Most reviewedGrand Shrines day
Coach, back the same night
- Time
- 13 hours
- Pick-up
- Shinsaibashi
- Price
- from $103
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Guide · Getting there
Osaka to Kumano Kodo: trains, buses and timings
Going from Osaka to Kumano Kodo is easy once you know which station serves which end of the trail. Here are the trains, the buses, the times and the traps for your first day.
Check availabilityfrom $103 · cancellation is free
Editorial team, kumanokodohike.comUpdated October 22, 20266 minutes to read61 sources
Quick answer
Where the trail actually starts
Kumano is the old name for the southern part of the Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, the largest peninsula in Japan.7 The pilgrim routes have no single start, so the first step in planning the trip from Osaka to Kumano Kodo is choosing which end you want. Walkers of the Nakahechi begin near Tanabe on the west coast; visitors to Nachi aim for Kii-Katsuura on the south-east coast.8
The peninsula is mountainous, so the main lines of travel follow the coast, with a railway and a highway along it. A toll road runs south from Osaka to Tanabe and on to Susami.9 From the coast, buses climb into the mountains to the trailheads, the hot-spring villages and the grand shrines.
That leaves you with a two-part journey: a fast train to a coastal station, then a slower local bus inland. Plan both parts together, because buses into the mountains do not run every few minutes like city trains, and evening buses are few.10
The day tour, leg by leg
Osaka to the Grand Shrines and back
-
Start
Pick-up in Osaka
Q Plaza Shinsaibashi or the National Bunraku Theatre.
-
After 80 minutes
Roadside station break
A 10-minute stop at Yoshinoji Otou.
-
After 2.25 hours
Kumano Hongu Taisha
50 minutes listed at the shrine.
-
Next
Nachi and Daimon-zaka
2.33 hours listed, with the falls and temple.
-
Then
Hayatama, foot bath
Optional 30 minutes at Totsukawa Onsen.
-
End
Back in Osaka
Drop-off at the same two points.
By train to Kii-Tanabe for the Nakahechi
JR West's limited express Kuroshio runs from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe in about 1 hour 45 minutes from Tennoji and about 2 hours from Shin-Osaka.1 Some trains end at Shirahama and others continue to Kii-Katsuura, so check the destination board.11 Search timetables for Kii-Tanabe with the Kii prefix, since other stations in Japan are called Tanabe.12
At Kii-Tanabe, Kumano Kodo buses leave from bus stop No. 2 in front of the station.3 They run inland along Highway 311 towards Hongu, reaching Chikatsuyu in about 50 minutes.1314 The Tanabe Tourist Information Center beside the station hands out maps and stores luggage.1516
A warning from the tourism bureau saves many first-day mistakes: even with the earliest train and bus from Osaka or Kyoto, you will not have time to walk all the way from Takijiri to Chikatsuyu or Nonaka.5 Spend the night before in Tanabe, or make Takahara your first stop.6
Routes in
From the cities to the Kumano gateways
| From | To | How | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shin-Osaka | Kii-Tanabe | Limited express Kuroshio | About 2 hrs |
| Kyoto | Kii-Tanabe | Limited express Kuroshio | About 2 hrs 35 min |
| Shin-Osaka | Kii-Katsuura | Limited express Kuroshio | About 4 hrs |
| Nagoya | Kii-Katsuura | Limited express Wideview Nanki | About 4 hrs |
| Kansai Airport | Tanabe | Train with a change at Hineno | About 2 hrs from Hineno |
| Tokyo Haneda | Nanki-Shirahama | Daily flights | 1 hr 10 min |
From the Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's transport pages and Kumano Nachi Taisha's access page.1182192017
Tours from Osaka
Three ways to leave Osaka with everything arranged
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Private tripThree days via Yoshino
Train to Yoshino, then van
- Time
- 3 days
- Group
- 2 to 4 guests
- Price
- from $1,157
Decision helper
Train, bus or day tour?
