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Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line

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DESIGNED BY EIJI MITOOKA + DON DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Meet the popular stationmaster cat and ride the various unique trains

Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line connects Wakayama Station in Wakayama City with Kishi Station in Kinokawa City. Unique-themed trains travel the line, and at the last stop of Kishi Station, you can greet the famous cat stationmaster Nitama. Kinokawa is one of the country's leading fruit production areas and is also famous as the birthplace of Hanaoka Seishu, the first surgeon in the world to successfully perform a surgery under general anesthesia. Other sites to visit include the Roadside Station Seishu-no-Sato and Kokawa-dera Temple, the third stop along the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route of 33 Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region.

DESIGNED BY EIJI MITOOKA + DON DESIGN ASSOCIATES

The second cat stationmaster: Nitama

When you arrive at the last stop of Kishi Station, greet the stationmaster Nitama, a calico cat and the second to assume the position. Many fans come to see Nitama sitting proudly as the stationmaster, or even adorably curled up asleep. The station building is designed like the face of a cat and decorated with a traditional cypress bark thatched roof and stained-glass windows. In addition to a museum and cafe, the station also sells cute stationmaster cat souvenirs.

DESIGNED BY EIJI MITOOKA + DON DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Unique-themed trains

Both seeing and riding the unique-themed trains on the Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line is a fun experience. The Ichigo (Strawberry) Train is inspired by the fruit that is a specialty around the Kishi Station area, with a stylish design of red doors and logos against a white body. The Omocha (Toys) Train packs plastic models, action figures and capsule toy machines in a bright red car. The Tama Train is designed with 101 drawings of the charming cat stationmaster.

Assorted fruits in season throughout the year

Kinokawa City, where Kishi Station is located, is a leading producer of numerous fruits, and the production value of peaches, persimmons, pomegranates, kiwi and hassaku oranges rank among the top in the country. Fruit pickings can also be enjoyed throughout the year. At the Kinokawa Fruits Tourism Bureau found right outside of Kishi Station, you can get information on and make reservations for various activities including fruit pickings, cycling and paragliding.

Location

Name Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line
Website https://en.visitwakayama.jp/venues/venue_57/Opens in a new window. In the case of an external site, it may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.
Address 803 Kodo, Kishigawa-cho, Kinokawa-shi, Wakayama
Access Kishi Station on the Wakayama Electric Railway
Inquiries TEL: 0736-79-3700 (Kinokawa Fruits Tourism Bureau)

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