Nankai Electric Railway's "Medetai Densha Sachi" — a beloved sightseeing train running along the Kada Line in Wakayama City — is celebrating its 10th anniversary since launching in April 2016. To mark the milestone, a "Medetai Densha 10th Anniversary Event" is scheduled for Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, 2026, with activities at Isonoura Beach, Kada Station, and Wakayama Depot.
Highlights include a marché featuring locally caught sea bream, a train wash experience, a children's conductor uniform photo shoot, and a special commemorative ticket letting kids ride the Kada Line all day for just 10 yen.
Born as a Symbol of the Kada Revitalization Project
Before "Medetai Densha Sachi" came along, the Kada area — once a lively seaside destination for beachgoers and fishing enthusiasts — had been slowly losing its vitality, with ridership on the Kada Line trending downward. In response, Nankai Electric Railway joined forces with the Kada Tourism Association and the Isonoura Tourism Association to launch the "Kada Sakana Line Project," an initiative to highlight the area's charms: fresh seafood, scenic coastal scenery, and hot springs. Tourism-themed station name boards were installed at stations along the line (Higashi-Matsue to Kada Station), and visitor campaigns were introduced.
In April 2016, "Medetai Densha Sachi" debuted as the symbol of this project. Conceived around the themes of Kada's famous sea bream and the matchmaking traditions of Awashima Shrine, the train was designed to make passengers feel "omedetai" (joyfully auspicious) and to create a ride experience so special that passengers never want it to end.
A Growing Family of Trains Beloved by Locals
The year after Sachi's debut, a second train — "Medetai Densha Kai" — entered service. The two were later "married" in a series of wedding and honeymoon events. In March 2019, their "child," Medetai Densha Nana, joined the family. September 2021 brought "Medetai Densha Kashira," Sachi's "older brother," and in July 2024, the "distant ancestor" of the train family, "Medetai Densha Kanata," began service.
Over the decade, the trains have become woven into local life — shops in the area sell merchandise featuring the train designs, and elementary school students from nearby communities have been invited to debut ceremonies for each new train.
Comments from the Project Team
Kazuyuki Sugimoto of Nankai Electric Railway's Railway Division Business Planning Department reflected on the anniversary:
"Thanks to the support of our passengers and everyone along the line, Medetai Densha has reached its 10th anniversary. We set out to create a train that makes you feel happy just by riding it, and hearing smiles and kind words from passengers along the way has made it all worthwhile."
On the upcoming event, Sugimoto added:
"For this milestone event, I'd love for longtime passengers to rediscover something familiar, and for first-time visitors to find something new. Whether you're taking photos, admiring the train's interior decorations, or just strolling through the Kada area at your own pace — I hope everyone can enjoy it freely. If this event inspires people to think 'I want to ride again' or 'I want to come back,' that would make me very happy."
Looking ahead, the goal for the Kada Sakana Line and Medetai Densha is to remain a place and train that people feel like visiting on a whim:
"We'll keep the fun and warmth we've always valued, while bringing fresh experiences through seasonal events and community partnerships. We want the line to be somewhere new discoveries await, no matter how many times you visit — somewhere both tourists and locals can enjoy as a casual part of everyday life."
Event Highlights
① Kada Sea Bream Marché & Workshop at Kada Station
Around 11 vendors from along the Kada Sakana Line will set up stalls at Kada Station. Highlights include seasonal Kada sea bream dishes and sea bream-inspired sweets. A workshop where visitors can craft accessories from items gathered on the Kada coast is also planned.
Selected stall menu items:
Medetai Shokudo: Tai chazuke (sea bream served over rice with dashi broth)
(Subject to change depending on the day's catch)
En: Ice cream topped with a sea bream-shaped monaka wafer
Medetai Yaki Yahata-mae: Fish-shaped snacks styled after the Medetai Densha logo
② Family-Friendly Activities for Train Enthusiasts
Train Wash Experience & Children's Conductor Uniform Photo Shoot (Wakayama Depot)
Guided by a station master, visitors can participate in washing a Medetai Densha train. Children can also try on a Nankai Electric Railway conductor's uniform for a commemorative photo.
- Times: 10:00 AM / 11:00 AM each day (approx. 20 minutes per session)
- Check-in: Wakayama Depot entrance, at least 10 minutes before your chosen session
- Train wash: open to all ages; uniform photo shoot: children only
- Participation may be limited depending on visitor numbers
Mini Train (Kanata) Ride & Inflatable Dome (Kada Junior High School Gymnasium)
- Hours: 10:00 AM–3:00 PM each day
- Price: 300 yen per activity
Medetai Densha Hanging Straps for Sale (Kada Station)
Authentic hanging straps from the Medetai Densha trains are available for purchase.
- Hours: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM each day (while supplies last)
- Price: 5,000 yen each
- Quantity: 20 total (10 per day, limit 1 per person)
"Medetai Densha 10th Anniversary Commemorative Admission Tickets" Pre-Sale (Kada Station)
A collectible ticket set featuring profiles of all five Medetai Densha trains and a historical Kada Line timeline. Includes hardcard admission tickets for all eight stations on the Kada Line, reproduced in a design style from the Showa 40s era (1960s).
- Hours: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM each day
- Price: 1,500 yen (tax included)
- Bonus: The first 100 visitors each day receive reproduction admission tickets for Kitajima Station and Shimabashi Station — two Kada Line stops discontinued in 1966
- Available online from April 29, 2026 (Wednesday); bonus tickets not included for online purchases
Additional activities at Isonoura Beach include a "serious tag" game and a prize lottery. For full event details, see the official event PDF.
10-Yen All-Day Ride Ticket for Children
A special "Medetai Densha 10th Anniversary Commemorative Ticket" is being issued for the event period. Available exclusively for children, this QR-code pass allows unlimited travel on the Kada Line (Wakayama-shi Station to Kada Station) for just 10 yen.
Children departing from participating Nankai Main Line stations in Osaka (Namba to Koyashi) can board at Isonoura or Kada Station and ride the Kada Line unlimited for the rest of the day. The return journey on the Kada Line back to Osaka is also covered.
Ticket holders additionally receive a 300-yen discount coupon valid at food trucks operating at the Isonoura Beach venue.
Ticket details:
- Available to: Children only (no adult version available)
- Price: 10 yen
- Sale period: Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 26, 2026 (until 2:00 PM)
- Valid dates: Saturday, April 25 or Sunday, April 26, 2026 (valid for one day only)
- Purchase: Nankai Digital Ticket official site
Route coverage:
Outbound:
- Boarding stations: Any Nankai Main Line station from Namba to Koyashi (including Imamiya-Ebisu and Haginochaya)
- Alighting stations: Isonoura Station or Kada Station
- After alighting: Unlimited travel on the Kada Line (Wakayama-shi Station to Kada Station)
Return:
- Boarding stations: Any Kada Line station (Wakayama-shi to Kada)
- Alighting stations: Any Nankai Main Line station from Namba to Koyashi (including Imamiya-Ebisu and Haginochaya)
Coupon bonus:
- A 300-yen discount coupon valid at food trucks at the Isonoura Beach venue is given upon showing the ticket
- Available to the first 100 visitors per day (while supplies last), distributed at the Nankai Electric Railway booth inside the Isonoura Beach parking area
- The ticket must have a valid entry record to qualify
Medetai Densha official website: https://www.nankai.co.jp/kada/medetai.html
Official Instagram "Kadastagram": https://www.instagram.com/kadastagram/
