Today I Learned
Kishi Station's Cat Stationmasters: A Visit to Wakayama's Cat Railway
Visit Wakayama's cat stationmasters at Kishi Station: Tama's story, the current cats' schedules, train fares and respectful photography rules.
Kishi Station in Wakayama has a cat stationmaster and a building shaped around a cat’s face. The original celebrity was Tama; Yontama became Kishi’s stationmaster on January 7, 2026. Check the current roster when planning your visit. Wakayama Electric Railway’s history
Apparently, a small railway can make its most recognisable employee someone who sleeps through part of the working day. The surprising detail is worth seeing, but it comes with an ordinary travel problem: the cat and train schedules are separate.
Research note: This guide uses operator information checked on October 14, 2026. We have not visited in person.
The railway came first, then the cat
Tama was appointed on January 5, 2007. The operator describes her as a major contributor to the line’s revival; after her death, she became its Honorary Eternal Stationmaster. A shrine on Kishi’s platform keeps her memory part of the station. The operator’s account of the cat stationmasters
The previous operator announced its withdrawal in 2004. Local authorities agreed to preserve the line in 2005, and Wakayama Electric Railway began running it in April 2006. Line history Our reading of that timeline is that the cat became a symbol of a railway people had already worked to keep.
Kishi’s new station building followed in 2010, with a cat-face design and traditional cypress-bark roof. Station building and line background The face and the roof are two different reasons to look up before heading for the stationmaster’s room.
Which cat can you see now?
As checked on October 14, 2026, the operator lists this usual Kishi schedule:
| Cat | Scheduled time at Kishi | Usual days |
|---|---|---|
| Yontama, stationmaster | 10:00–16:00 | Friday–Tuesday; off Wednesday and Thursday |
| Rokutama, stationmaster candidate | 10:00–16:00 | Wednesday and Thursday |
These are plans, not guaranteed appearances. Health, temperature and other circumstances can mean an unexpected day off or a schedule change. The cats remain inside their stationmaster’s room; visitors cannot touch them. They do not normally wear their caps or uniforms. Current roster and visitor rules
Nitama, Tama’s successor, died in November 2025. Dated succession history Older guides naming her as the cat you will meet are out of date. Use the operator’s current roster when choosing your day.
Getting there: two timetables to check
The Kishigawa Line leaves from platform 9 at Wakayama Station. The operator gives around 30 minutes to the terminus at Kishi. Line information Allow for your separate journey to Wakayama too.
The boarding area is inside JR Wakayama’s gates, but the Kishigawa Line does not accept IC cards for travel. If transferring from JR with an IC card, use the intermediate gate’s card reader to complete the JR leg, then obtain the separate railway ticket. Consult the operator’s Wakayama Station instructions for your arrival route.
| Ticket, checked October 14, 2026 | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Wakayama–Kishi, one way | ¥480 | ¥240 |
| Kishigawa Line one-day pass | ¥1,200 | ¥600 |
Two ordinary adult fares total ¥960, so the one-day pass costs more for a simple Wakayama–Kishi return. Compare it if you plan extra rides or stops. The pass covers unlimited journeys on the Kishigawa Line for one chosen day; it is not a ticket for the JR journey to Wakayama. Ordinary fares · Pass terms and purchase points
Check your outward and return trains in the date-specific official timetable. If you want a particular themed train, check its assignment too: the operator warns that vehicles can change without notice. Kishi Station has no car park; roadside parking is prohibited. Train and parking guidance
Let a sleeping stationmaster sleep
The operator asks visitors not to tap the glass, wake a sleeping cat or try to attract its attention. Do not use flash. A quiet photograph through the window is a better souvenir than making the cat perform for one. Photography and animal-contact rules
There is more to a visit than a sighting. The Tama Cafe normally opens 10:00–16:00, and the shop 10:00–16:30; maintenance, bad weather or disrupted services can alter that. The cafe and shop accept several cashless methods for ordinary purchases, but the operator excludes tickets from those payment methods. Bring cash for the railway. Cafe, shop and payment information
We have not bought a ticket or verified a complete step-free route. Plan with the operator’s current information, and leave enough flexibility for a sleepy or absent cat.
If the railway itself interests you, read why Japanese railway staff use pointing and calling. For another surprising piece of Kansai infrastructure, see Osaka’s Gate Tower Building. Our Curious Japan collection connects places with the stories behind them.
Station exterior, August 12, 2014. Photo: nobu3withfoxy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. The source JPEG is unedited; display uses cropping and slight colour adjustments.
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