Kumano: Getting there and around

JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Nanki-Shirahama Airport. Flight duration is 70 minutes. The regular one way fares are around 43,000-47,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 14,000 to 35,000 yen.

From Nanki-Shirahama Airport, you can reach central Shirahama and JR Shirahama Station in about 20 minutes by bus. Several rental car outlets are available at the airport.

Airline	Lowest fare	Average lowest fare
JAL	15,646 yen	18,807 yen
J-Air (JAL)	15,646 yen	22,672 yen

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka (2.5 to 3 hours) and then a JR limited express onto the Kii Peninsula. The limited express trains stop at Kii-Tanabe (2 hours), Shirahama (2 hours 15 minutes), Kushimoto (3 hours) and Kii-Katsuura (3.5 hours) before terminating at Shingu Station (4 hours). Note that seat reservations are required on the limited express train.

The one way trip from Tokyo to Shirahama takes about five hours and costs around 18,500 yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using a Hikari train along the Tokaido Shinkansen, but a supplement fee is required on Nozomi trains.

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya (1.5 to 2 hours) and then the JR Nanki limited express onto the Kii Peninsula. The limited express trains stop at Owase (2.5 hours), Kumano-shi (3 hours) and Shingu (3.5 hours), with three continuing to Kii-Katsuura Station (4 hours).

The one way trip from Tokyo to Shingu takes about five hours and costs around 17,000 yen. Because the JR Nanki limited express train partially uses the tracks of a different railway company, Japan Rail Pass holders have to pay a supplemental fee of 840 yen (one way). Otherwise, the trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass if using a Hikari train along the Tokaido Shinkansen, but a supplement fee is required on Nozomi trains.