hidden gem

Kaizuka City

Experience driving a local train! Discover the retro charm of Mizuma Railway where famous Showa-era trains run, and the surrounding area

2025.01.31

The "1-Day Local Tour" will take you through hidden Osaka spots only known to those in the know. This time, we will be introducing Kaizuka City which is easily accessible from Kansai International Airport and Namba. Amano Jack of the Mizuma Railway a local railway that connects Kaizuka Station and Mizumakannon Station, will be your guide, providing a thorough introduction to the charms of the trains and the area along the line. Don't miss the train driving experience!

Kaizuka City thriving with manufacturing and local vegetable cultivation. There is a retro shopping street in Nankai Kaizuka Station, and near Kishu Kaido that runs north and south through the city, there is Jinanimachi, where houses from the Edo to Meiji periods remain. Many of the buildings are designated as national tangible cultural properties, and thanks to the cooperation of local residents, the historic townscape has been preserved.

A magnificent townhouse with Mushikomado in Jinanimachi

The Mizuma Railway runs through the town of Kaizuka on a single track. It is a transfer station for the Nankai Electric Railway, and it is about 5.5 kilometers from Kaizuka Station, the starting station, to Mizumakannon Station the last stop. It is not a long distance, but it is packed with elements that allow you to fully experience the charm of railways.

Railroad fans are sure to be impressed by Japan's first all-stainless steel rolling stock and a station building made with rails manufactured in 19th-century America. What's more, you can even display an original headmark and experience driving a train! Amano Jack from the Business Planning Department of Mizuma Railway Co.Ltd. will introduce Mizuma Railway and its line, which become more fascinating the more you learn about it. Why not spend a relaxing holiday with your family in Kaizuka City, where the old-fashioned townscape unfolds?

＼Today’s Guide／

Amano Jack

Originally from Osaka Prefecture, he lived in the United States for over 10 years before joining Mizuma Railway Co.Ltd. in his hometown of Kaizuka. He is currently manager of the Railway Department and Business Planning Department. He has planned events such as the "Dagashi Train" and the "Digital Art Festival at Mizumakannon," and is working to revitalize Kaizuka City and the area along the railway line.

First, fill your stomach! Enjoy some fragrant soba noodles for lunch

Once we arrived at Kaizuka Station, we started off with lunch. It was about a five-minute walk from the station to "Teuchi Soba Sentaro," recommended by Amano.

The interior of the store has a warm atmosphere. It is designed to resemble a ship, and the round window at the entrance and the chairs that resemble buoys are very cute.

The soba noodles here are "Soto-ni soba" with a 10:2 ratio of buckwheat flour to wheat flour. Compared to Nihachi Soba, you can enjoy a stronger soba flavor. Another point is that they are milled in-house using buckwheat flour procured from all over Japan.

I ordered the popular "Tempura and Soba" service set for 1,980 yen.

As you slurp the refreshing soba noodles, the concentrated flavor and aroma that only handmade noodles can offer fills your mouth. In addition to vegetable tempura, you can also choose your main dish from giant conger eel, shrimp, or chicken, which is a nice touch. Since I was there, I decided to try the conger eel, a local fish from Senshu. The large conger eel stretched from one end of the plate to the other, and was fluffy and delicious! The pickled ginger tempura also gave me a taste of Osaka.

"We're just doing the obvious things," says the owner, Mr. Sasaki.

The store's name comes from the name of his great-grandfather, who was actually the first Kaizuka City!

The soba soup is really delicious! It's rich and full of the umami of the broth, but the aroma of the soba is not overpowered. Please enjoy this combination.

Handmade Soba Sentaro

3-7-9 Umizuka, Kaizuka City Osaka Prefecture

Google maps

Business hours: 11:30-14:00 (LO) / 18:00-20:30 (LO) *Dinner hours only on Saturdays and Sundays
Closed: Thursdays and the third Sunday of every month
Phone number: 072-477-6559
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Stroll through Jinanimachi, where traditional townscapes remain

When you exit the west exit of Kaizuka Station, you will find a retro shopping street full of nostalgia.

A little way from the station is Jinanimachi formed around Gansenji, a place of worship for the locals, where you will find a wide streetscape with buildings from the Edo and Meiji periods remaining.

Among the Jinanimachi, "Oshitasuji" (Otasuji), where there was a government office called Kaizuka Bank and Bokuhan Goverment office, was the main street of this city until the Taisho era. Some of the buildings remain from the Genroku period, which was taken over by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun of the Edo shogunate!

Even now, local residents are working together to preserve and utilize the building, and Kaizuka Jinaimachi History and Culture Center was renovated from part of a soy sauce storehouse, displays carefully preserved local products and antiques. You can get a glimpse into the history of Kaizuka and the lives of its people since ancient times.

Kaizuka City 's traditional craft, boxwood combs, accounts for 70% of the national production share

Gansenji has a history of donating Mizunoko (hattaiko) to the Tokugawa family, and a letter of Tanuma Okitsugu remains.

