carrying a stuffed toy, while the back contains explanatory texts about the animal. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the zoo.

The tickets are sold at Hokuso-Railway stations, on online shopping sites and elsewhere. Tickets will also be available at the zoo entrance merchandise shop on the day of the collaboration festival on May 17. On the same day, a free shuttle bus will run between Omachi Station and the zoo, and other events are planned such as a stamp rally in the surrounding area and button badge making.

(Japanese original by Yuta Hiratsuka, Chiba Bureau)