The Kii Peninsula covers an expansive area between Nagoya in the east and Osaka in the west. Within that area, visitors will find three of Japan’s most important religious destinations including the Ise Grand Shrine, Kumano Kodo and the temple mountain of Koyasan. These three destinations are separated by a considerable distance and can be approached from different directions.
For information on how to get to Nagoya from common locations including Nagano, the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Tokyo, Kanazawa and more, please refer to our ‘HOW TO GET TO NAGOYA’ page.
WHERE IS THE KII PENINSULA?
The Kii Peninsula lies between Nagoya in the east and Osaka in the west, covering a wide area spanning Wakayama, Osaka, Nara and Mie Prefectures. It is the largest peninsula on Japan’s main island of Honshu and is best-known for its multiple spiritual sites including the Ise Grand Shrine—the most important Shinto shrine complex in Japan. It is also home to the pilgrimage trails, shrines, and temples of the World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo, and the temple mountain of Koya-san. Given the expanse and multiple points of interest in the region, estimating how long it takes to reach the Kii Peninsula depends very much on where you are headed. Most visitors begin their journey in either Nagoya or Osaka, therefore the following directions are from those points:
HOW TO GET TO THE ISE GRAND SHRINE FROM NAGOYA
The Ise Grand Shrine is the most important Shinto complex in Japan. Consisting of many shrines, the complex is centered around the Kotai Jingu (Inner Shrine) and the Geku Jingu (Outer Shrine). The shrines are separated by several kilometers, with both Iseshi Station and Ujiyama Station in Ise City providing access—buses run from both stations to the shrines. From Kintetsu-Nagoya Station—located within the Nagoya Station complex—take the Limited Express Kintetsu service to Iseshi Station—80 minutes / JPY2810—or Ujiyamada Station—85 minutes / JPY2810. Buses run from the stations to the nearby shrines, with Ujiyamada Station being slightly closer to the Inner Shrine.
HOW TO GET TO THE KUMANO KODO FROM NAGOYA
For visitors heading to the pilgrimage trails of the Kumano Kodo, there are multiple ways to approach the area depending on your exact destination. For visitors heading to the Kumano Kodo from Nagoya, we recommend using the Limited Express Nanki service. While there are only three services each day running to both Shingu and Kii-Katsuura, it is notably faster than other trains and its ‘wide view’ windows provide great views of the passing landscape. It is important to note that while the Nankai is operated by Japan Rail (JR) Central, visitors with a JR Pass will have to pay a small surcharge to use this train as it runs along a private line for part of the journey.
The service departs from Platform 12 at Nagoya Station at 08:05, 10:01 and 12:58 with the last service of the day departing at 19:47 but only running to Shingu Station:
For visitors buying a ticket a one-way journey to Shingu Station costs JPY7000 and Kii-Katsuura Station costs JPY7330. The return schedule is as follows:
From Shingu Station, buses run to Kumano Hongu Taisha—80 minutes / JPY1560—while Kumano Hayatama Taisha can be reached on-foot. Kumano Nachi Taisha can be reached by bus from Kii-Katsuura Station—30 minutes / JPY630.
HOW TO GET TO THE KUMANO KODO FROM OSAKA
For visitors approaching the trails and attractions of the Kumano Kodo from Osaka, heading to Kii-Tanabe Station will be the fastest and easiest option. From Shin-Osaka Station, take the Limited Express Kuroshio service to Kii-Tanabe—130 to 140 minutes / JPY4840. The same service continues onto Kii-Katsuura Station—240 minutes / JPY6490—and terminates at Shingu Station—250 minutes / JPY6820.
HOW TO GET TO KOYASAN FROM OSAKA
To reach the temple mountain of Koyasan from Osaka, take the Nankai Koya Line from either Namba Station or Shin-Imamiya Station to Gokurakubashi Station—85 to 90 minutes / JPY1680 and 80 to 85 minutes / JPY1680 respectively. Once at Gokurakubashi, take the Koyasan cable car up the mountain—5 minutes / JPY500. The cable car operates from 05:30 to 22:30 (approximately). Visitors will then need to use the public bus or taxi to head into the center of town. Most of Koyasan’s many attractions including Okunoin Temple, Garan and Kongobuji Temple are within easy reach of the town center.
BOOK WITH US! NAGANO’S NO.1 TOUR & CHARTER OPERATOR
Central Japan offers many, many reasons to visit. Operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in Central Japan including Nagoya.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Central Japan and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Japan.
Got a question about visiting Central Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