Scissors that convey the past to the present

Mr. Shoki, an evil spirit that protects the house. Gold on the roof tiles, a construction not often seen.

The buildings in this area all retain the traditional townhouse architecture, with features such as a "tushinikai" (Tsushinikai) and "Mushikomado" (cage-caged windows). This time, we were given special permission to go up into one of these houses and look out over the street through Mushikomado. The house opposite is a building that dates back to 1833 (Tenpo 4). This means that from here you can see the townscape as it has since the Edo period.

The town itself is a museum! Take a stroll through the streets where traditional buildings remain and experience the history of Kaizuka. There are also an increasing number of shops renovated from tenement houses and old folk houses, and the interiors and furnishings are well worth seeing.

Kaizuka Jinaimachi History and Culture Center

18-10 Kitamachi Kaizuka City Osaka Prefecture

Google maps

Business hours: Please inquire by phone
Closed: Please inquire by phone
Phone number: 090-7884-7656 (Kaizuka Town Development Co., Ltd.)

Check out Japan's first all-stainless steel train cars and a station building that uses rails made in America in the 19th century! From Kaizuka Station to Mizumakannon Station

We headed back to Kaizuka Station to board Mizuma Railway. The impressive station sign was created by calligrapher Juichi Yoshikawa, who is known for his title calligraphy for the popular manga series "Vagabond."

Mizuma Railway was built for people visiting Mizumadera Temple, which is located at the end of the line, and is a historic railway that will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025 since the start of railway operations.

The first thing to note is that this is Japan's first all-stainless steel train!

The exterior is made of corrugated board

The 7000 series was introduced by Tokyu Railways in 1962. Mizuma Railway received the trains from Tokyu Railways in 1990, and converted them into 1000 series trains equipped with air conditioning and heating. This means that the trains have a longer history with Mizuma Railway than with Tokyu!

The Tokyu emblem remains on the body of the train, and even though it has a simple design, it still has a cool, sparkling appearance.

And one thing worth noting is the headmark. Mizuma Railway will create and display an original headmark if you pay an advertising fee! This is a popular service used for surprises such as family celebrations and anniversaries, as well as for promoting companies and events, and this time we had Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau logo displayed. At 11,000 yen for 10 days (operating for about 5 days), it's a very reasonable price for railway advertising, and the great thing about this ticket is that they will give you the headmark as a gift after the period ends!

Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau headmark will be displayed from February 1st to 10th, 2025.

The station building is also noteworthy, as it uses rails made by the American Carnegie Steel Company in the 1890s.

Even if you're not an expert on railways, don't you find it romantic that the station building is supported by rails made in America before the birth of Mizuma Railway?

There are many other attractions that will delight railway fans, and both the trains and stations are filled with a nostalgic atmosphere.

Electric fans are now almost unheard of in trains.

The sound of the train running has also attracted attention from train enthusiasts who enjoy listening to the trains.

After about 15 minutes on Mizuma Railway from Kaizuka Station, we arrived at the final Mizumakannon Station!

The station building, constructed in 1926 (Taisho 15), was modeled after a Buddhist temple. The area in front of the ticket gates apparently has a Western-style atrium structure, and its unique design will make you feel like you're on a short trip.

The "Dagashi Train" is a train that has been converted into a candy store.

"Digital Art Festival in Mizumakannon" where Mizumadera Temple is decorated with projection mapping

Mizuma Railway also hosts a variety of events, centered around Mizumakannon Station. The "Dagashi Train," which operates by turning the inside of the train into a candy store, is obviously very popular with children. It's also perfect for a family outing. There is also the "Digital Art Festival in Mizumakannon," where Mizumadera Temple, Mizuma Railway station, trains, and the area along the line are colorfully lit up.

Of all the events at Mizuma Railway, the one that receives the most applications is the "Train Driving Experience" held at the Mizuma Railway Depot. This is not a simulation game, but a rare opportunity to actually run and stop a train!

This time we will be experiencing this at the end of our one-day local tour, but before that, let's go and visit Mizumadera Temple.

The nostalgic atmosphere of the station and trains will make you feel nostalgic. There are some points that train fans and children who love trains will enjoy. Mizuma Railway also holds various events to entertain locals and visitors, so be sure to check them out.

Kaizuka Station

137 Umizuka, Kaizuka City Osaka Prefecture

Google maps

Phone number: 072-422-4567 (Mizuma Railway Co.Ltd.)
Official website

Follow the 16 children to the old pilgrimage route to Mizumadera Temple. There is also a cafe called "Kissa Toshoshitsu" that is perfect for a break.

Mizuma-Mizumadera Temple, commonly known as "Mizumakannon," is said to have been founded by Gyoki. It has been in this area since the Nara period and has been loved by people as a Kannon statue that wards off evil.

The road, named "Mizumadera Temple Evil Avoidance Road," takes about 15 minutes. Along the way, you will be greeted by the "Statues of the Sixteen Children," which are associated with the legend of the Sixteen Children who are said to have led Gyoki to Kannon Bodhisattva.

