Kumano: Getting there and around

How to travel between Kumano and Tokyo

By air

JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Nanki-Shirahama Airport. Flight duration is 70 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 35,000 yen, however discount tickets are usually available for around 17,000 to 20,000 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.

By train via Osaka (for western Kii Peninsula)

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).

The one way trip from Tokyo to Shirahama takes about five hours and costs around 19,000 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.

By train via Nagoya (for eastern Kii Peninsula)

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 hours 15 minutes) before terminating at Kii-Katsuura Station (3.5 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.

How to travel between Kumano and Osaka

By train

JR limited express trains connect Osaka (Shin-Osaka, Osaka and Tennoji stations) with the Kumano region. They serve Kii-Tanabe (2 hours, approx. 6000 yen one way), Shirahama (2 hours 15 minutes, about 6000 yen), Kushimoto (3 hours, about 7000 yen) and Kii-Katsuura (3.5 hours, about 7500 yen) before terminating at Shingu Station (4 hours, about 8000 yen). Seat reservations are mandatory.

Trains depart about once an hour, but some trains go only as far as Shirahama. The Japan Rail Pass, JR Kansai Wide Area Pass and Ise Kumano Wakayama Tourist Pass are valid on these trains. The Kansai Wide Area Pass is a particularly good offer for a side trip from Osaka to the Kumano Region, while the Ise Kumano Wakayama Tourist Pass is suited to those also visiting Ise and/or cotinuing to Nagoya.

By highway bus

Multiple daytime highway buses connect Osaka (JR Osaka Station, OCAT Namba) with Shirahama each day. The one day trip takes 3.5 hours and costs around 3000 yen. Reservations for some of the buses can be made via Japan Bus Online.

By local buses through the mountains (no service on weekdays and in winter)

This time consuming approach leads via Koyasan. Buses do not operate along the entire route on weekdays and from December through March:
  - How to travel between Osaka and Koyasan
  - How to travel between Koyasan and Kumano

How to travel between Kumano and Kyoto

By train

Most train connections between Kyoto and the Kumano region require a transfer at Shin-Osaka Station (30 minutes by rapid train or 15 minues by shinkansen from Kyoto) except for a single direct train per day. The one way ride from Kyoto to Kii-Tanabe or Shirahama takes about three hours, costs around 7000 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. The latter is a particularly good offer for a side trip from Kyoto to the Kumano Region.

By highway bus

There are no direct buses between Kyoto and Shirahama, but several of them depart from nearby Osaka:
  - How to travel between Kyoto and Osaka
  - How to travel between Osaka and Kumano

By local buses through the mountains (no service on weekdays and in winter)

This time consuming approach leads via Osaka and Koyasan. Buses do not operate along the entire route on weekdays and from December through March:
  - How to travel between Kyoto and Koyasan
  - How to travel between Koyasan and Kumano

How to travel between Kumano and Nagoya

By train

Infrequent JR limited express trains connect Nagoya with the Kumano region. They serve Owase (2.5 hours, approx. 6000 yen one way), Kumano-shi (3 hours, about 6500 yen) and Shingu (3.5 hours, about 7000 yen) before terminating at Kii-Katsuura Station (4 hours, about 7500 yen). The Japan Rail Pass and Ise Kumano Wakayama Tourist Pass are valid on these trains.

By highway bus

Multiple daytime highway buses connect Nagoya (Meitetsu Bus Center) with Kumano-shi (3.5 hours, 3700 yen one way) and Shingu (4 hours, 4200 yen one way) each day.

How to travel between Kumano and Koyasan

By train

Take the cablecar and Nankai Railway from Koyasan to Hashimoto (one hour, 950 yen) and transfer to the JR Wakayama Line to Wakayama Station (about one hour). From Wakayama, take a limited express train along the JR Kinokuni Line (aka Kisei Line) down the coast to the Kumano Region (80 minutes, around 4500 yen to Shirahama, or 3 hours, around 6500 yen to Shingu).

By train and bus through the mountains via Gojo

Take the cablecar and Nankai Railway from Koyasan to Hashimoto (one hour, 950 yen) and transfer to the JR Wakayama Line to Gojo Station (15 minutes, 210 yen). From Gojo, take the Nara Kotsu bus to Hongu (4 hours, 3250 yen one way) or Shingu (5 hours, 4600 yen one way).

By buses through the mountains via Ryujin Onsen (only on selected days)

On selected days (daily in April, May, September, October and November 2023), there is one bus connection per day between Koyasan and Hongu Taisha via Ryujin Onsen. One or two transfers of buses are required along the way. The entire one way trip takes around four hours and costs 5000 yen. Online reservations can be made via Japan Bus Online.