Thorough Guide to Kumano Kodo Buses] From Tanabe to Hongu｜Complete Access Navigation for People Walking the Nakahechi Route
- WS aisu
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 24
What is the Kumano Kodo Nakaheji Road? Overview of the route from Tanabe to Hongu
The Kumano Kodo Nakaheji is a path starting from Kii Tanabe Station in Wakayama Prefecture that allows visitors to walk through the mountains and feel the nature and history of the area.
interval | distance | Approximate time |
Kii-Tanabe Station → Takijiri Oji | Approx. 24.6 km | Approx. 8 hours |
Takijiri Oji → Hongu (mainstream route) | Approx. 40 km | About 2-3 days or about 16-20 hours |
The typical route leads to Oji Takijiri - Chikaruro - Kobiro Pass - Yunomine Hot Springs - Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine. Along the way, there are Oji Shrine and hot spring resorts, making this course a familiar “quiet pilgrimage route in Japan” even for those who have made pilgrimages to Spain.
Access by bus｜From Tanabe Station to Takijiri, Nakabeji Administration Office and Hongu
The Ryujin Bus “Kumano Hongu Line” runs directly from Tanabe Station to Takijiri Oji, Nakabeji Administration Office, and Hongu Taisha Shrine.
(It takes about 36 minutes from Kii Tanabe Station to Takijiri and 90 to 120 minutes to Hongu.
●Bus from Kii-Tanabe Station to Takijiri
You can see the route from Kii-Tanabe Station to Takijiri Oji, which is used by many people.
In case of illness or injury, you can travel by bus and on foot between sections using the following methods.
●From Takijiri to Takahara
●From Takahara to Chikatsuyu ⚠️Walking section 50 min. or more
●From Chikatsuyu to Kobiro toge
●From Kobiro toge to Yunomine Onsen
●From Yunomine Onsen to Hongu
Points to keep in mind when using buses
It is better to prepare cash in advance when taking the bus.
You can exchange money on the bus, but remember to break down your 10,000 yen or 5,000 yen bills in advance, as some buses only accept 1,000 yen bills (1,000 yen).
Credit cards other than cash and QR payments are often not accepted.
In addition, since bus stop information signs are almost exclusively in Japanese, it is a good idea to use a smartphone translation application or photos to confirm place names.
Name of bus stop from Kii-Tanabe to Takijiri
1.紀伊田辺 Kii-Tanabe Sta.
2.つぶり坂 Tsuburizaka(Kumano Hongu Line)
3.田辺市役所前 Tanabe Shiyakusho-mae
4.鶴ヶ丘 Tsurugaoka
5.工業高校前 Kogyo Koko-mae
6.橋谷 Hashidani
7.紀伊新庄駅 Kii-Shinjo Sta.
8.名喜里 Nakiri
9.田鶴口 Tazu-guchi
10.技術専門校前 Gijutsu Senmonko-mae
11.南紀の台下 Nankinodai-shita
12.峠 Toge
13.鳶野 Tobino
14.朝来 Asso
15.生馬口 Ikuma-guchi
16.熊野高校前 Kumano Koko-mae
17.三宝寺 Sanpo-ji
18.紀伊岩田 Kii-Iwada
19.上岩田 Kamiiwada
20.稲葉根王子 Inabane-oji
21.根皆田 Nekaida
22.市ノ瀬診療所前 Ichinose Shinryosho-mae
23.紀伊市ノ瀬 Kii-Ichinose
24.紀伊一乗寺 Kii-Ichijo-ji
25.登尾 Noborio
26.下鮎川 Shimoayukawa
27.下附 Shimotuko
28.鮎川診療所 Ayukawa Shinryosho-mae
29.鮎川新橋 Ayukawa-shinbashi
30.宇立 Udatsu
31.向越 Mukaigoshi
32.鮎川温泉 Ayukawa Onsen
33.蕨尾橋 Warabio-bashi
34.北郡 Hokusogi
35.清姫 Kiyohime
36.真砂 Manago
37.滝尻 Takijiri
In the unlikely event that you miss a stop, offline maps and GPS-enabled apps make it easy to check the next stop and find an alternate route.
To make Tanabe - Hongu more comfortable｜An alternative to smartphone rental
Although the Kumano Kodo and Nakaheji routes are safe, there are sections in the mountains where cell phone reception is difficult, and there are many places where you cannot get off the road in case of injury. Tourist information centers and Wi-Fi spots are also limited.
Therefore, a rental smartphone is a very strong ally that allows you to instantly check information necessary for the pilgrimage, such as translation, navigation, weather, and emergency contact. In the event of injury or trouble, the support center will obtain GPS from the device in case of emergency and link the location information to the relevant authorities, leading to prompt rescue operations.
Our Kumaphone can be reserved on the web and used as soon as it is picked up at the delivery location upon departure. The app, which allows calls within Japan and is convenient for travel, is delivered pre-installed. We support pilgrims to reduce their anxiety and focus on their memories.
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