Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. has announced that it will begin operating its new sightseeing train, ‘GRAN Tenku’, on Friday, April 24, 2026. An unveiling ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday, March 29, ahead of the official launch, with further details to be announced in due course.
The new train will operate between Osaka’s Namba Station and Gokurakubashi Station on the Koya Line, replacing the existing “Tenku” sightseeing train that currently runs between Hashimoto and Gokurakubashi.
The approximately 90-minute journey is designed to offer a refined and immersive travel experience, combining panoramic countryside views with a serene onboard atmosphere and attentive hospitality. Passengers will be able to enjoy seasonal breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea menus while taking in scenic vistas along the route to Mount Koya.
GRAN Tenku will operate two round-trip per day. Scheduled departures are:
From Namba Station: 9:00 AM and 12:45 PM
From Gokurakubashi Station: 10:46 AM (10:48 AM on weekends and holidays) and 2:58 PM
The train will stop at the following stations: Namba, Shin-Imamiya, Tengachaya, Sakaihigashi, Kongo, Kawachinagano, Rinkan-Denen-Toshi, Hashimoto, Kudoyama and Gokurakubashi.
Nankai Railway stated that the new service aims to provide passengers with a calm and elegant travel experience while enhancing tourism access to the historic Mount Koya region. Further operational details, including fares and service features, have also been confirmed as part of the launch announcement.
AloJapan.com