Giovanni is a lonely young boy from a poor family who has to work every day after school to support his family, take care of his seriously ill mother, and wait for news from his father who has gone out to fish. One day, Giovanni, tired from work, falls asleep on a nearby hillside. Unknowingly, he boards a fantastic train, soaring in the hazy pale blue sky, and discovers that his good friend Campanella is also on the train. The two embark on a colorful and dreamlike journey on the Galactic Railroad, as unbelievable as a dream. However, Giovanni does not realize what all the passengers have in common, and the final destination of the Galaxy Express...