Feb 16, 2014 - The cat train of the Wakayama Electric Railroad Japan. At west side, there are three ticket gates, Central, Mio second floor and Mio underground. A few followers actually told me that they met Tama before she passed away at 16 years old. Journey 14.3km along the Kishigawa railway line to its northernmost end point and you will find yourself disembarking at Kishi Station, part of the Wakayama prefecture known for its mountainous vistas, temples and spiritual pilgrimage trails. A heart-warming trip to see “Tama”, the station master. This is the station of the famous station master, Tama the cat. The Tama train runs from platform 9 from Wakayama station along the Nankai line to the famous Kishi train station in 30 minutes. Many people have fallen in love with this cat! 7. Cat owners must know that some cats are acting like they’re the boss. It wasn’t long before a fleet of new trains was unveiled, the control car decked out with whiskers and ears to look like the face of a cat. The Kishigawa line running in Wakayama is famous for its cute feline station master, Tama. In the years before Tama died, Kishi Station appointed an apprentice, the now nine-year-old Nitama, which literally translates to 'Tama Two'. On the train, you will be amazed by their unique seats and decorations, and they have even small book shelves which allow you to enjoy reading on the train! (Image credit: Creative Commons - Takobou), (Image credit: Creative Commons - E56-129), (Image credit: Creative Commons - Sanpei), How to groom a dog: A vet's guide to brushing, bathing and clipping. Hello, I rented a car in Osaka for my trip to Wakayama prefecture. In Wakayama, you can take a cat train full of cute cats design running between Wakayama station to Kishi station. Helpful. Now, after a wait of 50 days -- the traditional mourning period according to Japanese Shinto beliefs -- there's a new cat in charge. Level Contributor . Kishi Station - where it all began . That would have been the end of the story, had it not been for Tama, who managed to endear herself to the president of the Wakayama Electric Railway, Mitsunobu Kojima, after he heard that the closure of Kishi Station would leave the little calico cat homeless. Note that only certain trains to Kishi Station are the "Cat Train", so consult the Wakayama Electric Railway train schedule link below to find out the "Cat Train" schedule. So hop aboard the Tama Train as we take you on an enchanting journey through the spiritual heart of this mystical island. Momijidani Garden is right near Wakayama Castle and it … She was the first feline station master in the world and remained one of the most loved cat in Japan even after her death. Cat Stationmaster Nitama, the cat stationmaster at Kishi Station in Wakayama, Japan is not your regular railway employee. From JR Wakayama Station (~ 90min. Please refresh the page and try again. On the way to the coast I stopped at Kishi Station for a small break. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Date of experience: March 2019. Sun-tama-tama, originally whisker-marked to be the original Tama’s successor, was sent away to Okayama for training only to have her temporary foster dad bond so deeply with her that he refused to send her back. If you like cats or railways, the Wakayama Electric Railway is worth visiting, ... Be aware there are 4 different trains and seemingly the cat train runs during the week at the moment and not at weekends. The best dry cat foods: Find the perfect kibble for your kitty, Best fish tank stand: Safe and stylish stands to support your aquarium, Best toys for pet lizards: Stimulate and entertain your reptile friend. investigator2 wrote a review Jan. 2019. And of course, there’s Tamaden or Tama’s Train, a tribute to Wakayama’s savior cat, festooned with 101 depictions of Tama, a library of cat books and Tama memorabilia for commuters to peruse. In the space of just a year, Kishi Station was officially back from the dead. Tama is a calico cat (mikeneko, 三毛猫). The Tama Train - The station master is a cat. From the eye-shaped windows and cat ears on the thatched station roof to the assortment of cat-shaped baked goods in the museum cafe and the meows that greet you when the station doors open, it soon becomes clear that Kishi Station is not your typical railway station. The Tama Train (or Tama-den) is themed around Tama, a famous cat that has become a stationmaster of Kishi station. So hop aboard the Tama Train as we take you on an enchanting journey through the spiritual heart of this mystical island. She would return the favour by happily posing for photographs with delighted travellers. Descubre (y guarda) tus propios Pines en Pinterest. It features an Omocha (toy), an Ichigo (strawberry), a Tama (cat) train and an Umeboshi (pickled plum) train will also debut in Spring 2016. She spends most of the day sleeping, even when she is supposed to be on duty and yet, she is the most important employee of the Wakayama Electric Railway. From the moment you walk into the café you feel as, 20160811_153749.jpg 1.41 MBWith movies like The Cat Returns and a global cat mascot named Hello Kitty (Kitty-chan), it’s no surprise that Japan likes cats. See more ideas about Cats, Cat training, Crazy cats. You can take the Wakayama Electric Railway train from Wakayama station. The original station master was Tama, a Calico cat who was on duty from 2007 until 2015. And for many years that’s how it stayed, with Tama revealing in the love lavishly