The Traditional Boat Tour is a popular excursion along the Kumanogawa River.
Many hope to add it to their Kumano Kodo pilgrimage after spending a night in Hongu and heading to Shingu and then Nachi-Katsuura areas.
But, the tour can book out quickly in advance, especially for peak spring and fall seasons, leaving some wondering what to do instead when the Traditional Boat Tour books out and how to get to Shingu and Nachisan after.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Get from Hongu to Nachi
Here is a step-by-step suggestion on how to explore Shingu and Nachisan, and get to Katsuura in a day when the Traditional Boat Tour is not available.
Step 1: Get from Hongu to Shingu
Have breakfast at your Hongu area accommodation.
Take the Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus No. 53 from the Hongu area (including Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, Watarase Onsen, and Hongu Village) to Shingu.
| Bus Stops | Departure Times |
|---|---|
| Hongu Taisha-mae | 8:20 |
| Yunomine Onsen | 8:31 |
| Watarase Onsen | 8:37 |
| Kawayu Onsen | 8:39 |
| Kamikura-jinja-mae (Shingu) | 9:30 |
| Hayatama Taisha-mae | 9:33 |
| JR Shingu Station | 9:37 |
※ This bus also stops at the Traditional Boat Tour Center. In peak seasons, it might be crowded and difficult to board from the onsen hot spring villages of Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, and Watarase Onsen. In this case, consider other buses that depart from the Hongu area in the listed bus timetables.
Reserved Taxi Option
There is limited taxi service from Hongu. Taxis must be reserved in advance.
Book taxis online>>>
Step 2: Visit Shingu
Enjoy a visit to Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine.
Get off at the Hayatama Taisha-mae bus stop in Shingu. It is just about 400 meters back to the grand shrine.
Perhaps walk to Kamikura-jinja, the original location of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, just 20 minutes away on foot.
Pickup lunch in Shingu, or buy lunch from a convenience store.
For those not in a rush, there are a variety of places to visit in Shingu, then just bus or train to your accommodation in Katsuura later.
The Shingu Tourist Information Center, open every day 9:00 to 17:00, is located right in front of the Shingu Station and has English-speaking staff that can provide assistance.
Step 3: Get from Shingu to Nachi
Getting from Shingu to Nachisan shrine-temple-waterfall complex is a two-part process with a transfer required at Nachi Station.
Shingu area to Nachi Station (not Nachisan)
Take the Bus
Take the bus from Shingu to Nachi. Buses pick up riders at Shingu Station, Hayatama Taisha-mae and Kamikura-jinja-mae as well as other bus stops.
There are multiple departures, almost every 30 minutes, from Shingu.
Take the Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus Nos. 11, 15, 17 or 25.
Nos. 11, 15, 17 take about 40 minutes, No. 25 takes about 50 minutes.
To maximize your time at Nachisan, try to leave around 12 noon.
Take the Train
Visitors can also take the train from Shingu to Nachi Station.
Trains are not as frequent as the bus departures.
Nachi Station to Daimon-zaka, Nachisan
A transfer is required at Nachi Station.
Take the Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus No. 31 from Nachi Station to Nachisan.
Recommended Nachi St Departure Times (Bus No. 31)
| Nachi St | Daimon-zaka Parking | Nachisan |
|---|---|---|
| 12:48 (3/1-11/30 only) | 12:59 | 13:06 |
| 13:13 | 13:24 | 13:31 |
| 14:03 | 14:14 | 14:21 |
Step 4: Visit Nachisan
Nachisan is a prime example of the syncretic Kumano faith with a scenic shrine-temple complex featuring an iconic pagoda and the highest single-drop waterfalls in Japan amid a primeval forest as a backdrop.
Depending on time or the weather, visitors will either walk from Daimon-zaka slope or head straight to the base of the Nachisan stairs.
Walk Daimon-zaka Slope
The Daimon-zaka slope features centuries old, wide stone steps for almost 700 meters among ancient Japanese cedar trees.
It is an impressive and cinematic landscape up towards the shrine-temple complex of Nachisan.
To do it, get off at the Daimon-zaka Parking bus stop.
Continue walking up the slope to the Nachisan bus stop area, and continue climbing the main steps to Nachisan.
This can take about 2 hours over about 2 km total up to the shrine-temple complex and down to the falls.
Walk from the Nachisan bus stop
For those who would rather skip Daimon-zaka and get straight to the base of the main stairs, get off at the Nachisan bus stop and walk up to the shrine-temple complex from there.
Step 5: Get to Katsuura Accommodation
Catch bus No. 31 from Nachi-no-Taki-mae (Nachi Falls) to Kii-Katsuura Station. The bus stop is in front of the entrance to the falls.
Recommended bus departure times to allow you to get to your Katsuura accommodation at a reasonable time to enjoy your supper and a bath.
| Nachi-no-Taki-mae (Nachi Falls) | Kii-Katsuura Station |
|---|---|
| 15:44 | 16:08 |
| 16:29 | 16:53 |
| 17:14 | 17:38 |
Most accommodations are within a few hundred meters of Kii-Katsuura Station.
※ For those with Nachi accommodation reservations, you can either walk to Mitaki Sanso up the hill from the entrance to Nachi Falls, or catch the bus to a Nachi area bus stop with closest access to your accommodation.
Kumano Sanzan Circuit Tour Bus Option
This bus does a tour of the three Kumano Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha, arriving at the Kii-Katsuura station.
It does pick-ups in Kawayu Onsen, Wataze/Watarase Onsen, and Yunomine Onsen. There are no pick-ups in Hongu village.
There is lunch included in the tour which is served at the Jet Boat center.
Explanation is in Japanese only, but guests can still visit the 3 sights.
Common Q&A
| Q: Can I walk from Hongu to Shingu? |
| A: No, it is not recommended at all. There is only a highway with little to no roadside to walk from Hongu to Shingu. It is about 40 km. Please take the bus to get to Shingu. |
| Q: Can I still see the Kumanogawa River? |
| A: Yes, you can see the river from bus. You can also see it from the river bank near Kumano Hayatama Taisha where the Kumanogawa River approaches the Pacific Ocean. |
| Q: Can I stay longer in Shingu? |
| A: Yes. More information about spending time in Shingu and staying overnight.>>> |
| Q: Are there any other river boat tours? |
| A: Here are some other area river excursions. |
LOCAL LINKS
Shingu City Tourist Association
Nachi Katsuura Tourism Association