Kishigawa Line is a railway line in Wakayama. The line has 14 stations, which extends from Wakayama staion to Kishi Station. Kishi Station has appointed a cat named Tama as its stationmaster and has cute themed trains in a bid to attract passengers and avoid its fate of facing closure.
Arriving at Kansai Airport on the first day. Since I bought the Kansai Through Pass for 3 days, I wasted no time to take the Nankai train to Wakayama.
From Wakayamashi station, I have to take JR train to Wakayama station where the Kishigawa Line starts.
Arriving at JR Wakayama station. This is where I transferred to Kishigawa Line.
It is recommended to buy a One-day-pass which costs 780 yen for adult and 390 yen for child because a one-way ticket from Wakayama to Kishi already cost 400 yen for adult and 200 yen for child. With the pass, you can enjoy unlimited ride within the same day.
Here comes Tama train! It has cat ears and whiskers. The time table of the trains can be checked here http://www.wakayama-dentetsu.co.jp/timetable_list/ by selecting the dates. Please note that only Japanese version of the website has the time table.
Tamaden is the cutest themed train of Kishigawa Line. It has four other themed trains such as Ichigoden (Strawberry Train), Omochaden (Toy Train), Picture letter train and Umeboshiden (Plum Train).
There are 101 Tama drawn on the train body. Every Tama has a unique facial expressions!
Interior of the train is also cat themed. Cat lovers will love this train.
Seats with cat ears.
It even has a mini library on-board, filled with cat themed books. Unfortunately, the books are in Japanese.
A cat cage?
A bronze memorial plate of Tama, the beloved station master.
Cuteness overload with cat themed seats. The seats uses the same three colours as Tama (orange, white and black). Simply kawaii…
Cat banners in the train.
The train passed by rural and residential areas in Wakayama.
From Wakayama station, the train ride takes about 32 minutes to reach Kishi station.
The biggest Tama drawn on the train.
Visitors simply can’t resist taking selfie with Tama.
Small shrine near Kishi station.
You can buy a Votive Tablet at “TAMA” shop and write your wish on it. Then hang its right half and keep the left half with you. It is said that your wish will come true.
The train stops at Kishi station for a while before heading back.
If you don’t want to ride the train, you can buy a platform ticket (190 yen) to enter the platform and take pictures with the train.
These are the name of sponsors to the renovation of Kishi station.
There is a strawberry farm nearby the station, just a 14-minute walk.
Tama, was a female calico cat who gained fame for being a station master at Kishi Station on the Kishigawa Line.
The current station master and operating officer at Kishi Station is Nitama who took over Tama’s position after Tama died in June 2015.
Nitama was sleeping while I was there. Nitama’s day-off are on Wednesday and Thursday.
When taking photos of Nitama, beware not to use flash and don’t hit on the window to disturb her.
Tama tiles on the floor.
Even the clock has Tama on it.
Don’t forget to get a Tama stamp on your passport or notebook as memento.
TAMA cafe is open from 9.15am to 17.15pm and closed on third Wednesday.
Interior of TAMA cafe. Of course, everything is cat theme. Even the wooden chairs has cat ears. Drinks or gelato starts from 310 yen.
Last but not least, remember to take a photo in front of Kishi Station. The building of Kishi Station is a cat-face-shaped!
Even the toilet has posters of Tama.
There is also a souvenir shop at the station.
Everything from T-shirts to postcards has motives of Tama on it.
On the way back, I took the Ichigoden. A bronze plaque with a strawberry on it adorns the front of the train.
Ichigoden was inspired by strawberries, a specialty of Kishi Station.
The train is painted in red and white.
The interior of the train is decorated with strawberry motives everywhere.
Seats with different pattern in another car.
Goodbye, Tama. Never thought train travel can be so cute and fun.
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