Two days in Wakayama: temples or coast?

Day 1 morning: up the mountain via Gokurakubashi

Take a mountain bus from Koyasan Station to Kongobu-ji, then stay in Koyasan. Choose connections that leave time before temple admission closes. Check your accommodation's access and dinner arrangements.

1. Nankai Hashimoto → Gokurakubashi

   At Nankai Hashimoto, take a local Koya Line train towards Gokurakubashi. Use the weekday timetable or the timetable for weekends and public holidays for your date and check the connecting cable car. Travel from your starting city to Hashimoto is separate. Distinguish the ordinary fare from limited express and reserved-seat supplements.

   Nankai Koya Line route guide2026-10-08Hashimoto weekday timetable towards Koyasan2026-10-08Hashimoto towards Koyasan timetable: weekdays, weekends and public holidays2026-10-09

2. Gokurakubashi → Cable car to Koyasan Station

   Change from the train to the Koyasan cable car. Choose a departure with time to transfer after the train arrives, using the timetable for your date. From Koyasan Station, continue by mountain bus to your temple or accommodation.

   Nankai Koya Line route guide2026-10-08Gokurakubashi weekday timetable towards Koyasan2026-10-08Gokurakubashi–Koyasan cable car timetable: weekdays, weekends and public holidays2026-10-09

3. Outside Koyasan Station → Kongobujimae bus stop

   Take a mountain bus that serves Kongobujimae and get off there. The official fare table lists JPY 460 for adults on routes 21, 31, 41, 42, 43, 52, 53 and 55 over this section. Route 44 via Daimon South Parking has a different stop sequence. Check the direction and weekday timetable or the timetable for weekends and public holidays, leaving time to visit before admission closes at 16:30. If going to your accommodation first, check its own stop.

   Rinkan Koyasan mountain bus fares from 28 March 20262026-10-09Rinkan Koyasan Station timetable from 28 March 20262026-10-09Kongobu-ji rail access and mountain map2026-10-08

4. Kongobujimae → Visit Kongobu-ji

   Walk from the stop to Kongobu-ji. Usual hours are 08:30–17:00, with admission until 16:30; check arrangements on event days. Afterwards, go to your booked accommodation. If you arrive late, visit Kongobu-ji first the next morning and adjust the time for Danjo Garan.

   Kongobu-ji and Danjo Garan admission and hours2026-10-08Koyasan temples and Danjo Garan locations2026-10-08Kongobu-ji rail access and mountain map2026-10-08

5. Kongobu-ji → Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay

   Return to your booked accommodation after the visit. Check the actual walking or bus route and dinner starting time in your booking. If arriving late, ask whether dinner can still be provided.

   Kongobu-ji rail access and mountain map2026-10-08Koyasan Shukubo Association accommodation directory2026-10-08

Day 2 morning: Danjo Garan

Add a final visit only if there is enough time before your departure. Skip it for a morning departure.

1. Koyasan accommodation → Konpon Daito at Danjo Garan

   Visit Konpon Daito if your return connections allow. It has separate admission from Kongobu-ji, with usual hours of 08:30–17:00 and admission until 16:30. Check event-day arrangements. The Kondo interior costs an extra JPY 500 if you choose to visit. If you missed Kongobu-ji yesterday, prioritise one site according to the time before your return journey.

   Kongobu-ji and Danjo Garan admission and hours2026-10-08Koyasan temples and Danjo Garan locations2026-10-08Kongobu-ji rail access and mountain map2026-10-08

2. Danjo Garan / Kongobujimae → Bus to Koyasan Station

   Use the official mountain map to locate the boarding point at Kongobujimae and take a bus to Koyasan Station. The stop timetable lists station-bound routes 31, 41, 43, 52 and 53, at JPY 460 for adults. This is the reference stop after a Kongobu-ji visit; if using another stop near Danjo Garan or your accommodation, check its own station-bound timetable. Weekday services distinguish school days and school holidays, with a separate table for weekends and public holidays. Allow time between bus arrival and cable car departure; shorten the last visit if your connection is early.

