Travel with Cats: These Japanese Attractions Became Famous Because of Them

▲ The exterior of Kishi Station in Wakayama resembles a giant cat. (Photo / fromWikipedia, photo by hirorin0505)

Reporter Li Zi-yi / Comprehensive Report

Travel with some of the most popular feline stars—attractions that have become incredibly popular thanks to their adorable cat ambassadors. Greet Tama-chan, the hardworking cat stationmaster at Kishi Station in Wakayama; explore hidden shops in Onomichi City with Rara, the head of the "Backstreets Tourism Section" in Hiroshima Prefecture; or visit the new stationmaster LOVE-chan at JR Izu-Nagaoka Station in Fukushima Prefecture to experience the charm of the railway. Let cats “lead the way” for a unique travel experience and discover a different side of Japan.

▲ Left is Tama-chan, right is Tama Stationmaster. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

▲ The cat train at Kishi Station. (Photo / from Wikipedia, photo by E56-129)

Kishi Station in Wakayama, Kansai Region—New Stationmaster Tama-chan
Extremely popular both in Japan and abroad, Tama, the first stationmaster of Kishi Station, was originally a stray cat. In 2007, she was appointed as stationmaster, with her main job being to attract visitors. Many travelers came especially to see Tama, and there was even a cat-themed train in her likeness. On the fifth anniversary of her appointment, Tama-chan was named as an apprentice stationmaster, learning alongside Tama. After Tama passed away, the adorable Tama-chan took on the role of stationmaster, diligently performing her duties every day in the break room.

Tama’s cute cartoon images can be seen all over Kishi Station, and the merchandise is super adorable. The cat-faced shaped station building is also a major highlight—you must take a photo with the station in the background. Tama-chan’s own location, the “Stationmaster’s Office,” is also a popular pilgrimage spot. Since you’re here, be sure to meet the real Tama-chan. Next door, there's also a cat stationmaster café where you can take a break and write postcards. Tama’s immense popularity is also reflected in the transportation—super cute cat trains feature a white exterior adorned with playful illustrations of Tama-chan. The interiors are equally charming, with creative touches on chairs and windows, making it easy to fall in love with the adorable stationmaster everywhere you look.

▲ Cat guide Rara. (Photo / from^?瑚?光课fan page)

Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture—Section Chief Rara
Onomichi City is the largest city in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. One of its famous attractions is the "Cat’s Path," where you can often spot many cats—drawing many cat lovers for a pilgrimage. To promote tourism, the local salon’s resident cat, Rara, was appointed as section chief and guide. Through Rara’s perspective, they launched a “cat street map” to lead travelers into the alleys and introduce fun and tasty shops—a unique initiative.

Onomichi City doesn’t have a particularly large number of tourist attractions. Other than the “Cat’s Path” full of cats, the most well-known spots include the “Senkoji Park,” one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots, the Literary Path, and the Onomichi City Art Museum. As for food, Onomichi is especially famous for its ramen. With so many options, why not ask Rara if she has any personal favorites?

▲ Former Stationmaster BASU. (Photo / by reporter Yu ..., same below)

▲ New Stationmaster LOVE-chan.

Fukushima Prefecture’s Izu-Nagaoka Station—Former Stationmaster BASU and New Stationmaster LOVE-chan
Here, you can feel even closer to the stationmasters. This is Izu-Nagaoka Station in Fukushima Prefecture. A special cat sleeping room was created for the adorable feline stationmasters. Former Stationmaster BASU, who served for 16 years, and the current young Stationmaster LOVE-chan can often be seen patrolling the station and brushing past passengers’ feet. Without touching the stationmasters, you can take cute photos with BASU and LOVE-chan.

When riding the Aizu Romantic Train, you’ll find the second car decorated with vivid illustrations of BASU. The pink seats also feature BASU-themed drawings, and there’s even a BASU mailbox where you can send letters with a special cat postmark. Nearby, there are also handmade cat-shaped biscuits and keychains featuring the stationmaster’s image. When arriving at Izu-Nagaoka Station, the train stops briefly for 15 minutes, during which many passengers get off to walk around and meet BASU and LOVE-chan. Izu-Nagaoka Station is primarily focused on railway tourism, and taking the Aizu Romantic Train for a stop-by-stop journey is also a great rail adventure option.

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