The panda express - decorated with a giant panda’s face outside and panda seats inside - transports passengers from Kyoto and Osaka to Wakayama Adventure World, home to five giant pandas.
The Panda Kuroshio Smile Adventure Train, which made its maiden voyage on Saturday 5th August and officially entered service on Sunday, is intended to help lure visitors to Wakayama Adventure World in nearby Wakayama prefecture, where visitors can meet five of the cuddly black and white mammals as well as a whole host of other animals from both land and sea.
The front of the Kuroshio limited express train has been transformed into a giant panda’s face, with the train’s headlights positioned in the panda’s eyes, while the sides of the carriages feature images of some of the animals visitors can encounter at the zoo, such as zebras, polar bears, dolphins, lions and - you guessed it - yet more pandas, of both the giant and red variety. Meanwhile, the panda theme continues inside the train’s interior, with panda images on doors and other areas of the train and panda-themed headrests on every passenger seat.
The high-speed express train whisks passengers to Wakayama Adventure World, a giant wildlife theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama, made up of several areas including a safari park, aquarium and amusement park. Visitors can get up close and personal with a whole host of creatures great and small, from otters, penguins and kangaroos to ostriches, tigers and camels. The Kenya-themed safari tour, which allows visitors to see Malayan tapirs, giraffes, cheetahs, and rhinoceros, is particularly popular with visitors. The park also opens for night visits, allowing visitors to observe the nocturnal behaviour of the animals.
The star attraction, however, are the residents of Panda Land, where visitors can get acquainted with the park’s family of five gentle giants. Adventure Land has the largest number of giant pandas of any park or zoo in Japan, and also runs a successful panda breeding program - the family of bamboo-munching bears includes parents, three year-old twins and a one year-old baby.
According to the Wakayama branch of JR West, there is only one panda-themed train in operation, and the train’s schedule varies daily, meaning that it is not possible to make advance seat reservations for the panda-themed train.
The new train has been introduced to mark the 30th anniversary of JR West this year and the 40th anniversary of the theme park next year. It is scheduled to run until around November 2019, giving you plenty of time to go and get acquainted with Japan’s foremost family of giant pandas. Entry to Wakayama Adventure World costs 4500 yen (around £31.80) for adults and 2500-3500 yen (around £17.70-£24.80) for children.
A visit to Adventure World would combine with visits to these other attractions in Wakayama, which can also be accessed using a combination of the Kuroshio express and other local lines.
Where To Go in Wakayama
Mount Koya
Take a detour to visit the sacred temple complex atop this mountain near Osaka. Mt. Koya is home to over 100 temples, but the most important are Kongobuji Temple and Okunoin mausoleum. But to really appreciate the vibe, make sure you stay overnight in a shukubo (temple lodging), where you’ll get a taster of life as a Buddhist monk, sleeping on a futon, eating shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and trying optional activities such as calligraphy, Zen meditation and morning prayers.
Nearest station: Gokurabashi station
Shirahama Beach
A combined onsen (hot spring) and beach resort, Shirahama has everything you need to kick back and relax. Shirahama means “white sand” in Japanese, and as the name implies, is home to 500-metre long white sand beach. Many of the resort's hotels will see you bunking down just a few steps from the water’s edge. Shirahama is also one of Japan’s three oldest onsen, with six bathhouses open to day guests. Head to coastal Sakinoyu or Shirasuna on the sandy beach for outdoor views while you bathe.
Nearest station: Shirahama station
Nachi Taisha and Waterfall
Venture deep into Japan’s spiritual heartland and discover Kumano Sanzan, a trio of sacred shrines tucked away in deeply forested hills on the southern tip of the Kii peninsula. Of these, Nachi Taisha, home of the tallest waterfall in Japan at 133 metres, is the most scenic and also the most easily accessible by public transport. Time your visit for mid-July to witness the breathtaking Nachi-no-Ogi fire festival.
Nearest station: Shingu station
Kumano Kodo
Pilgrims have been travelling to the three Nachi shrines via a network of walking trails, known as the Kumano Kodo, for over a millennium. The network is also one of only two pilgrimage routes in the world that has been decreed a UNESCO World Heritage site, in 2004. Explore the trails’ atmospheric moss-covered, tree-lined paths under your own steam, or join a guided tour by one an expert tour company such as Walk Japan or Oku Japan.
Nearest station: Shingu station
