Koyasan and the Hongu area are both located in a mountain environment. There is no direct train/bus or bus routes connecting the two.
Possible routes:
- By bus via Ryujin Onsen and Tanabe
- By train & bus via Wakayama City and Tanabe
- By train & bus via Gojo
- By chartered taxi
- Driving
- Koyasan to Kumano Hongu (via Ryujin Onsen) Limited Bus
ACCESS BUS: Koyasan to Kumano Hongu (via Ryujin Onsen) Access Bus This may also be an option for travelling to/from Koyasan. But it is only available for a limited time.
By bus via Ryujin Onsen and Tanabe
Time: ~5.5 hrs (depends on connection times) (not available Dec to Mar)
Price: ~6430 yen
Route Explanation Koyasan to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen):
This route requires two bus rides.
[Bus] Koyasan to Tanabe (bus timetable 7)
[Bus] Tanabe to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) (bus timetable 1)
Route Explanation Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Koyasan:
This route requires two bus rides.
[Bus] Tanabe to Koyasan (bus timetable 7)
[Bus] Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Tanabe (bus timetable 1)
Notes:
- The bus route from Koyasan to Ryujin Onsen is closed from December to March.
- There is a simple transfer in Gomadanzan (Tanabe City Ryujin Gomasan Sky Tower Michi-no-Eki), between Ryujin Onsen and Koyasan when you change busses between bus companies: Ryujin Bus and Nankai Rinkan Bus.
- If you are boarding in Koyasan it is best to reserve a seat and confirm bus stop location at the Koyasan Information Center.
- The bus rides are scenic, especially along the Koya-Ryujin Skyline highway.
By train & bus via Wakayama City and Tanabe
Time: ~6 hrs (depends on connection times)
Price: ~6270 yen (non-reserved seat on trains)
Route Explanation Koyasan to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen):
Route Explanation Koyasan to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen):
This route requires a variety of transportation methods included cable car, train and bus.
[Bus] Koyasan village to Koyasan station (Nankai)
[Cable car] Koyasan station to Gokuraku-bashi station
[Train] Gokuraku-bashi to Hashimoto (Nankai)
[Train] Hashimoto to Wakayama (JR)
[Train] Wakayama to Kii-Tanabe (JR)
[Bus] Tanabe to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) (bus timetable 1)
Route Explanation Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Koyasan:
This route requires a variety of transportation methods included cable car, train and bus.
[Bus] Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Tanabe (bus timetable 1)
[Train] Kii-Tanabe to Wakayama (JR)
[Train] Wakayama to Hashimoto (JR)
[Train] Hashimoto to Gokuraku-bashi (Nankai)
[Cable car] Gokuraku-bashi station to Koyasan station (Nankai)
[Bus] Koyasan station to Koyasan village
Notes:
- This may be a good option if you have a JR pass.
By train & bus via Gojo
Time: ~5.5 hrs (depends on connection times)
Price: ~4,360 yen
Route Explanation Koyasan to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen):
This route requires a variety of transportation methods included cable car, train and bus.
[Bus] Koyasan village to Koyasan station (Nankai)
[Cable car] Koyasan station to Gokuraku-bashi station
[Train] Gokuraku-bashi to Hashimoto (Nankai)
[Train] Hashimoto to Gojo (JR)
[Bus] Gojo to Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) (bus timetable 4)
There is a combined timetable for this route (timetable 16)
Route Explanation Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Koyasan:
Route Explanation Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Koyasan:
This route requires a variety of transportation methods included cable car, train and bus.
[Bus] Hongu (Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen) to Gojo (bus timetable 3)
[Train] Gojo to Hashimoto (JR)
[Train] Hashimoto to Gokuraku-bashi (Nankai)
[Cable car] Gokuraku-bashi station to Koyasan station (Nankai)
[Bus] Koyasan station to Koyasan village
There is a combined timetable for this route (timetable 16)
- This is often the quickest route with public transportation depending on the connection times.
By chartered taxi
Time: ~2.5 hrs (depends on connection times)
Price: ~30,800 yen (Normal taxi, up to 4 people) book online >>
~38,500 yen (Jumbo taxi, up to 8 people) book online >>
Notes:
- Quickest method.
- If you have a larger group or restricted by time this is a recommended and efficient choice.
- Contact us for more information and reservation.
Driving
Driving between Koyasan and the Hongu area is on mountain roads.
Sometimes car navigation systems give bad advice for road options in the mountains.
If you are driving between Koyasan and the Hongu area please follow the directions below for the safest route.
Koyasan to Kumano Hongu (via Ryujin Onsen) Limited Bus
There is a limited bus that runs from Koyasan to the Hongu area via Ryujin Onsen. (not in the winter)
Please check the booking sites for the most up-to-date schedules.
*Please note that bus cancellations may occur during the above period.
*Access Bus is a fixed route bus.
*There are transfers at Gomadanzan. Depending on route and bus transfers also take place at Kurisugawa and Ryujin Onsen.
