2 days in Wakayama: temples or coast?
For a night at a temple lodging, give Kongobuji and Danjo Garan a day each in Koyasan. If the beach and cliffs appeal more, compare a night in Shirahama followed by Sandanbeki the next day. Koyasan uses Nankai trains, the cable car, and mountain buses; Shirahama uses JR and Meiko Bus.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days, 1 night
A day each for Kongobuji and Danjo Garan
Choose this for a night in Koyasan without fitting every temple into one day. Visit Kongobuji on day one and Danjo Garan the next, using Nankai trains, the cable car, and mountain buses.
A day each for Kongobuji and Danjo Garan →2 days, 1 night BBeach on day one, Sandanbeki on day two
Choose this for a night by the sea with separate beach and cliff visits. Walk Shirarahama on day one, visit Sandanbeki the next, and return to Shirahama Station. Use Meiko Bus between the beach, cliffs, and station.
Beach on day one, Sandanbeki on day two →A day each for Kongobuji and Danjo Garan
Choose this for a night in Koyasan without fitting every temple into one day. Visit Kongobuji on day one and Danjo Garan the next, using Nankai trains, the cable car, and mountain buses.
Day 1 morning: from Gokurakubashi into the mountains
Take a mountain bus from Koyasan Station to Kongobuji, then stay overnight in Koyasan. Plan departure around temple hours and your travel date's bus and cable car connections. Follow your booked lodging's guidance for access and meal times.
- Nankai Hashimoto → Gokurakubashi
Take a Koya Line local train toward Gokurakubashi from Nankai Hashimoto. Check your travel date's weekday or weekend/public holiday timetable together with the cable car connection at Gokurakubashi. Travel from your departure city to Hashimoto is separate. Distinguish regular tickets from reserved-seat or limited express supplements.
Nankai Koya Line route guideHashimoto weekday timetable toward KoyasanHashimoto timetable toward Koyasan (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)
- Gokurakubashi → Cable car to Koyasan Station
Leave the train and transfer to the cable car toward Koyasan. Choose a connection with enough time after your train arrives, using the weekday or weekend/public holiday timetable for your travel date. From Koyasan Station, you still need a mountain bus to your lodging or temple.
Nankai Koya Line route guideGokurakubashi weekday timetable toward KoyasanGokurakubashi → Koyasan cable car timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)
- Koyasan Station Front → Kongobuji-mae bus stop
Take a mountain bus via Kongobuji-mae from Koyasan Station Front and get off at Kongobuji-mae. The official fare table lists ¥460 for adults on this segment on routes 21, 31, 41, 42, 43, 52, 53, and 55. Do not assume route 44 via Daimon Minami Parking follows the same stop sequence. Check direction and weekday or weekend/public holiday service in the station timetable, choosing a bus that leaves time to visit before reception closes at 4:30 p.m. If going to your lodging first, confirm its bus stop separately.
Rinkan Bus Koyasan mountain fares from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Koyasan Station Front timetable from March 28, 2026Kongobuji railway access and mountain area map
- Kongobuji-mae → Visit Kongobuji
Walk from the stop to Kongobuji. Regular hours are 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with reception until 4:30 p.m.; check event-day operations separately. Head to your booked lodging afterward. If you arrive late, visit Kongobuji first the next day and adjust your time at Danjo Garan.
Kongobuji and Danjo Garan admission and hoursKoyasan temples and Danjo Garan locationsKongobuji railway access and mountain area map
- Kongobuji → Booked lodging, dinner, and overnight stay
Return to your booked lodging after sightseeing. Check your booking conditions for the actual walk or bus route and dinner start time. If arriving late, ask the property whether dinner will still be available.
Kongobuji railway access and mountain area mapKoyasan Shukubo Association lodging guide by property
Day 2 morning: Danjo Garan
Include a final visit only if you have time before your departure that day. Skip it for a morning departure.
- Koyasan lodging → Konpon Daito at Danjo Garan
Visit Konpon Daito if time permits before your return transport. It is a separate sight and admission from Kongobuji, with regular hours of 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and reception until 4:30 p.m. Check event-day operations separately; add Kondo Hall's interior only if wanted, for an extra ¥500. If you missed Kongobuji the previous day, prioritize one sight according to the time before your return connections.
