Tama Densha – How to Plan Your Half-Day Trip in Wakayama
Have you heard of the Tama Densha (たま電車), a train line named after a cat that saved a rail line from bankruptcy and brought in one billion Japanese Yen of revenue to the local economy? Japan is no stranger when it comes to its creativity in its attractions and the Tama Densha train line is no exception.
Let’s explore the fascinating background behind this unique train line and how to plan a half-day trip from the city of Wakayama (和歌山).
Table of Contents
A Little Background of Tama Densha
The actual rail line itself is run by Wakayama Electric Railway and it connects the Wakayama station (和歌山駅) with Kishi Station (貴志駅). And the name of the actual line itself is called Kishigawa line (貴志川線); connecting a total of 14 stations.
Around the early 2000s however, the line was on the verge of closure with low ridership and the company had financial issues as well. The situation was so bad that even all 14 stations became unstaffed. Fortune favours the rail line however when the president adopted a young stray female calico cat named Tama (たま). Said cat was formerly taken cared by the owner of a nearby convenient store who had decided to move on and passed the cat to the president.
The president made a unique move of appointing Tama as the stationmaster of Kishi station; making her the first feline stationmaster in Japan. Tama would often been seen greeting the passengers by the ticket gates; and the feline stationmaster soon attracted many local tourists to visit Kishi station.
The presence of Tama accelerated the increase of annual passengers to about 300,000 passengers and generated one billion Yen of revenue to the local economy. So much so that they even redesigned the train’s exterior and interior to a Tama-themed train and named it Tama Densha (たま電車).
Tama would serve as the station master from 2007 until her eventual passing in 2015. Her funeral attracted thousands of fans from across Japan and she was succeeded by her successors, Nitama (二たま) and Yontama (四たま) who are also both female calico cats. Tama was so impactful that she even got her own commemorative Google Doodle as well as a X (Twitter) account with over 90 thousand followers (and still growing!).
Tama Densha - Some Basic Info Before Your Ride
Riding the Tama Densha can be done directly from Wakayama Station (和歌山駅), which is located in the city of Wakayama (和歌山), south of Osaka (大阪). The line itself starts from Wakayama Station and ends at Kishi Station (貴志駅), with a total of 14 stations. With that in mind, here are some tips to enjoy this train ride to the fullest:
- Distance: 14.3 km
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Number of stations: 14 in total; though the important ones to remember are Wakayama (和歌山), Idakiso (伊太祈曽) & Kishi (貴志) stations.
- Best time to start: Preferably morning to noon; to allow yourself more time to see the feline stationmasters and explore the stations
- Pass to Purchase: The 1-day Pass (800 Yen per pax) – 1日乗車券 which allows you to ride the trains as many times as possible.
- What to Expect: The unique design and interior of the train; plus the docile stationmaster cats
- What to Prepare: Some wonderful dress and outfits to match with the train interiors. Photos can be taken of the feline stationmasters; but bear in mind to not use flash!
- How long should I spend: At least half a day for ample time to relax and explore the main attractions
Additionally, I would also recommend checking out Wakayama Rail’s official website here prior to your visit as the website provides very detailed info about the different types of trains they offer and also the train timetables.
But First, Stay Connected with Portable Wifi!
While there are several spots in Japan that do offer Wifi, it can be difficult to access the internet in many areas. For our road trip in Japan, my wife and I used Ninja Wifi and we had an easy time travelling to even the smallest towns and secluded mountains while staying connected with our families.
Ninja Wifi offers eSIM and portable Wifi services that provided us with a stable internet connection during our road trip in Japan. In particular, the portable Wifi allows several devices to connect simultaneously and all we need to do was to scan the QR code and we easily got connected in just a minute. Book your Wifi services here with 10% discount for your next Japan trip!
Now that we got the basics out of the way, lets get into the actual train ride itself.
Riding the Tama Densha
Embark from Wakayama Station
To begin our journey, we first head to Wakayama Station (和歌山駅) in the city of Wakayama (和歌山). From the station, look for the cat paw prints and stickers that will direct us to the Tama Densha line itself.
