Why not spend Christmas Eve on a train from Namba toward the foot of Mt. Koya? On Thursday, December 24, 2026, Nankai Electric Railway’s sightseeing train “GRAN Tenku” makes its first Christmas special run. The journey between Namba and Gokurakubashi Station takes about an hour and a half, with live music and fine food along the way.
Live violin on board, about 20 minutes per car
Violinist Junei Osako will perform live on the train. He plays in a trio with cello and piano, moving through the cars and performing for about 20 minutes in each. Osako calls himself a “music-and-travel director” and has worked on the musical productions for JR Kyushu’s “Seven Stars in Kyushu” and Tokyu’s “THE ROYAL EXPRESS.” His music should suit the changing view from the window.
A special hors d’oeuvre set and bento by Genji’s chef 元川篤
The food is by chef 元川篤 of the restaurant Genji. He trained at the Western-style restaurant Restaurant Genchan (founded in 1936) and went independent in 1994. For this event he prepares a special Christmas hors d’oeuvre set and a bento box. They weave in the essence of popular dishes such as charcoal-grilled aged Kishu mandarin chicken and roast Kishu umedori chicken, and feature produce from the mountains and sea of southern Osaka and Wakayama. Allergy accommodations are not available.
What you get depends on your seat. Cars 1 and 2 include a special Christmas bento and Arida mandarin soda from Sawa Kajuen (早和果樹園). Car 4 “Gran Seat” includes the hors d’oeuvre set and free drinks. “Gran Seat Plus” adds a fruit cake from Genji. Every passenger receives an original ballpoint pen and mask case, and Gran Seat Plus passengers also get an original towel handkerchief.
Schedule and fares
The outbound train, Special GRAN Tenku No. 3, leaves Namba at 12:45 and arrives at Gokurakubashi at 14:20. The return, Special GRAN Tenku No. 4, leaves Gokurakubashi at 14:58 and arrives at Namba at 16:28. Tickets cover a one-way trip between Namba and Gokurakubashi, with 130 seats in total (64 on No. 3, 66 on No. 4). Booking is first-come, first-served from 10:00 on Monday, November 16, 2026 until 10:00 on Tuesday, December 15, via a special website. Bookings are for 2 or 4 people, and Gran Seat Plus is for 2 only. There are no child fares.
Event details
- Date: Thursday, December 24, 2026 (content may change, or the event may be cancelled, depending on train operations)
- Trains: Special GRAN Tenku No. 3 (Namba 12:45 → Gokurakubashi 14:20); Special GRAN Tenku No. 4 (Gokurakubashi 14:58 → Namba 16:28)
- Section: Namba – Gokurakubashi (one way)
- Capacity: 130 in total (64 on No. 3, 66 on No. 4)
- Fares (fare and limited express ticket included, tax included):
- Cars 1 and 2 (special Christmas bento, Arida mandarin soda, original goods): ¥29,800 for 2 people / ¥58,800 for 4 people
- Car 4 Gran Seat (special Christmas hors d’oeuvre, free drinks, original goods): ¥46,800 for 2 / ¥75,800 for 4
- Car 4 Gran Seat Plus (hors d’oeuvre, free drinks, Genji fruit cake, original goods): ¥49,800 for 2
- Booking: 10:00 on Monday, November 16 to 10:00 on Tuesday, December 15, 2026 (first-come, first-served)
- Inquiries: Nankai Railway Call Center, 050-3090-2608 (8:00–21:00)
- Special website (Japanese): https://www.nankai.co.jp/traffic/kankoutrain/grantenku/
- Note: the run may be cancelled if fewer than 80 people in total sign up
