Mie Wakayama: Station Master Cat Tama, Wakayama Castle [Trip Day 4.1] たま駅長・和歌山城

Trip itinerary and map

For our next destination in Wakayama, we would be going to meet Tama the Cat, who holds the post as the “station master” of the rural train line Wakayama Electric Rail Kishigawa Line (和歌山電鉄貴志川線).

: Returning to Hashimoto Station (橋本駅) first after the Koyasan visit.

: Not much time for a restaurant, we bought some local Wakayama strawberries from a store.

Station Master, Tama the Cat (たま駅長)

Many rural train lines in Japan are facing closure due to low number of passengers. Kishigawa Line was facing the same problem, but the company president came up with this idea of assigning a cat as one of the station staff. It’s job is, quoting his original words, “just being there, doesn’t have to do anything” (「何もしなくてそこにいればいいよ」). And together with some clever marketing, this became a hugely popular tourist attraction, and the train line was saved from the risk of closure serving dwindling numbers of local commuters.

: Changing train at Wakayama station to the Kishi Line. See all the Tama pictures on the wall, as well as cat foot prints on the stairs!

: Apart from the normal commuter train, there are 3 special (tourist-oriented) trains on the Kishi Line. This is the Omocha Train (“toy” in Japanese). Check the train schedule if you’re looking to ride a specific train.

: Inside the Omocha Train. Some display cupboards with toy models.

: After about 45 minutes we arrived at the last stop, Kishi Station (貴志駅). Just outside the ticket gate, Tama the cat was there doing what cat usually does – sleeping. (Don’t worry about the red sign – it’s just no flash. Photos are ok.)

: Another angle to see Tama’s face. Note that this is actually Tama the Second (二タマ); the first Tama had passed away last year.

: Tama’s hat.

: Outside Kishi Station (貴志駅).

: The roof is shaped like a cat.

: Little shrine behind the station dedicated to Tama.

In Kishi Station there’s a Tama-themed cafe and a souvenir shop selling various Tama goods. The only other main place of interest nearby is a farm for strawberry-picking but it’s closed on our day of visit (as it was on a weekday), otherwise it isn’t much different to any other normal rural town in Japan. As the weather is nice and we still had some time before the next train, we took a walk around. (At least one good thing is most tourists don’t venture out of the station much so it’s still peaceful elsewhere).

: Fields just a short walk from the station.

: Hiraike Park (平池緑地公園)

: On our way back to Wakayama, we made a stop at at Idakiso Station(伊太祈曽駅).

: Again it’s a normal rural town; but we were interested in the gelato shop there featured in the tourist leaflet.

: Outside the gelato shop.

: And then we continued on the Strawberry Train (いちご電車). So we got to see 2 of the 3 special trains, but had to miss the remaining Tama Train.

: Inside the Strawberry Train.

Wakayama Castle (和歌山城)

: Wakayama Castle (和歌山城)

Back in Wakayama, there was still some time before evening. After sorting out our Tokyo-bound train tickets, we saw a sign for Wakayama Castle “20 minutes away”, so thought might as well go for a look. Well, turned out that’s more like time required if you run.

: Wakayama JR Station (和歌山駅) and the attached MIO shopping mall.

: Got our return train tickets to Tokyo at a discount ticket shop. There’s a special combo ticket for travelling from Wakayama to Tokyo via Kuroshio Express plus Shinkansen. (not valid for the opposite way though – harsher to Tokyo people?)

: Finally, after a long walk, the Wakayama Castle entrance.

: Still some more to climb before getting to the keep.

: Wakayama Castle (和歌山城)

: It’s already closed by the time we got there. We didn’t intend to go in anyway, a look outside was sufficient.

After all the walking we took a bus back to the station. Ahead of us would be a 4-hour plus train ride. We had to get dinner first, and we came across an excellent local Izakaya next to the station.