Nankai's "Medetai" Trains
Medetai Densha pink MySecretWakayama)
Trains like fish in water
The private company Nankai runs three trains representing a family of fish on a small line to Wakayama, the Kada Sakana, for a good time and a taste of sea bream, the local specialty.
We wish you the best
"medetai" is a play on words, combining "omedeto", when you wish for something at a party, and "tai", meaning sea bream. "Medetai train" is the dorado train that wishes you to come and travel on board, in a very maritime atmosphere. Fish are everywhere, with the train livery itself resembling a gigantic fish, eyes in the front door window and scales on the sides.
Three dorado trains run on the Kada sakana line (sakana = fish), the blue daddy train 'Kai' like the ocean, the pink mommy train 'Sachi' and the red child dorado train 'Nana' filled with good luck charms like this happy birth.
It seems that a new child has recently been born, a black dorado train..
In these trains, you're immersed in the aquatic world, with benches filled with fish designs, cute handles in the shape of fish, crab, shell, turtle, and even a heart-shaped one in the 'Sachi', to find and try out together to increase your seductive power. Schools of fish bob about on the floor, multiple sea creatures on the bench seats as if you were at the bottom of the ocean, little octopuses flying from the ceiling. When the 'Kai' doors close, octopuses gobble up little fish, and you can even surf on the plank designs on the floor! Other famous characters, such as Manekineko and Daruma in 'Nana', also join the party.
Terminus Kada
These colorful trains run along the small Kada Sakana line, just under 10km long, linking the town of Wakayama to Kada, a fishing village turned seaside resort known for its beach, the beautiful Awashima temple, the "temple for women", as this is where the region's geisha dolls end their careers. Many of them are on display here.
As the speciality is sea bream, you won't want to miss out on a tasting session, which several establishments offer, including the renowned 'Inasa' sushi restaurant on the harbour.
One station before the Kada terminus, the Isono-Ura station offers direct access to a large beach, reserved more for surfers, who are far more numerous than bathers waiting for the wave in the water.
Sea bream Restaurant Inasa, Kada (Nankai)
To get there, take an express train from Nankai Namba station, a "Sazan Southern Express" (58 minutes, 970 yen for the journey + 520 yen reservation) for a quick trip to Wakayama. From Wakayama-shi station, you can take a Medetai train for a 23-minute journey (370 yen).
