When traveling to the World Heritage Kumano Kodo or the Kumano Sanzan, the Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus is very convenient. And now, you can ride these buses using contactless credit card payments! In this article, we’ll introduce how to get to the Kumano Sanzan by bus and how to ride using contactless payment.
2025.12.25-
Table of Contents
- Touring the Kumano Shrines
- Getting to the Kumano Sanzan by Bus
- How to Ride the Bus using a Credit Card
- To Enjoy Sightseeing Safely and Worry-Free
Touring the Kumano Shrines
Have you ever visited the Kumano area?
Many people, including visitors from overseas, use public transportation when touring the Kumano Sanzan (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Nachisan Seiganto-ji). However, have you ever had trouble in Japan because a public transportation service only accepted cash?
On the Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus, which is essential for touring the Kumano Sanzan, you can now pay your fare using convenient contactless credit card payments, which are easy to use even for overseas visitors. Switch from cash to contactless and enjoy a smarter, more convenient trip around the Kumano Sanzan!
*For more information about the Kumano Sanzan, please read these articles!
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![[Kumano Pilgrimage I] Kumano Hongu Taisha](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/09/26-245154.webp)
[Kumano Pilgrimage I] Kumano Hongu Taisha
2025.10.24
![[Kumano Pilgrimage II] Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/09/01-243052.webp)
![[Kumano Pilgrimage III] Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine/Hiraku Shrine](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/09/10-243911.webp)
![[Kumano Pilgrimage IV] Seiganto-ji Temple on Mt. Nachi](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/09/02-243066.webp)
Getting to the Kumano Sanzan by Bus
Below is one example of how to reach the Kumano Sanzan using the convenient Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus, especially helpful for first-time visitors.
JR Shingu Station ↔ Kumano Hongu Taisha / Kumano Hayatama Taisha
- After getting off the train at JR Shingu Station, board Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus route 51 bound for “Hongu Taisha-mae”, or route 53 bound for “Hongu Taisha (via Onsen)”.
- For Kumano Hayatama Taisha, get off at “Hayatama Taisha-mae”. For Kumano Hongu Taisha, get off at the final stop “Hongu Taisha-mae”.
* From Shingu Station to Hayatama Taisha-mae takes about 4 minutes.If you take route 51, it takes about 1 hour to reach Hongu Taisha-mae.
* You can also reach “Hayatama Taisha-mae” by taking routes 11, 15, 17, or 25 bound for “Kii-Katsuura Station area” (note that these buses do not go to Kumano Hongu Taisha).
* Route 53 stops at Kawayu Onsen, Wataze Onsen, and Yunomine Onsen along the way (some onsen facilities provide their own shuttle buses; please check directly with each facility).
(Left) Bus stop “Shingu Station” (Center) “Shingu Station” bus boarding area (Right) “Shingu Station” platform No. 2 sign
(Left) Bus for route 51 bound for “Hongu Taisha-mae”
(Center/Right) Depending on the time of day, buses like the blue and white one shown above may operate on the “Hongu Taisha-mae” route. The sign “本宮大社前 (Hongu Taisha-mae)” displayed on the upper front of the bus is your landmark.
- Shingu Station ↔ Hayatama Taisha-mae: ¥200
Shingu Station ↔ Hongu Taisha-mae: ¥1,560
(Fares as of December 1, 2025.)
- Board route 51 bound for “Shingu Station” or route 53 bound for “Shingu Station (via Onsen)”.
- Get off at the final stop, Shingu Station
* The route numbers are the same as when you went, but the destination displays will be different on the return, so please pay attention.
* You can also get to “Shingu Station” by taking routes 11, 15, 17, or 25 bound for “Shingu Station / Kinki University Shingu High School”.
(Top / lower left) Bus stop “Hongu Taisha-mae” (Lower center) “Hongu Taisha-mae” bus stop sign (Lower right) Sign for buses bound for Shingu Station
Bus No. 51 bound for Shingu Station
JR Kii-Katsuura Station ↔ Kumano Nachi Taisha / Nachisan Seiganto-ji
- After getting off the train at JR Kii-Katsuura Station, board the Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus Route 31 bound for "Nachisan"
- Get off at the final stop "Nachisan"
- The stop immediately before "Nachisan" is "Nani-no-taki-mae" (literally, "Before Nachi Falls")
*It takes roughly 30-minutes from Kii-Katsuura Station to "Nachisan"
Bus stop "Kii Katsuura Station"
Bus stop "Nachisan"
- Kii- Katsuura Station ↔ Nachisan: 630 yen (fares as of December 1, 2025).
