Hongu Area to Nachisan Access – Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau

Overview

There are no direct public transport methods from the Hongu area (Yunomine Onsen, Wataze Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Nachisan (Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji, and Nachi waterfall).

It requires three modes of transportation.

● Bus to Shingu
● Bus or train to JR Nachi station or JR Kii-Katsuura station
● Bus to Nachisan

There are other options including:
● Traditional boat tour on the Kumano-gawa River
● Bus tour of the Kumano Sanzan shrines
● Bus to Kii-Katsuura, visit Nachi next day.

Possible routes:

※ Hongu area = Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Wataze Onsen, Kawayu Onsen

Options:

Hongu Area, Shingu, Nachisan via JR Nachi Station

Time: ~2 hrs, 15 min (depends on connection times)
Price: ~2580 yen (depends on bus stops, and whether a train is used)

Route Explanation:

This route requires three bus rides. (One bus ride can be changed to a train on the coast between JR Shingu and JR Nachi station)

[Bus] Hongu area (Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Watarase Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Shingu (bus timetable 4) (1540 yen)
[Bus] JR Shingu to JR Nachi station (bus timetable 12) (560 yen)
[or Train] JR Shingu Station to JR Nachi station (local train, 240 yen)
[Bus] JR Nachi station to Nachisan (bus timetable 8) (480 yen)

Note:
● The bus for Nachisan departs from in front of the JR Nachi station, so you will need to change bus stops.

Hongu Area, Shingu, Nachisan via JR Kii-Katsuura Station

Time: ~2 hrs, 35 min (depends on connection times)
Price: ~2780 yen (depends on bus stops, and whether a train is used)

Route Explanation:

This route requires three bus rides. (One bus ride can be changed to a train on the coast between JR Shingu and JR Kii-Katsuura station)

There are many restaurants near the Kii-Katsuura station that serve fresh seafood, so sometimes guests choose to enjoy a tasty meal before heading to Nachisan.

[Bus] Hongu area (Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Wataze Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Shingu (bus timetable 4) (1540 yen)
[Bus] JR Shingu to JR Kii-Katsuura station (bus timetable 12) (620 yen)
[or Train] JR Shingu Station to JR Kii-Katsuura station (local train, 240 yen)
[Bus] JR Kii-Katsuura station to Nachisan (bus timetable 8) (620 yen)

Note:
● Both local and express trains stop at Kii-Katsuura station. If you have a JR train pass then taking a train is a good option.

Gongen-mae bus stop >>

Hongu Area, Traditional Boat Ride, Shingu, Nachisan via JR Nachi Station

Time: ~4 hrs, 10 min (depends on connection times)
Price: ~6100 yen (depends on bus stops, and whether a train is used)

Route Explanation:

This route requires three bus rides (One bus ride can be changed to a train on the coast between JR Shingu and JR Nachi station) and a boat ride on a traditional flat bottom boat.

[Bus] Hongu area (Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Wataze Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Hitari (bus timetable 4) (~920 yen)
[Boat Ride] To Shingu (3,900 yen)
[Bus] JR Shingu to JR Nachi station (bus timetable 12) (560 yen)
[or Train] JR Shingu Station to JR Nachi station (local train, 240 yen)
[Bus] JR Nachi station to Nachisan (bus timetable 8) (480 yen)

Note:
● The bus for Nachisan departs from in front of the JR Nachi station, so you will need to change bus stops.
● Take the 10:00 boat trip.

More Traditional Boat Tour information and online booking >>

Hongu Area, Traditional Boat Ride, Shingu, Nachisan via JR Kii-Katsuura Station

Time: ~4 hrs, 10 min (depends on connection times)
Price: ~6300 yen (depends on bus stops, and whether a train is used)

Route Explanation:

This route requires three bus rides (One bus ride can be changed to a train on the coast between JR Shingu and JR Kii-Katsuura station) and a boat ride on a traditional flat bottom boat.

There are many restaurants near the Kii-Katsuura station that serve fresh seafood, so sometimes guests choose to enjoy a tasty meal before heading to Nachisan.

[Bus] Hongu area (Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Wataze Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Shingu (bus timetable 4) (1540 yen)
[Boat Ride] To Shingu (4300 yen)
[Bus] JR Shingu to JR Kii-Katsuura station (bus timetable 12) (620 yen)
[or Train] JR Shingu Station to JR Kii-Katsuura station (local train, 240 yen)
[Bus] JR Kii-Katsuura station to Nachisan (bus timetable 8) (620 yen)

Note:
● Both local and express trains stop at Kii-Katsuura station. If you have a JR train pass then taking a train is a good option.

Kumano Sanzan Circuit Tour Bus

Time: ~6 hrs
Price: 6900 yen

Route Explanation:

This bus does pick-ups in Kawayu Onsen (9:46), Wataze Onsen (9:48), and Yunomine Onsen (9:54). There are no pick-ups allowed in Hongu village.

It then does a tour of the three Kumano Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha, before arriving at the Kii-Katsuura station around 15:50.

There is lunch included in the tour which is served at the Jet Boat center.

More Kumano Sanzan Circuit Tour information and online booking >>

Nachi-Katsuura accommodations and online booking >>

Shingu Sightseeing Option

The Hayatama Taisha-mae bus stop is a good place to change busses and is the nearest bus stop to the Kumano Hayatama Taisha (a nice stopover visit).

Busses arrive from Hongu on the north side of the street and depart for JR Nachi and JR Kii-Katsuura station across the street, on the south side.

The Kamikura-jinja is next to a giant rock overlooking Shingu on the side of Gongen mountain. There is a steep stone staircase to climb. This is also a nice walk for those looking for a little bit of adventure. The Gotobiki-iwa rock is the original site where the deities descended.

Shingu map >>