Climb up the stairs and we will see a ticket booth to purchase the 1-day pass for the train ride.
There will be a Tama Densha stamp rally that comes with it; where you will need to visit and stamp the card at 4 specific spots to complete the picture.
These 4 specific spots are at Wakayama Station itself, any of the trains (except the Chuggington-themed train), Kishi Station (貴志駅) & Idakiso Station (伊太祈曽). Before boarding the train, be sure to stamp your card at Wakayama Station!
Here is our route for the train ride with 3 main stations to visit (with Wakayama Station being station no 1):
Tama Densha - The Trains
Apart from the feline stationmasters themselves, the star of attractions on this line are none other than the uniquely-themed trains themselves. There is the Tama Densha itself; which is designed with illustrations of Tama the cat, with the front of the train featuring cat whiskers. The interior is decorated elaborately with mainly three colours; orange, white and black which are the three colours of a calico cat.
And then, there are also the strawberry-themed train and umeboshi-themed (plum) train; as Wakayama region is known for being a major producer of both strawberries and pickled plums.
There is also a Chuggington-themed train; apparently this British animated series is also pretty popular in the region.
My personal favourite train (including my wife’s as well) however is the Tama Densha Museum train which was renewed from the previous Toy-themed train in December 2021. This train features a more luxurious design; while retaining the cat-themed design inside the carriages.
The overall classy black exterior does make you feel like you are boarding a train from the Victorian era. Upon entering, we were greeted with a colourful interior containing many illustrations and photos of the stationmaster Tama, and her successors, Nitama and Yontama (literally translates as the second and fourth Tama respectively).
There are even displays of Tama goods and merchandise throughout the carriage; together with wooden chairs with colourful cushions. And for the train to have Tama’s meow playing in the background is truly an icing on the cake.
Also, don’t forget to stamp your card inside the train!
In fact, all these beautiful and cute trains were meticulously designed by Mitooka Eiji (水戸岡鋭治); who is no stranger to many Japan train fans as he had also designed many other luxurious trains such as the Seven Stars in Kyushu, Yufuin-no-Mori and the Kyoto Tango Railway.
Visiting Nitama at Kishi Station
The final station of the line is Kishi Station (station no 2) and it’s where majority of the line’s attractions are. In particular, one shouldn’t miss out snapping a photo of the thatched-roof station that resembles a cat. Kishi Station is also where Nitama (二タマ) works and usually she can be seen inside the station booth taking a nap.
On days when she is off; her upcoming successor Gotama (ゴタマ) aka the fifth Tama will be on duty instead. For more info on their working schedule, check out Wakayama Rail’s official website here.
This is also where we pay respect to the Tama-jinja (たま大明神) next to the rail. This is where the original Tama (たま) was enshrined after she passed away in 2015. A funeral was even held with over 3,000 fans attended to pay respects and she was subsequently deified as goddess Tama Daimyojin (たま大明神).
There is even a Tama-themed cafe that offers a variety of drinks and light meals; including latte with a cat paw artwork, fish sausages nicknamed ‘hot cat’ and our personal favourite, cream soda float that is shaped like a cat.
Much like the Tama Densha, the cafe features seats that are coloured in orange, black and white to match the colours of a calico cat. And if you are looking for some Tama-related souvenirs, be sure to stop by at the souvenir shop next to the cafe.
P.S: I would recommend checking out the Kinokawa Tourist Information Center opposite the station and purchase some of their wonderful local fruit specialties such as oranges and persimmons to support the local economy.
Stopping by Idakiso Station
We then bid farewell to our dear stationmaster Nitama and board the train back to Wakayama Station. On the way back, lets check out station no 3; the Idakiso Station (伊太祈曽駅). This is where the other stationmaster, Yontama (ヨンたま) works as well as Gotama on certain days. Again, be sure to check out Wakayama Rail’s official website here beforehand.