- Board Route 31 bound for "Kii-Katsuura Station"
- Get off at the final stop at "Kii-Katsuura Station"
* The bus route number is the same as on the way there, but again, the destination display will differ on the return, so please pay attention!
Bus No. 31 bound for Kii- Katsuura Station
Important Points
① Where to wait for the bus at Kii-Katsuura Station
At the "Kii-Katsuura Station" bus stop, please wait inside the building marked with the blue sign reading "バスのりば" (Bus Stop), until the departure time (See the orange shaded area in the diagram below).
Please be careful not to loiter in the area outside the building.
② Bus Departure Times
Buses to the Kumano Sanzan and to each JR station generally departs every 1-1.5 hours, depending on the time of day and the season.
Since you might have to wait for a long time for the next bus, please be careful when planning your schedule. In particular, we recommend checking the return bus times upon your arrival at the Kumano Sanzan before you start your journey.
How to Ride the Bus using a Credit Card
Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus now supports contactless credit card payments when you board!
Source: Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus "Credit Card Touch Payment Information"
What is a Contactless Payment?
This is a payment method where you can pay your fare simply by tapping a credit card with contactless functionality (includes debit cards, smartphones, and wearable devices) on a dedicated terminal.
Supported Brands
You can use contactless-enabled cards from VISA, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and UnionPay (as of May 19, 2025)
* Even among the brands listed above, some cards may not be usable. Please check with your card issuer beforehand whether your card supports contactless payments for public transportation and whether it can be used on smartphones or other devices.
Source: Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus "Credit Card Touch Payment Information"
Conditions of Use
Your card or device must be a contactless-enabled credit card from one of the brands above, or a compatible smartphone or wearable device.
* Nationwide IC Transit Cards such as Suica and PASMO, and e-Money such as WAON, nanaco, Rakuten Edy, iD, and QUICPay cannot be used.
Source: Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus "Credit Card Touch Payment Information"
How to Use
The basic procedure is as follows. The key point is to make sure to firmly hold your contactless card or device close to the reader for at least one second both when boarding and getting off.
[When Boarding]
① Board through the rear door of the bus
② Hold your contactless credit card or device close to the dedicated terminal near the door for at least one second.
Terminal for tapping when boarding (near the rear door)
[When Getting Off]
① After the bus comes to a stop, move toward the front of the bus and hold the same contactless credit card/device used when boarding, close to the reader next to the driver's seat for 1-second.
➁ Get off the bus through the front door.
Touch the terminal when getting off (near the front door of the bus)
Source: Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus "Credit Card Touch Payment Information"
* If there is an error when you tap during boarding, or if the terminal does not read the card when you tap, you will need to take a numbered ticket from the ticket machine when you board and then pay your fare in cash when you get off.
* We recommend checking carefully in advance whether your credit card or device can be used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay for multiple people with one credit card?
Yes. Tap your card firmly on the terminal when boarding, and when you get off, tell the driver that you would like to pay for multiple people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I forget to tap when boarding?
It will result in an error when you get off, so please tell the driver which bus stop you boarded at.The driver can then operate the system so that contactless payment can be completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my credit card at a service counter in advance?
No prior registration is needed. As long as your credit card has the contactless payment symbol, you can use it at any time.
For more FAQs and details about credit card payments on the Kumano Gobō Nankai Bus, please see the information provided by the company.
To Enjoy Sightseeing Safely and Worry-Free
The Kumano Area is extremely popular. It attracts many visitors, making it important to follow proper manners so you can avoid troubles during your trip. Please keep the following points in mind when riding the bus:
- Eating and Drinking inside buses is generally not allowed in Japan. Please take any trash during your sightseeing back with you.
- If the bus is crowded, and you're carrying a backpack, please hold it in front of you, carry it by hand, or place it in the overhead rack to be considerate of those around you.
- Do not stand up until the bus has come to a complete stop. (The driver will wait until passengers have finished getting off, so there is no need to rush)
- Please keep your voice down on the bus. As you head toward the sacred Kumano Sanzan, take the time
How to carry luggage on the bus
How about this? Now you too can embark on a stylish trip around the Kumano Sanzan!
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.