Nekomata Station
{{Short description|Train station in Toyama, Japan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox station
| native_name = 猫又駅
| native_name_lang = ja
| symbol =
| symbol_location =
| type =
| image = 猫又駅 - panoramio.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Nekomata Station in 2011
| other_name =
| address = Kurobe, Toyama
| country = Japan
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q11572000|type:railwaystation|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Japan Toyama Prefecture#Japan
| elevation = 358 meters
| owned = Kurobe Gorge Railway
| line =
| distance = 11.8 km from Unazuki Station
| platforms = Island platform
| tracks = Two
| opened = {{Start date|1926|10|23|}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-custom = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=180|zoom=12|type=point|marker=rail}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Nekomata Station|猫又駅|Nekomata-eki|lead=yes}} is a railway station operated by Kurobe Gorge Railway in Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is the only station in Japan that has the Japanese word for "cat" in its name.
Etymology
There are two theories for why the station was named {{nihongo||猫 又|Nekomata}}. One suggests that it was derived from a local legend about a cliff where a mouse, unable to climb it while being pursued by a cat, found itself trapped. As a result, both the mouse and the cat were forced to turn back. Another is believed that the station name was derived from the {{tlit|ja|Nekomata}}, a mythical cat {{tlit|ja|yōkai}}. It is the only station in Japan that includes the word {{nihongo||猫|"neko"|{{lit|cat}}}}.{{cite news |script-title=ja:猫好き集まれ、黒部峡谷鉄道の「猫又駅」 今だけ下車OK、写真送付で愛猫が名誉助役に |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20241101-HAFNJFT4EFLNRGPYEO4LSC6IXA/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=Sankei Shimbun |date=November 1, 2024 |language=ja |archive-date=February 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224164950/https://www.sankei.com/article/20241101-HAFNJFT4EFLNRGPYEO4LSC6IXA/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |script-title=ja:黒部峡谷トロッコ電車 猫又駅での乗り降り可能に｜KNB NEWS NNN |url=https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/knb/category/society/kn3e7ffa2350aa43528a8355ef0ff1ebaa |website=Nippon News Network |access-date=February 24, 2025 |language=ja |date=October 4, 2024 }}
Location
The train station is located along the Kurobe River. It is situated 358 meters above sea level. Kansai Electric Power's Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant is located across the river.
Due to its location, the train station is only accessible from April to the end of November.{{cite web |script-title=ja:黒部峡谷鉄道「トロッコ電車」4月20日から猫又駅までの折り返し運転で再開 富山・黒部市 {{!}} TBS NEWS DIG (1ページ) |url=https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1620441?display=1 |website=TBS News |access-date=February 24, 2025 |language=ja |date=December 16, 2024 }}
History
Nekomata Station started operation on October 23, 1926. The station was built for construction workers working at the Nekomata Dam. At the time it was the terminus of the Kurobe Private Railway.{{cite web |last1=Shimizu |script-title=ja:黒部峡谷鉄道のトロッコ列車で、今しか降りられない猫又駅に行ってみた（清水要） - エキスパート |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/5ddd40f040bdb5c41b94520930e57575f09c9808 |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=February 24, 2025 |language=ja |date=November 14, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224164950/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/5ddd40f040bdb5c41b94520930e57575f09c9808 |url-status=live }} It was then used as an intermediate station for train operators and the maintenance and management crew of the Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant.{{cite web |script-title=ja:黒部峡谷トロッコ電車の秘境駅、今だけ降車ＯＫ…工事関係者用の「猫又駅」に仮設ホーム |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20241004-OYT1T50110/ |website=Yomiuri Shimbun |access-date=February 24, 2025 |language=ja |date=October 4, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250224164950/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20241004-OYT1T50110/ |url-status=live }}
After the 2024 Noto earthquake, part of the Kurobe Gorge Railway was closed and the station was used as turning station. The platform was reopened for general passengers on October 5, 2024. Following the opening of the station to general passengers and as an effort to make the station widely known, Kurobe Gorge Railway appointed a cat as the "honorary assistant" of the station.{{cite web |script-title=ja:愛猫の写真募集 猫又駅の「名誉助役」に |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/toyama/news/20241024-OYTNT50138/ |website=Yomiuri Shimbun |access-date=February 24, 2025 |language=ja |date=October 25, 2024 |archive-date=October 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241027031834/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/toyama/news/20241024-OYTNT50138/ |url-status=live }}
Structure
Nekomata Station has only one platform and two tracks. The platform is made of wood and was around 60 meters long before it was opened to general passengers, then it was extended to 100 meters. The station also has a temporary tourist information center, and an observation deck overlooking the Kurobe Gorge.{{cite news |script-title=ja:富山 黒部「トロッコ電車」猫又駅に一般客用の臨時ホーム設置 {{!}} NHK |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20241004/k10014600771000.html |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=NHK |date=October 4, 2024 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126164232/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20241004/k10014600771000.html |language=ja |url-status=live }}
See also
- Tama, a cat who was appointed honorary stationmaster of a railway station
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commonscat|Nekomata Station}}
{{Kurobe Gorge Railway Main Line}}
Category:Railway stations in Japan opened in 1926