OSAKA (Kyodo) — The four-carriage Gran Tenku, a new sightseeing train that connects Osaka to Mt. Koya, a UNESCO world heritage site in Wakayama Prefecture, began operations on Friday.
Succeeding the Tenku service, which ended in March, the train offers the operator’s first onboard meal service in roughly a century, as part of an effort to accommodate a broad range of demand from foreign visitors and other tourists, said Nankai Electric Railway Co.
The train can carry 70 passengers and make two daily round trips in the morning and afternoon between Namba Station in Osaka and Gokurakubashi Station in Koya, Wakayama, in approximately 90 minutes.
Passengers can transfer to the cable car bound for Mt. Koya at the final stop of the Koya line.
Each carriage features a distinct interior design, with the third car offering light meals and a lounge area where exclusive goods are sold.
The fourth car, which includes sofa seating, allows passengers to enjoy dishes made with seasonal ingredients from Osaka and Wakayama prefectures.
“I want it to become a beloved train that conveys the appeal of Mt. Koya and areas along its route,” an official of the railway company said.
AloJapan.com