Wakayama Attractions | Visit the Cat Station Master on the Mysterious Platform 9 on the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line

To board the Wakayama Electric Railway's Kishigawa Line, you must cross the JR Wakayama platform. You don't need to purchase a ticket and speak to the station attendant. Then, walk through the JR station's underground passage to Platform 9. The Kishigawa Line currently runs from Wakayama Station to Kishi Station, with 14 stations along a total length of 14.3 kilometers. Of these, only Wakayama, Itaikiso, and Kishi Stations are staffed; the rest are unmanned. A one-day pass is recommended, allowing unlimited boarding and hopping.

Transportation Tips: Because the Kishigawa Line shares a common route with JR Wakayama Station, the most convenient way to reach JR Wakayama Station from Osaka is to take the JR Itawa Line, which terminates at Wakayama Station. From JR Osaka Station (Umeda), take the Osaka Loop Line, allowing boarding and hopping from JR Fukushima Station to JR Tennoji Station. At JR Tennoji Station, continue downhill toward Kansai Airport and Wakayama. Station signs will usually indicate that the Kishuro Rapid Railway will definitely reach Wakayama. Sometimes, you'll see signs indicating that both the Kishuro Rapid Railway and the Kansai-Airport Rapid Railway stop at the same platform. This means that upon arriving at JR Hineno Station, the train will split into two trains bound for JR Wakayama Station and JR Kansai-Airport Station, respectively. Be sure to check the destinations displayed on the side of the train before boarding.

The Kishigawa Line features several sightseeing trains with local characteristics. Since 2007, the first cat, Tama, has served as stationmaster, bringing countless tourists to the Kishigawa Line. Tama is now the fourth stationmaster and arrives at 10 a.m. to greet customers. However, to capture a less crowded sightseeing train, I boarded a train at 8 a.m. It was so lightly packed, practically chartered. Current sightseeing trains include the Tama, Strawberry, Meisei, Chuckington, and Museum, each with its own unique characteristics and operating on different days and times. If you want to capture the sightseeing train with few people, be sure to depart before 10:00 AM, as after that, the crowds will be packed, not only filling the train but even in front of Kodama Station.

Kishi Station is the final stop, where Kodama Station is still dozing off. You can enjoy a snack or buy some souvenirs at the station's café. Along the way, you'll also find Idaki-so Station, which not only has another stationmaster on duty but also houses the thousand-year-old Ichinomiya Idaki-so Shrine in Kii Province. Then there's Nie-mi-gu Station, a 10-minute walk away from Nie-mi-gu Shrine, boasting over 2,600 years of history. The shrine grounds are surrounded by a lush forest, housing the shrine, a temple steeped in the veins of time. The forest, isolated from the world, offers a soothing and tranquil experience. The scenery along the Kishigawa Line is truly a must-see when visiting Wakayama.

Post by 大叔衝日本 | Sep 15, 2025