This week, we embark on a two-day trip of enquiry and discovery on Nankai Electric Railway’s Koya Line. It connects Osaka Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture. There are 41 stations, spanning a total distance of 64.5km. The Nankai Electric Railway was established in 1885. The Koya Line, connecting Shiomibashi Station to Gokurakubashi Station, was opened in 1929. Our journey begins from Shiomibashi Station in Naniwa Ward, Osaka City.
After this, we take the 10.40am train from Abikomae Station and head to Hagiharatenjin Station, eight stops away. The train crosses Yamato River and we arrive at Hagiharatenjin at 11am. Upon making enquiries, we are advised to visit the Osaka branch shrine of the famous Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture. The former is located near Hatsushiba, one stop before Hagiharatenjin, so we have to walk back to that station. We learn there are branch shrines of Izumo Taisha in each prefecture of Japan.
We next take the 12.35pm train and ask a passenger for recommended spots. He tells us about the Sayama Pond near Osakasayamashi Station. The oldest pond in Japan, it also has a museum dedicated to it. The passenger also suggests we visit Flour, a bakery near the pond which is known for its lunch menu. So we alight at Osakasayamashi Station and go to the bakery. We can see the Sayama Pond from the bakery.