Cat Tram　世田谷線猫電車

Cat Tram: The tram painting a cat that brings a happiness.

(L) A cat-tram is parking at Shimotakaido station 下高井戸駅に停車中の猫電車
(R) A display describing the Tanaden-110 year anniversary on the side of the tram. 車体側面に掲示されている玉電110周年記念の案内表示

A cat-tram is welcoming a tourist on the side of the body and at the hanging in the tram.　
猫電車は車体側面と車内の吊り下げ部分で乗客を出迎えています

(L) A boarding fee is 150 yen ( flat rate ): A train driver and/or conductor check a ticket or IC card.
乗車料金は一律 150円。運転士または車掌が乗車券ICカードを確認
(M) A great ticket costs 330 yen, valid throughout the day. お得な乗車券は330円で終日有効
(R) Footprints of cat 猫の足跡

(L) Tram driver 電車の運転手 (R) Railroadside walk map 線路沿いの散歩道マップ

(L) A cat-tram is on a platform プラットホームに猫電車が停車中 (M) A cat-tram is running lightly on railroad track 軽快に走る猫電車
(R) A tram in yellow color is in the train garage in Kamimachi Station. 上町駅の車庫には黄色の路面電車が停車中

(L) Train garage is located at Kamimachi Station. 上町駅には電車庫がある
(R) A cat-tram stopped at Wakabayashi station. 若林駅に停車する猫電車

There are regular tram cars with blue, brown and light-green colored vehicles. 通常の路面電車のカラーは青、茶色、薄緑色

Sangnchaya terminal station　三軒茶屋終点

A cat-tram is leaving Sangenchaya station for Shimotakaido.　三軒茶屋駅から下高井戸へ向け出発

(L)(R) A cat-tram traveling or stopping at a station 走行中または停車中の猫電車 (M) woman conductor.女性車掌

　Tokya Setagaya Line

Tokyu unveils new tram with beckoning cat livery to mark 110th anniversary of Tamagawa Line.

「玉電110周年幸運の招き猫」電車

In October 2017, Tokyu Corporation unveiled a new tram painted with 'manekineko', beckoning cat livery to
commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Tamagawa Line and promote the use of Setagaya Line to tourists.
Upon its completion in March 1907, the Tamagawa Line connected Dogenzakaue and Sangenjaya stations.
However, that line has been closed.

In 1969, it now operates as the Setagaya Line, linking Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido stations in Setagaya
district. The best way to commemorate the anniversary and further boost the popularity of the railway, we
came up toan idea of collaborating with Gotokuji Temple because the temple is known worldwide for
(enshrining) a beckoning cat. A spokesperson said so at a media preview in the train-storage facility in
Kamimachi Station. The Setagaya Line, which runs across Setagaya district, is one of the few light-rail tram
lines still operating in Tokyo.

Many historic sites such as Gotokuji Temple, Shoin Shrine and Setagaya Hachimangu Shrine, are highly
recommended to tourists. The company plans to keep the newly decorated two-car tram in service, however,
until the end of March 2018.

1969年に開業し、現在は世田谷区の三軒茶屋駅と下高井戸駅を結ぶ世田谷線として運行しています。この記念すべき
年に、世界的に招き猫で知られる豪徳寺とのコラボレーションを企画。広報担当者は、上町駅の車両保管施設で
行われた報道関係者向けの内覧会でそう語りました。世田谷区を走る世田谷線は、東京で現在も運行している
数少ないライトレール路線の一つです。豪徳寺、松陰神社、世田谷八幡宮など、多くの史跡があり、観光客に
大変おすすめです。 2両編成の新型車両を2018年3月末まで運行する予定です。
Source: The Japan Times, September 25, 2017

東急世田谷線の前身で、「玉電」の名で親しまれた玉川線（1969年廃止）が、1907年の渋谷～玉川駅間の開通から
110周年を迎えたことを記念して、玉電開通１１０周年記念イベントとして「幸運の招き猫」電車を実施した。

Reference related videos:
　Kofuku-no-Manekineko tram departures from Sangenjaya Station - 三軒茶屋発招き猫電車
　Trams in Tokyo - Setagaya Line - 東急世田谷線

Gotokuji Temple　豪徳寺

At the beginning of Edo period, there was a rundown temple in Setagaya. One day, a Japanese lord named
NaotakaIt was getting home from hunting hawk. He was walking in front of the temple when he noticed a white
cat beckoning to him from inside the temple. Tempted by the cat's gesture, he followed the cat. As soon as
he approached the cat, there was a sudden heavy rainfall and the place he stood before was struck by lighting.
His life was saved by the white cat. The cat's name was Tama, and Tama was the temple priest's cat.

江戸時代初期、世田谷に寂れた寺がありました。ある日、直孝という名の藩主が鷹狩りから帰る途中、寺の前を歩いて
いると、寺の中から白い猫が手招きしているのに気づきました。猫のしぐさに誘われ、直孝は猫の後を追いかけました。
猫に近づくと、突然激しい雨が降り始め、直孝が立っていた場所に雷が落ちました。直孝の命は、白い猫によって
救われました。猫の名前はタマで、タマは寺の住職の猫でした。

(L) An approach to Gotokuji temple 豪徳寺への参道 (R) A three-storied pagoda 三重塔

(L) A wild parakeet was observed on a tree. 木の上で野生のインコが (M) Plum blossoms telling the coming of spring 春の到来を告げる梅の花
(R) Incense burner 香炉

Large numbers of beckoning cat 招き猫で埋め尽くされている

(L) 仏殿 (M) Raisinng cat's right hand and call happiness. 猫の右手を上げて幸せを呼ぶ　(R) Red plum blossoms 紅梅

Gotokuji Temple

Shouin-jinjya Shrine　松陰神社　

Shouin-jinjya Shrine is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirit of Yoshida Shouin, an activist during
the Edo era. The shrine was erected in 1882, and the current main shrine building was built in 1927. It is located
in setagaya. The nearest station is Shouin-jinjya-mae, Tokyu-Setagaya Line.

松陰神社は、江戸時代の思想家・吉田松陰を祀る神社です。創建は1882年、現在の社殿は1927年に建立されました。
最寄り駅は東急世田谷線「松陰神社前」です。

Approach to Haiden of Shouin Jinjya 松陰神社拝殿への参道

(L)Temizusha 手水舎 (M) Haiden of Shouin Jinjya 松陰神社拝殿 (R) A stature of Souin Yoshida 吉田宗陰の立像

Setagaya-Hachimangu Shrine　世田谷八幡宮　

The Setagaya-Hachimangu is also famous for a lifting stone and a sumo ring.
It is located in setagaya. The nearest station is Miyanosaka, Tokyu-Setagaya Line.

世田谷八幡宮は、神輿石と土俵で有名です。最寄り駅は東急世田谷線宮の坂駅です。

(L) Nino-Torii to Setagaya-Hachimangu 二の鳥居～世田谷八幡宮 (M)Temizusha 手水舎 (R) Haiden of Shouin Jinjya 松陰神社拝殿

 動物写真家岩合光明　写真は書籍「ねこの京都」

Yasukuni Shrine
Tokyo Metropolis Mini-tour

招き猫電車で訪れる世田谷の寺と神社
執筆　医学博士宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The article was written, and photographs were taken in March 2018,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
Copyright (C) 2018 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.