| Kishi Station | |
| Native Name: | 貴志駅 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Address: | Kishigawacho Kodo, Kinokawa-shi, Wakayama-ken 640-0413 |
| Country: | Japan |
| Coordinates: | 34.2096°N 135.312°W |
| Operator: | Wakayama Electric Railway |
| Line: | Kishigawa Line |
| Distance: | 14.3 km from |
| Platforms: | 1 side platform |
| Structure: | At-grade |
| Status: | Staffed |
| Code: | 14 |
| Passengers: | 1397 per day[1] |
| Pass Year: | FY2017 |
| Map Type: | Japan Wakayama Prefecture#Japan |
| Map Dot Label: | Kishi Station |
is a passenger railway station in located in the city of Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway company Wakayama Electric Railway.
Kishi Station is a terminal station of the Kishigawa Line, and is located 14.3 kilometers from the opposing terminus of the line at Wakayama Station.
The station consists of one deadheaded side platform serving a single bi-directional track. The station is staffed and managed by a cat.
Kishi Station opened on August 18, 1933. On February 1, 2010, the Kishi Station building was closed and demolished. Construction began on a new station facility in March, with the cat-themed new complex opened in July.[2]
Kishi Station was known for Tama the stationmaster cat, who became the mascot for the station until she died in June 2015.[3] The cat held the official position as Super Station Master.[4] [5] Tama was succeeded as Station Master by another cat, named Nitama.[6]
Since renovation, the station is housed in a cat-face-shaped building, with a Tama-theme cafe, with cat theme chairs and cakes. There is a souvenir shop with a wide range of stationery (pens, staplers and others) and Kishi Station uniforms. The Wakayama Electric Railway operates three cat-themed trains: Strawberry, Tama, and Toy.[7] The feline stationmaster works on Friday–Tuesday (10am–4pm) and is off duty on Wednesday and Thursday.
| Ridership per day | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Ridership | |
| 2011 | 1,345 | |
| 2012 | 1,340 | |
| 2013 | 1,427 | |
| 2014 | 1,415 | |
| 2015 | 1,507 | |
| 2016 | 1,425 | |
| 2017 | 1,397 | |
| 2018 | 1,358 | |
| 2019 | 1,273 | |
| 2020 | 1,212 | |
| 2021 | 1,174 | |
| 2022 | 1,132 | |