The Japanese railway once served as the country’s most important form of travel. To help the operations, humanoid control modules called Raillords were created. With the advent of the aeroplane, many railroads and their raillords have shut down. Soutetsu, a boy who lost his parents to a rail accident, has returned to his hometown in order to prevent the creation of an aeroplane factory that will pollute the water. There he accidentally wakes up a Raillord and agrees to help her find her lost train.
Rail Romanesque, well, it doesn’t try to do much. As a short episode series, it is really just there to show you its train waifus. If you are looking for similar anime recommendations like Rail Romanesque, then head on down below.
Anime Like Rail Romanesque
For Fans of Trains
Rail Wars
In this alternate version of Japan, the control of the railway has been retained by the government. Due to the stability of governmental supervision, the railways have flourished. This is the tale of Naoto who aims to join the railway due to the comfortable life it will afford him. However, first he must pass strict training.
If Rail Romanesque wet your appetite for trains, then Rail Wars will more concretely satisfy it. However, it does focus on more of the training of the workers rather than the cute antics of train girls.
Tetsuko’s Travels
This is the non-fiction tale of a manga artist, his boss, and a travel writer who records their trips on Japan’s trains.
If you are a bit of a train nerd, then this little anime series, based on a manga, is for you. It is low drama and low plot because it is just a non-fiction retelling of their travels.
Miracle Train
This anime follows the members of the Oedo subway line if there were all handsome people that hung out on trains.
Similar to Rail Romanesque where the train operators are cute girls, Miracle Train turns them into handsome men.
For Fans of Hometown Helpers
Sakura Quest
In the wake of a national movement during a Bubble economy period, a small town decides to revive its tourism program and hires five women as travel ambassadors. As this series follows them for a year, we learn of the trials and tribulations that come with trying to reinvigorate a small town.
Both series follow a main character that goes home to help their town. Sakura Quest has more of a focus on the upward battle against local apathy, though it also has its comedy moments.
Amagi Brilliant Park
Kanie Seiya, a smart, but narcissistic high school student, believes that the reserved Sento Isuzu has invited him on a date to the amusement park. However, the park turns out to not only to be run down, but his date was more of job recruitment. Recruited as the new manager, can he turn this park around in just three months?
Both series follow someone trying to fix something that has become rather run down. One is a national loss of interest in rail travel, the other is an oddly run amusement park. Both have good comedy, but Amagi Brilliant Park is a lot more fleshed out.
Hanasaku Iroha
Ohana Matsumae is an energetic teenager that lives with her mother in Tokyo. However, when her mother decides to run off with a man, she is sent to the country to live with a grandmother she has never met. As it turns out, her grandmother is not only cold to her, but runs an inn. Eager to earn her keep and grandmother’s affection, Ohana begins the hard work that makes sure an inn runs smoothly.
Rail Romanesque is more focused on the revitalization of the rail line while Hanasaku is definitely more character story-oriented. However, keeping a rural inn afloat is also a bit of a subplot.
For Fans of Waifus That Are Things
Kemono Friends
Japari Park is an enclosed piece of paradise where animalistic humanoids live in peace. One day, these humanoids, known as “Friends” encounter a new Friend that doesn’t understand what species she is. This sets in motion an adventure throughout Japari Park to help her discover it, but the Friends will discover many things on their own.
Both series focus on themes and then meld cute waifus into them. In Kemono, it is basically cute girls as exotic animals whereas Rail Romanesque is cute girls as trains.
Kantai Collection
Under the threat from the Abyssal Fleet, Japan’s best defense is the Kanmusu. These girls harbor the spirits of Japanese warships. With special weaponized gear, they can harness these spirits in order to fight back.
Kantai Collection definitely has more plot, but its purpose is exactly the same as Rail Romanesque. Take something that is mechanical, and make it cute. It is fan art bait at its finest.
Uma Musume
When great racehorses pass on, there is a chance that they will be reborn as horse girls. The best of these girls are invited to train at Tokyo’s Tracen Academy to become top notch sprinters. A horse girl named Special Week is determined to become a top racer. After being captivated by the running style of Silence Suzuka, Special Week is recruited to join her running team, Spica.
Uma Musume is about girls as horses similar to how Rail Romanesque is about girls as trains. They are both short and cute, but don’t aim to be much more than cute.
Do you have any more anime recommendations like Rail Romanesque? Let fans know in the comments section below.