Kongobuji and Danjo Garan admission and hoursKoyasan temples and Danjo Garan locationsKongobuji railway access and mountain area map
- Danjo Garan / Kongobuji-mae → Bus to Koyasan Station Front
After sightseeing, locate the Kongobuji-mae boarding point on the official mountain area map and take a bus to Koyasan Station Front. The official stop timetable lists station-bound routes 31, 41, 43, 52, and 53, with an adult fare of ¥460. Use this boarding point after the Kongobuji-area visit; if boarding elsewhere near Danjo Garan or your lodging, check that stop's station-bound timetable separately. Weekday timetables distinguish school days and non-school days; weekend/public holiday timetables are separate. Allow time between bus arrival and cable car departure, and shorten your last visit for an early connection.
Rinkan Bus Koyasan mountain fares from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Kongobuji-mae timetable from March 28, 2026Kongobuji railway access and mountain area map
- Koyasan Station → Cable car to Gokurakubashi
Take the cable car toward Gokurakubashi from Koyasan Station. Check departure times in the weekday or weekend/public holiday timetable for your travel date. Allow time to walk from the mountain bus to the cable car platform.
Nankai Koya Line route guideCable car from Koyasan and connecting train timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)
- Gokurakubashi → Nankai Hashimoto
Leave the cable car and transfer to a local train toward Hashimoto. Check the destination and departure time for your travel date, allowing time to walk through the station and check tickets. Also look up connections beyond Hashimoto.
Nankai Koya Line route guideGokurakubashi timetable toward Namba and Hashimoto (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)
- Nankai Hashimoto → Your chosen departure city or airport direction
For Wakayama City, look up connections through the transfer to the Wakayama Line at JR Hashimoto; for Osaka, search through to your chosen Nankai terminal. Tickets, walking inside stations, waiting, airport transfers, and check-in are separate. For an airport journey, check connections through the onward train and flight.
Nankai Hashimoto Station and JR transfersNankai Koya Line route guide
Included items: Partial total of ¥1,500 for adult Kongobuji and Konpon Daito admission plus ¥1,980 for regular Hashimoto–Koyasan round-trip Koya Line and cable car travel
Extra costs and conditions: Required mountain buses are excluded from this partial total. The reference segment between Koyasan Station Front and Kongobuji-mae costs ¥460 each way for adults, or ¥920 round trip; extra rides for your lodging are separate. Required mountain buses and travel between your departure city and Hashimoto are excluded. JR travel, city buses, limited express supplements, lodging, meals, luggage storage, and optional Kondo Hall admission are also extra.
Regular adult admission is ¥1,000 for Kongobuji and ¥500 for Konpon Daito, totaling ¥1,500. Adding the regular ¥1,980 Hashimoto–Koyasan round-trip fare gives ¥3,480. The one-way rail fare is ¥990, covering the Koya Line train and cable car. Add ¥500 to enter Kondo Hall.
Mountain buses are separate from that partial total. Koyasan Station Front–Kongobuji-mae costs ¥460 each way for adults, or ¥920 round trip. The adult Koyasan one-day pass costs ¥1,500, so regular fares are ¥580 cheaper for this round trip alone. The pass applies to its specified date and segments, excluding the express Tateri Line and Koya Ryujin Line. Add the necessary bus fares according to your lodging's stops and extra rides. Travel from your departure city, JR services, city buses, lodging, and meals are also extra.
Kongobuji and Danjo Garan admission and hoursOfficial Nankai fare searchRinkan Bus Koyasan mountain fares from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Koyasan one-day pass price and coverage
Beach on day one, Sandanbeki on day two
Choose this for a night by the sea with separate beach and cliff visits. Walk Shirarahama on day one, visit Sandanbeki the next, and return to Shirahama Station. Use Meiko Bus between the beach, cliffs, and station.
Day 1: JR Shirahama Station to the beach
Walk along the beach on day one, visit Sandanbeki the next, then leave by JR. Choose a return train that leaves time to reach Shirahama Station after the cliffs and lunch. Skip the day-two cliff visit for a morning departure.
- JR Shirahama Station → Shirarahama bus stop
At JR Shirahama Station (S0), board Meiko Bus route 12 toward Sandanbeki and get off at Shirarahama (S15). Check your travel date's JR arrival and bus departure together. The JR station and beach stop are separate locations.