dished out to her by all those who came and went through the station doors. Unfortunately Tama the cat has retired, but the new station manager NiTama (second Tama) is doing a great job. Believed to be able to ward off evil spirits, cats are known throughout Japan as a symbol of good luck. Wakayama line local train: Hashimoto, Gojo #8: Kiei line local train: Wakayamashi #9: Wakayama Electric Railway (Wakayama Dentetsu) Kishigawa line: Kishi: Ticket gate/Exit. In Wakayama, you can take a cat train full of cute cats design running between Wakayama station to Kishi station. Kishi Station was known for Tama the stationmaster cat, who became the mascot for … For a start, she's a cat. Shimohyōgo Station 下兵庫駅, Shimohyōgo - eki is a train station in Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture Japan. Kishi Station (貴志駅, Kishi-eki) is a train station on the Kishigawa Line in Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Wakayama Electric Railway. Your cat’s character revealed: Which one of the five cat personalities does your kitty have? Please note, some trains don't go to Kishi. If Kishi Station and the story of Tama are anything to go by, perhaps these powers really do exist. I had to wait for a while for the return train to come since the operation was less frequent. At the last stop, Kishi Station, the station master Nitama will greet you It features an Omocha (toy), an Ichigo (strawberry), a Tama (cat) train and an Umeboshi (pickled plum) train will also debut in Spring 2016. Either way, the story of how a little calico cat saved a railway line from extinction and won the hearts of a nation, is sure to go down in history as one of the greatest fur baby feats ever accomplished. Share. © Wakayama Electric Railway, home to the first feline stationmaster of a private Japanese railroad, is a local Wakayama Prefecture railroad that runs from Wakayama Station　in Wakayama City to Kishi Station in Kinokawa City, in an approximately 30-minute-long trip. Visit our corporate site. First, you have to go to Wakayama Station. In fact, far from being typical, this is perhaps Japan’s most famous station, a station that wouldn’t be here today were it not for the sweet nature of a little calico kitten. At the southernmost tip of Japan’s largest island of Honshu sits the coastal city of Wakayama, the final stop on an electric railway line that connects small rural communities with the region's main hub. Aeo, The cat café NEKO NO MISE (ねこのみせ) was opened in 2005. Unfortunately Tama the cat has retired, but the new station manager NiTama (second Tama) is doing a great job. On the train, you will be amazed by their unique seats and decorations, and they have even small book shelves which allow you to enjoy reading on the train! NY 10036. Tama Museum Kishi Station, Kinokawa Picture: The famous Tama Cat Train - Check out Tripadvisor members' 1,028 candid photos and videos. Here in Wakayama you can ride the cat themed train and meet Nitama, the station master cat. Located in Yanaka, the small storefront has a cat theme, with paw prints, cat faces, and tails ins, Cat Cafés are always magical places to be, but Temari no Ouchi (てまりのおうち) Cat Café takes it to another level! Upon meeting Tama, it was love at first sight for Kojima and after adopting her he ordered a customized stationmaster’s hat and officially gave her the title of ‘Stationmaster of Kishi Station’. And while she will always be known as the first, commuters were delighted to learn she wouldn’t be the last. But when Wakayama Electric Railway took over the line they found a unique way make it more popular. In 2007, they appointed Tama, a cat owned by a local family, as the Station Master. Kishi Station Hours: Visit and take pictures of Nitama or Yontama in their glass enclosed office everyday from 10:00-16:00. The station was near closure in 2004 because of financial problems on the rail line. Around this time, Koyama adopted Tama. Jan 3, 2016 - Stationmaster Tama is 16 years old and has been in charge of the Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan since 2008. At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking that Kishi Station is much like any of the other 8,000 plus train stations dotted throughout Japan. Wakayama Dentetsu: with family,cat train.. - See 139 traveler reviews, 454 candid photos, and great deals for Wakayama, Japan, at Tripadvisor. Station masters were selected from employees of local businesses near each station, and Koyama was officially chosen as the station manager. Japan. In 2006, with commuter numbers at an all time low, and financial hardship a constant issue, all Kishigawa's 14 stations were unstaffed, and the line was threatened with permanent closure. 8,154 posts . Tama the cat sits at her post as stationmaster at Kishi train station in Wakayama, western Japan. Transfer to Wakayama Dentetsu Kishigawa line, at Wakayama. Nice day out, especially with kids (not that we have any haha) … Read more. Known now as the ‘Honorable Eternal Station Master', Tama is the original feline stationmaster. The first train for Kishi departs at 5:55 A.M., and trains depart two or three times an hour. Knighted by the governor in 2008 for her services to the railway, a study by professor Katsuhiro Miyamoto estimates that Tama’s presence at Kishi Station in her official capacity as stationmaster between 2007 and 2015, contributed to an additional 1.1bn yen (£7.85m) worth of profit for the railway. 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