Their funny appearance made me smile. "They're over there!" "They're over here too!" I greeted the children along the way as I climbed the gentle slope.

On the way to Mizumadera Temple, Amano recommended the Mizuma Monzencho Cafe Library x Haru Shokudo+.

I took a break with a seasonal crepe made with fresh fruit.

The old pilgrimage route is a bit of an uphill climb, so it's a good place to take a short break. There are concerts and art exhibitions, and books selected by essayists are also available, so you can enjoy your time however you like.

Mizuma Monzencho Cafe Library x Haru Shokudo+

466-2 Mizuma Kaizuka City Osaka Prefecture

Google maps

Business hours: 10:00-16:00
Closed: Monday to Friday
Phone number: 072-468-9039 (haru Shokudo+)
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Pray for safety at Mizuma-Mizumadera Temple said to have been founded by Gyoki!

We arrived at Mizumadera Temple! This historic temple was founded in 744 (Tenpyo 16), and the three-story pagoda within the temple grounds was rebuilt in 1834 (Tenpo 5), but it is the only one still standing in Osaka Prefecture. Both the main hall and the three-story pagoda are designated cultural properties Kaizuka City. The main hall also has an exhibition corner featuring folding screen paintings that tell the story of Mizumadera Temple.

The founding of Mizumadera Temple is said to be related to the legend of the dragon god. Following a prophecy heard in a dream by Emperor Shomu, who was ill, Gyoki visited the area to search for a Buddhist statue. Guided by 16 children, he discovered Mizuma Falls. There he met an old man who was the incarnation of the dragon god, who bestowed upon him the statue of Shokannon, the temple's principal image, and Mizumadera Temple was founded here.

The legendary site of the "Shokannon Appearance Waterfall (Kourin no Taki)" is one of the most powerful spots within Mizumadera Temple.

The temple grounds also contain the Aizen-do Hall, dedicated to Aizen Myoo, the Buddha of matchmaking, and as the legend of Onatsu Seijuro, a love fulfilment legend, is passed down here, many people visit to pray for good relationships and love. In addition, various prayers are held here, including for traffic safety, safety of the home, good health, protection from misfortune, and good fortune.

On the 18th of every month, Homa offering ceremony is held inside the temple or in the temple's front garden. You can write your wish on Homa stick and submit it at the dining room. Mizumadera Temple is known for its many blessings. Amano-san prayed for safe travels!

Mizumadera Temple

638 Mizuma Kaizuka City Osaka Prefecture

Google maps

Opening hours: Free entry within the grounds (Main hall 8:30-16:00)
Closed: Open year-round
Phone number: 072-446-1355
Official website

At Mizuma Railway Depot. Time for a thrilling driving experience!

We're back at Mizumakannon Station. Time to try driving a train! Our editor will be taking on the challenge under the guidance of Mizuma Railway staff.

The driving experience involves three round trips of approximately 100 meters. You will practice driving two round trips, and the third round trip will be a test with the speed display hidden. The goal is to brake at the right time and come to a proper stop, but that's not all.

The most important thing is the safety of the passengers. It is important to avoid shocks caused by sudden braking, etc. "Drive carefully as if your loved ones, such as your family or partner, were in the car," we were instructed.

The reason we offer train driving experiences is not just for fun, but also to teach people about railway safety. When you actually drive and brake, you can clearly see that a train cannot stop immediately.

When it came to the real thing, he needed to use his judgement and was extremely nervous. He said he felt both excitement and tension at the thought of operating a large vehicle that he normally rides on as a passenger with his own hands.

As the train slowly starts to move, tension spreads among the passengers...! To date, only one person has passed the test and met the required criteria. New challengers seem to enjoy the experience for the first time, but also take it seriously.

After the experience was safely completed, Amano handed me a "Driving Experience Completion Certificate." It was made to resemble a real "Locomotive Operator's License," or in other words, a train license, and when I looked inside, I was greeted with a smile-inducing message about important points to note and a section for recording the vehicle I experienced.

Hmm! This is great!

Some people are repeat participants who have tried multiple times. Some improve their accuracy with each try, and some people have completed their fourth certificate. If you bring a driver's license-sized photo with you to the experience, we can give you the certificate with the photo attached after the experience is over!

Kaizuka is a great place for families to enjoy the local area while riding the train!

You can walk through Jinanimachi and experience history, immerse yourself in the charm of railways on Mizuma Railway, or visit Mizuma Kannon Mizumakannon and feel the romance that has continued since ancient times. Of course, you can also enjoy all the spots introduced on a 1-day local tour! We also recommend visiting the nostalgic Kaizuka City with your family to coincide with Mizuma Railway event.

What we felt most on this tour was the energy of the local people who are revitalizing the area through tourism resources such as the railway and Jinanimachi. By taking a leisurely stroll around the town, you may find spots that pique your curiosity even more. Be sure to check it out!

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