Meiko Bus timetable revised April 1, 2026Meiko Bus Shirahama routes and timetables
- Shirarahama bus stop → Walk at Shirarahama Beach
Walk from Shirarahama bus stop to the shore. This itinerary does not assume swimming. After the beach walk, have dinner and stay overnight in Shirahama.
Day 2 morning: Sandanbeki cliffs
- Shirahama lodging → Shirarahama / Sandanbeki stops
From Shirarahama (S15), take Meiko Bus route 12 toward Sandanbeki and get off at Sandanbeki (S24). Check departure, arrival, and stops in your travel date's timetable. Skip the cliffs for an early return connection.
Meiko Bus timetable revised April 1, 2026Sandanbeki cliffs, cave, and bus access
- Sandanbeki bus stop → Cliff views and optional cave visit
Walk about five minutes from the stop, according to the tourism bureau, for free cliff views. The cave is a separate paid facility, with regular adult admission (junior high school students and older) of ¥1,500. Buy tickets in the building to the right of the observation area and descend by elevator. The official roughly 30-minute interior visit excludes ticketing and elevator queues. Regular hours are 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last entry at 4:50 p.m. Mid-December maintenance may cause temporary closure; check weather-related operations on the day as well. Leave in time for a bus connecting with your booked departure, and skip the cave if queues are long.
Sandanbeki cliffs, cave, and bus accessSandanbeki Cave admission, hours, and reception route
- Sandanbeki → Shirarahama and lunch
From Sandanbeki (S24), take route 11 toward Tanabe Station via JR Shirahama Station back to Shirarahama (S15). Check departure, arrival, and stops for your travel date. Have lunch near the beach and check the next station-bound bus.
- Shirarahama → JR Shirahama Station and departure checks
From Shirarahama (S15), take route 11 toward Tanabe Station via JR Shirahama Station and get off at JR Shirahama Station (S0). Check your travel date's bus, JR train, seat reservation, and ticket collection time. For a morning train, skip the cliffs and head to the station. For flights, check airport transfers and check-in separately.
Included items: Four regular adult bus fares totaling ¥1,160 plus the chosen cave's regular ¥1,500 admission
Extra costs and conditions: A partial total excluding JR travel between your departure city and Shirahama, lodging, meals, luggage storage, and other attractions.
Based on the fare table revised April 8, 2021, linked from the official route page as of October 9. Station–Shirarahama costs ¥340 each way and Shirarahama–Sandanbeki ¥240 each way, totaling ¥1,160 for four adult rides. For free cliff views only, the bus partial total is ¥1,160; adding regular ¥1,500 cave admission makes ¥2,660. JR and other costs are excluded, so this is not a full trip budget. The official two-day bus pass costs ¥1,600, ¥440 more than these four regular fares. The pass plus regular cave admission totals ¥3,100 before benefits. Recheck fares, admission, and discount conditions for your visit date. If the ¥100 cave discount in the official pass guidance applies, the pass and cave total is ¥3,000, ¥340 more than the ¥2,660 regular bus and admission total. Confirm ticket presentation and valid-day conditions on site.
Meiko Bus Shirahama segment faresMeiko Bus pass prices and end of paper three-day passesSandanbeki Cave admission, hours, and reception route
Koyasan transport and visit guidance
See the train, cable car, and mountain bus sequence and their separate fares. Choose round-trip connections for your travel date, then fit temple visits and lodging around them.
Mountain and coastal areas use different buses
For Koyasan, transfer from the Nankai Koya Line and cable car to mountain buses. Shirahama uses Meiko Bus, and Nachi uses Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus's Nachisan Line. One regional bus pass does not cover all three areas.
The adult fare between Koyasan Station Front and Kongobuji-mae is ¥460 each way, or ¥920 round trip. The Koyasan one-day pass costs ¥1,500 for its specified date and area, excluding the express Tateri Line and Koya Ryujin Line. Regular fares are cheaper for this round trip alone. The existing partial totals in the four Koyasan itineraries exclude mountain buses; add those and any extra rides for your lodging separately. Kongobuji-mae and Senjuinbashi are different stops. Distinguish weekday, weekend/public holiday, and school-day/non-school-day timetables, then match your lodging access and connections for your travel date.