   Rinkan Koyasan mountain bus fares from 28 March 20262026-10-09Rinkan Kongobujimae timetable from 28 March 20262026-10-09Kongobu-ji rail access and mountain map2026-10-08

3. Koyasan Station → Cable car to Gokurakubashi

   Take the cable car from Koyasan to Gokurakubashi. Check its departure in the weekday timetable or the timetable for weekends and public holidays for your date. Allow time to get from the bus to the cable car platform.

   Nankai Koya Line route guide2026-10-08Cable car from Koyasan and connecting trains: weekdays, weekends and public holidays2026-10-09

4. Gokurakubashi → Nankai Hashimoto

   Change from the cable car to a local train towards Hashimoto. Check the destination and departure for your date, allowing time to move through the station and check tickets. Look up your onward connection from Hashimoto.

   Nankai Koya Line route guide2026-10-08Gokurakubashi towards Namba and Hashimoto: weekdays, weekends and public holidays2026-10-09

5. Nankai Hashimoto → Onwards to your chosen city or airport

   For Wakayama City, check connections through the transfer to the JR Wakayama Line at Hashimoto. For Osaka, check through to your chosen Nankai terminus. Allow for tickets, transfers and waiting; airport travel and check-in are separate. If continuing to a flight, check the onward trains and airport connection against its departure time.

   Nankai Hashimoto and JR transfer guide2026-10-08Nankai Koya Line route guide2026-10-08

Day 1: JR Shirahama Station to the beach

Walk the beach on day one and visit Sandanbeki on day two before leaving by JR. Choose a return train that allows for the cliffs, lunch and the bus back to Shirahama Station. For a morning departure, skip the cliffs on day two.

1. JR Shirahama Station → Shirarahama bus stop

   At JR Shirahama Station (S0), take Meiko route 12 towards Sandanbeki and get off at Shirarahama (S15). Check the train arrival and bus departure for your date together. The station and beach stop are separate locations.

   Meiko timetable revised on 1 April 20262026-10-08Meiko Shirahama routes and timetable directory2026-10-08

2. Shirarahama bus stop → Walk along Shirarahama Beach

   Walk from the Shirarahama stop to the beach and along the shore. This route is a beach walk; if you plan to swim, check the season and sea conditions separately. Afterwards, have dinner and stay overnight in Shirahama.

   Shirarahama Beach and bus stop guide2026-10-08

Day 2 morning: Sandanbeki Cliffs

1. Shirahama accommodation → Shirarahama to Sandanbeki bus stop

   From Shirarahama (S15), take Meiko route 12 towards Sandanbeki and get off at Sandanbeki (S24). Check departures, arrivals and stops for your date. Skip the cliffs if your return connection is early.

   Meiko timetable revised on 1 April 20262026-10-08Sandanbeki cliffs, cave and bus access2026-10-08

2. Sandanbeki bus stop → Cliff views and optional cave visit

   The tourism bureau lists a walk of about five minutes from the stop to the free cliff viewpoint. The cave is a separate paid attraction, with regular admission of JPY 1,500 for junior secondary school age and above. Buy a ticket in the building to the right of the viewpoint and take the lift down. The operator's roughly 30-minute cave visit excludes ticket and lift queues. The cave usually opens from 08:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:50. Maintenance closures may occur in mid-December; check weather-related operation on the day. Leave for a bus that connects with your booked departure, and skip the cave if queues are too long.

   Sandanbeki cliffs, cave and bus access2026-10-08Sandanbeki Cave admission, hours and entry route2026-10-08

3. Sandanbeki → Shirarahama and lunch

   From Sandanbeki (S24), take route 11 towards Tanabe Station via JR Shirahama Station, getting off at Shirarahama (S15). Check times and stops for your date. Have lunch near the beach and check the next station-bound bus.

   Meiko timetable revised on 1 April 20262026-10-08

4. Shirarahama → JR Shirahama Station and your departure

   From Shirarahama (S15), take route 11 towards Tanabe Station via JR Shirahama Station and get off at JR Shirahama (S0). Check your bus, JR train, reserved seat and ticket collection arrangements. For a morning train, go straight to the station and skip the cliffs. A flight needs separate airport travel and check-in time.

   Meiko timetable revised on 1 April 20262026-10-08