Match your plan to the way in
Train to Kii-Tanabe
Then buses from stop No. 2 in front of the station.3
Train to Kii-Katsuura
Buses reach Nachisan in about 30 minutes.21
Fly to Nanki-Shirahama
Daily flights from Haneda take 1 hour 10 minutes.17
Nankai to Koyasan
From Namba with a short cable car; no JR passes.22
The coach day tour
All three Grand Shrines in 13 hours, no connections.
Even if you take the earliest train and bus from Osaka or Kyoto, you will not have sufficient time to complete the entire walk from Takijiri to Chikatsuyu or Nonaka.
By train to Kii-Katsuura for Nachi and the coast
For Nachi Falls and the Daimon-zaka steps, stay on the Kuroshio to Kii-Katsuura. Kumano Nachi Taisha gives the journey as about 4 hours from Shin-Osaka and about 3 hours 45 minutes from Tennoji.2 From Kii-Katsuura station, buses run via Nachi Station to the foot of Daimon-zaka in 20 minutes and up to the Nachisan stop in about 30.421
If you come from Nagoya instead, the JR Wideview Nanki reaches Kii-Katsuura in about 4 hours and stops in Shingu on the way.19 Shingu is the town of Hayatama Taisha and a bus hub towards Hongu, so it is a sensible base for a pilgrimage that starts in the east.23
Linking Hongu and Nachi by public transport is the awkward part of any itinerary. The bureau notes that almost all bus connections between them need two transfers, at Shingu and at Nachi Station.24 Allow plenty of time, or walk it over the mountains in the bureau's two-day plan.25
Map
The Nakahechi, its shrines and the way in from Osaka
The trail from Takijiri-oji to the three Grand Shrines, the Hongu area with its hot springs, the Nachi sanctuary up close, then the whole peninsula with the stations you arrive at.
1Takijiri-oji2Takahara3Chikatsuyu-oji4Tsugizakura-oji5Hosshinmon-oji6Kumano Hongu Taisha7Koguchi8Kumano Nachi Taisha9Hayatama Taisha
10Fushiogami-oji11Oyunohara12Yunomine Onsen13Wataze Onsen14Kawayu Onsen
15Daimon-zaka16Seiganto-ji17Nachi Falls (Hiro-jinja)
18Osaka (Shinsaibashi)19Kyoto20Koyasan21Kii-Tanabe22Shingu23Kii-Katsuura24Ise
- 1Takijiri-oji
The usual first day of a Nakahechi walk starts here, beside the Kumano Kodo Kan pilgrimage center.2627
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Takahara
A steep climb of about 4 km from Takijiri-oji, through native and planted forest.2829
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Chikatsuyu-oji
An old oji in a basin at about 300 m, at the end of the classic first day; the village has about 450 people.3031
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Tsugizakura-oji
Named for a grafted cherry; some of its cedars are 8 m round and thought to be up to 800 years old.32
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Hosshinmon-oji
Start of the popular 7 km half-day walk to Kumano Hongu Taisha; there is nowhere to stay here.3334
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Kumano Hongu Taisha
Head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan; the grounds are free.3536
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Koguchi
Overnight stop between the Kogumotori-goe and the Ogumotori-goe on the way to Nachi.3725
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Kumano Nachi Taisha
Halfway up Nachi Mountain at about 350 m, about 10 km inland from Katsuura.3839
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Hayatama Taisha
At the mouth of the Kumano-gawa, where the river meets the Pacific.40
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Fushiogami-oji
Where pilgrims fell to their knees at their first sight of the grand shrine.41
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Oyunohara
The original shrine site on a sandbank, marked by a steel torii 33.9 m tall.4243
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Yunomine Onsen
A hot spring found about 1,800 years ago, with the Tsuboyu bath.4445
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Wataze Onsen
The largest open-air hot spring bath in western Japan.46
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Kawayu Onsen
Hot water rises through the river bed; in winter a huge river bath is dug.4748
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Daimon-zaka
About 600 m of stone stairs, 267 steps, under old cedars.4950
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Seiganto-ji
A Tendai temple and the first stop of the Saigoku pilgrimage to 33 Kannon.51
In Google Maps ↗ - 17Nachi Falls (Hiro-jinja)
133 m high, worshipped directly with no shrine hall.5253
In Google Maps ↗ - 18Osaka (Shinsaibashi)
The day tour leaves from Q Plaza Shinsaibashi or the National Bunraku Theatre.