Kongobuji railway access and mountain area mapMeiko Bus Shirahama routes and timetablesNachisan Line timetable revised April 1, 2026Rinkan Bus Koyasan mountain fares from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Koyasan Station Front timetable from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Kongobuji-mae timetable from March 28, 2026Rinkan Bus Koyasan one-day pass price and coverage
Getting to Koyasan: train → cable car → mountain bus
From Hashimoto, take a Koya Line train toward Gokurakubashi, then transfer there to the cable car for Koyasan. After arriving at Koyasan Station, take a mountain bus to the temple or your booked lodging. Return by mountain bus, cable car toward Gokurakubashi, and train toward Hashimoto.
Kongobuji railway access and mountain area mapHashimoto weekday timetable toward KoyasanGokurakubashi weekday timetable toward Koyasan
Koyasan fares: ¥1,980 round trip from Hashimoto
The regular adult fare between Hashimoto and Koyasan is ¥990 one way or ¥1,980 round trip, including the Koya Line train and cable car. Travel between your departure city and Hashimoto, mountain buses, temple admission, lodging, and meals are extra.
Koyasan timing: choose transfers for your travel date
Check train and cable car connections in your travel date's weekday or weekend/public holiday timetable. Choose mountain buses around temple last admission and lodging meal times. On the return journey, leave time to board the cable car after the bus, and check onward trains or airport transfers after Hashimoto.
Hashimoto weekday timetable toward KoyasanHashimoto timetable toward Koyasan (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)Gokurakubashi weekday timetable toward KoyasanGokurakubashi → Koyasan cable car timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)Cable car from Koyasan and connecting train timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)Gokurakubashi timetable toward Namba and Hashimoto (weekdays and weekends/public holidays)
Return to your original lodging plan after Shirarahama
If visiting Shirahama from Kii-Katsuura, recheck the conditions for a day trip or one night locally. Even when using the two-day beach and cliff itinerary as a reference, adjust JR costs between the bases and your lodging allocation separately.
Compare keeping the weather buffer with a day visit or a night in Shirahama.
Compare two nights each in Shirahama and Kii-Katsuura with one night and three nights.
Official JR time and fare search: enter your travel dateMeiko Bus Shirahama routes and timetables
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk straight to the beach from Shirahama Station?
Take a Meiko Bus from Shirahama Station to the beach and get off at Shirarahama. Allow time to transfer from your train to the bus.
Meiko Bus Shirahama routes and timetablesMeiko Bus timetable revised April 1, 2026
Does a temple stay include every admission fee and program?
Conditions vary by property. Check your booked product's meals, baths, programs, included admission, and check-in time.
Sources and dates checked
- Kongobuji railway access and mountain area map ·
- Kongobuji and Danjo Garan admission and hours ·
- Koyasan temples and Danjo Garan locations ·
- Shirarahama Beach and bus stop ·
- Meiko Bus Shirahama routes and timetables ·
- Sandanbeki cliffs, cave, and bus access ·
- Sandanbeki Cave admission, hours, and reception route ·
- Nankai Koya Line route guide ·
- Meiko Bus timetable revised April 1, 2026 ·
- Meiko Bus Shirahama segment fares ·
- Meiko Bus pass prices and end of paper three-day passes ·
- Nankai Hashimoto Station and JR transfers ·
- Official JR time and fare search: enter your travel date ·
- Nachisan Line timetable revised April 1, 2026 ·
- Koyasan Shukubo Association lodging guide by property ·
- Hashimoto weekday timetable toward Koyasan ·
- Gokurakubashi weekday timetable toward Koyasan ·
- Official Nankai fare search ·
- Rinkan Bus Koyasan mountain fares from March 28, 2026 ·
- Rinkan Bus Koyasan Station Front timetable from March 28, 2026 ·
- Rinkan Bus Kongobuji-mae timetable from March 28, 2026 ·
- Rinkan Bus Koyasan one-day pass price and coverage ·
- Gokurakubashi → Koyasan cable car timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays) ·
- Hashimoto timetable toward Koyasan (weekdays and weekends/public holidays) ·
- Cable car from Koyasan and connecting train timetable (weekdays and weekends/public holidays) ·
- Gokurakubashi timetable toward Namba and Hashimoto (weekdays and weekends/public holidays) ·