Also, this is the 4th and final stop to stamp your rally card which will give you a lovely illustration post card featuring the caricature of all the feline stationmasters.
While waiting for the next train, I would highly recommend exploring the nearby peaceful neighbourhood as it offers a glimpse of a relaxing countryside lifestyle in Japan.
There is also a small shrine to check out which is called Itakiso-jinja (伊太祁曽神社) which is just 5 minutes walking distance from the station. It enshrines the god of trees and is known for its rustic woody architecture. Look out especially for the intricate and beautiful carvings of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac as well as the sacred tree trunk in front of the shrine’s office.
Personally, I like how the management adds the incentive to visit other stations along the way in order to visit the other stationmasters and complete the stamps.
This allows us to explore the quieter side of the region while providing opportunities for local businesses and shrines to earn money. It’s a very smart way of marketing; allowing local businesses to help each other and earn profits.
Be sure to subscribe as well as I will be covering the shrine itself in a separate article!
Other Attractions
From mid-Jan to mid-May every year, visitors to Kishi Station can also participate in strawberry picking at the Kishigawa Sightseeing Strawberry Picking Association. The strawberry farm itself is about 15 minutes walking distance from Kishi Station and is located near the AEON Mall.
The activity itself is done inside the greenhouse and it costs around 3,000 Yen per pax. As this activity does take some time, I would advise to allocate at least half-a-day for the ride on the Tama Densha itself.
Oike-yuen (大池遊園) station is also another station to look out for especially during spring and autumn seasons. The spot near the pond is well-known among local photographers and train fans who are eager to catch a view of the Tama Densha crossing the pond on the rail bridge.
And during spring and autumn, the scenery becomes even more mesmerising with the presence of the cherry blossoms and the autumn leaves respectively. The peak for the cherry blossoms is from late-Mar to early-Apr where as its late-Nov to early-Dec for the fall foliage.
Getting to Wakayama Station for Tama Densha
By Train
Wakayama can be reached by train from Osaka (大阪) and also Kyoto (京都), albeit with limited direct trains. You will need to catch the limited express train Kuroshio (くろしお) from Shin-Osaka station (新大阪駅). This limited express train serves to transport passengers across the cities in Wakayama Prefecture up until the town of Shingu (新宮).
The entire journey takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes from Osaka and we simply have to disembark at Wakayama Station (和歌山駅). You can also continue on your journey to explore other beautiful sites of Wakayama Prefecture such as Shirarahama Beach (白良浜) and the scenic Nachi Taisha (那智大社).
If you have either the Japan Rail Pass or the Kansai Wide Area Pass, then the Kuroshio ride will be covered by those passes.
By Car
As Wakayama Station is easily accessible via rail, train is the way to go if you are planning to visit the city center and Tama Densha only. However, if you want to explore further as well as the countryside, then RENTING a car will be a great option to consider.
This is for those who prefer to drive and enjoy the scenery along the way and is also the method my wife and I used to explore the coastal area of Wakayama prefecture as well as towns and cities such as Wakayama (和歌山), Shirahama (白浜) and also Nachi-Katsuura (那智勝浦).
Keen in renting a car for your next Japan road trip? Check out Tocoo for more info here.
Where to Stay Nearby
- For budget options, Guesthouse RICO and Sana Inn Town are known for their convenient locations as well as hospitable staffs.
- If you are willing to spend more for comfort, Dormy Inn Premium Wakayama offers facilities such as indoor hot spring facility and evening ramen supper. For those who desire Western-style rooms, look no further than the luxurious Daiwa Roynet Hotel.
- If you are willing to travel further and wanting to experience an open-air hot spring, consider staying at Wakayama Kada Onsen Kada Kaigetsu.
Other Relevant Articles
You might also be interested in these nearby attractions…..
Loving the content here?
Get your free Japan Hidden Gems Bucketlist!
You May Also Like
5 Unique Ways To Travel To Oita
5 Secret Kyoto Travel Tips for First Timers