In Google Maps ↗ - 19Kyoto
The Kuroshio reaches Kii-Tanabe from Kyoto in 2 hrs 35 min.18
In Google Maps ↗ - 20Koyasan
Start of the Kohechi; reached from Namba on Nankai trains and a cable car.5422
In Google Maps ↗ - 21Kii-Tanabe
Gateway to the Nakahechi; trail buses leave from stop No. 2.83
In Google Maps ↗ - 22Shingu
Home of Hayatama Taisha and a bus hub towards Hongu.4023
In Google Maps ↗ - 23Kii-Katsuura
Buses climb to Nachisan in about 30 minutes.21
In Google Maps ↗ - 24Ise
Start of the Iseji, about 170 km along the east coast.55
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For the journey in
01
Before you leave
- Search Kii-Tanabe or Kii-Katsuura, not Tanabe
- A night in Tanabe before the first stage
- The last bus of the day to your inn
02
Carry
- Cash for buses the rail pass does not cover
- Your inn's address in Japanese
- Time in hand at peak season
Cost calculator
Price a tour from Osaka for your group
Enter your group size to compare three tours leaving Osaka.
People
Total from$206
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Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals take the cheapest listed price of each Kumano trip on GetYourGuide times your head count, shown in your currency at today's ECB rate; checkout confirms what you actually pay.
Video
Kumano Kodo | Day 0 | How we get there
The video loads only when you tap play.
From Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo and the airport
Going from Kyoto to Kumano Kodo works the same way: the Kuroshio reaches Kii-Tanabe in about 2 hours 35 minutes, though not every train starts in Kyoto; many begin at Shin-Osaka.1856 From Kansai International Airport, take JR to Hineno, about 10 minutes, and change there for a southbound train to Tanabe, about 2 hours by express.20
From Tokyo the fastest way is to fly. There are daily flights from Haneda to Nanki-Shirahama Airport, which take 1 hour 10 minutes.17 Buses from both Shirahama and Tanabe run towards the Hongu area.13
For Koyasan, the start of the Kohechi, the route is different: Nankai trains run from Namba in Osaka to Gokurakubashi, then a short cable car climbs to Koyasan. JR passes are not valid on this line.22 The longest public bus route in Japan, from Shingu via Hongu and Totsukawa to Gojo, crosses the peninsula in the other direction.23
Rail passes and the buses they do not cover
A Japan Rail Pass covers the Kuroshio, but not the local buses: the bureau warns that JR buses do not serve the Kumano route system.57 Budget for bus fares separately and keep yen in cash, which the countryside relies on.58
Two regional passes are worth a look. The JR-West Kansai WIDE Area Pass for 5 consecutive days costs 12,000 yen for adults and 6,000 yen for children.59 The Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass costs 16,500 yen for adults and 8,250 yen for children aged 6 to 11, and it cannot be bought in Japan.60 Both prices are as the bureau listed them in October 2026.5960 Passes like these pay off only if you ride the long train legs several times, so add up your own journeys before you buy one.
In the busy spring and fall seasons, buses can be crowded or even full.61 Build some slack into your connections on those dates and do not plan a long walk that depends on the last bus of the evening.
The day tour: Osaka to the three shrines without connections
If you only have one day, the coach tour sold on this site removes every connection. It picks up at Q Plaza Shinsaibashi or the National Bunraku Theatre, drives 80 minutes to a 10-minute break at the Yoshinoji Otou roadside station, then 2.25 hours on to Kumano Hongu Taisha. There is no hotel pick-up; you travel to one of the two meeting points yourself.
From Hongu the tour continues to Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji, Nachi Falls and a 20 to 40 minute walk on Daimon-zaka, then to Kumano Hayatama Taisha, with an optional 30-minute stop at Totsukawa Onsen for a foot bath. The whole day takes 13 hours and costs from $103.
Arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes early: latecomers and no-shows are not refunded. The listing asks for comfortable shoes and rules the trip out for wheelchair users and for people with limited mobility. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Which way in suits your plan
There is no single answer to how to get to Kumano Kodo; it depends on your plan. For a multi-day Nakahechi walk, take the Kuroshio to Kii-Tanabe, sleep there and catch an early bus from stop No. 2 the next morning. For Nachi and the coast, ride on to Kii-Katsuura and use the Nachisan buses.34
For a loop of all three shrines by public transport, start in Tanabe, cross to Hongu by bus, continue to Shingu and finish at Kii-Katsuura, then take the Kuroshio back to Osaka. It needs several nights and patience with bus timetables, but every leg is possible.24
For a single day, a coach tour is the most practical way to see all three Grand Shrines and return to Osaka the same night. Think of it as the express version of a pilgrimage, and use the rest of this site to plan the slow version for a later trip.
Your day in Kumano
Three shrines and the cedar steps in one day.
Pick a date, meet in central Osaka, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
How long is the train from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe?
About 2 hours from Shin-Osaka. About 1 hour 45 minutes from Tennoji on the limited express Kuroshio.1
How do I get from Kyoto?
Kuroshio to Kii-Tanabe. About 2 hours 35 minutes, though many trains start at Shin-Osaka instead.18
Which bus stop at Kii-Tanabe?
Stop No. 2. Kumano Kodo buses leave from stop No. 2 in front of the station.3
Can I start walking on the day I arrive?
Not the full first stage. Sleep in Tanabe first, or stop at Takahara on the first day.56
Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the buses?
No. JR buses do not serve the Kumano route system, so local buses are paid separately.57
How do I reach Nachi Falls?
Train to Kii-Katsuura, then bus. Buses reach the foot of Daimon-zaka in 20 minutes and Nachisan in about 30.421
Does the day tour pick up at hotels?
No. Meet at Q Plaza Shinsaibashi or the National Bunraku Theatre in Osaka.
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 2Kumano Nachi Taishaアクセス (Access)↩
- 3Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTanabe↩
- 4Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauDaimon-zaka↩
- 5Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauSuggested Walks↩
- 6Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauSuggested Walks↩
- 7Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauFAQs↩
- 8Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Kodo↩
- 9Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport↩
- 10Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Kodo Tips & Safety↩
- 11Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 12Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 13Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport↩
- 14Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauChikatsuyu↩
- 15Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Kodo Maps↩
- 16Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauFAQs↩
- 17Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Airplane↩
- 18Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 19Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 20Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Airplane↩
- 21Kumano Nachi Taishaアクセス (Access)↩
- 22Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 23Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Bus↩
- 24Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Bus↩
- 25Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauSuggested Walks↩
- 26Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTakijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji↩
- 27Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTakijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji↩
- 28Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTakijiri-oji to Takahara↩
- 29Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTakijiri-oji to Takahara↩
- 30Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauHistory & Oji↩
- 31Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauChikatsuyu↩
- 32Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauHistory & Oji↩
- 33Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 34Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauHosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 35Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 36Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 37Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauSuggested Walks↩
- 38Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Nachi Taisha↩
- 39Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Nachi Taisha↩
- 40Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Hayatama Taisha↩
- 41Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauHosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 42Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 43Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Hongu Taisha↩
- 44Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauYunomine Onsen↩
- 45Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauYunomine Onsen↩
- 46Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauWataze/Watarase Onsen↩
- 47Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKawayu Onsen↩
- 48Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKawayu Onsen↩
- 49Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauDaimon-zaka↩
- 50Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauDaimon-zaka↩
- 51Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Nachi Taisha↩
- 52Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Nachi Taisha↩
- 53Kumano Nachi Taisha飛瀧神社(那智御瀧) (Hiro-jinja, Nachi Falls)↩
- 54Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKohechi↩
- 55Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauIseji↩
- 56Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Train↩
- 57Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Bus↩
- 58Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Kodo Tips & Safety↩
- 59Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Passes↩
- 60Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauTransport: Passes↩
- 61Tanabe City Kumano Tourism BureauKumano Kodo Tips & Safety↩
