Kii-Tanabe Station is more than just a railway transfer point. Its bus terminal is a key hub for city buses heading to Takijiri-oji, the starting point of the Nakahechi Route, and the Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, one of the main sites of worship.
Right next to JR Kii-Tanabe Station is the Tanabe Tourist Information Center, a reliable resource for travelers. Around 100 types of tourist brochures covering all of Wakayama Prefecture are available, and English-speaking staff members are here to provide guidance to international visitors. You can ask them about anything related to tourism in southern Wakayama Prefecture, including transportation information, Kumano Kodo routes, and event information. Volunteer tour guides can also offer walking tours of the city upon request.
Additionally, services to facilitate trekking for long periods of time are in place.

Coin lockers: You can store your luggage inside coin lockers at the station to avoid carrying it during your hike.

Same-day luggage delivery service: You can use this service, which delivers large luggage from your starting point (Kii-Tanabe Station or accommodations in Tanabe City) to your accommodation on the same day. Reservations in advance are required. Please contact your accommodation for more information.

Bicycle rentals: While not ideal for trekking, you can rent bicycles to get around the Kii-Tanabe Station area or to visit tourist spots a bit further away.

Improving the convenience of public transportation around Kii-Tanabe Station has become essential as international visitor numbers increase. Key challenges include each bus company in the area having different bus stops and signs, making it difficult for users to know which bus to take; the limited number of city buses in the early morning and late at night; and the inability to fully meet transportation demand during busy seasons.
Tanabe is providing solutions to address these issues, such as conducting a public ride-sharing pilot project where general drivers can transport passengers for a fee. We recommend checking the latest information for more flexible travel, as they sometimes run in the early morning, late at night, or during peak seasons. Information is also provided at the Tanabe Tourist Information Center right next to Kii-Tanabe Station, as well as at other locations, so feel free to ask the staff.

Convenient transportation tickets and digital services are available for international visitors wishing to efficiently and affordably tour the Kii Peninsula area, including the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage.

Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass
This wide-area pass for international visitors allows extensive travel starting from Osaka or Nagoya, focusing on the World Heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes and covering Wakayama, Mie, and Nara Prefectures. Valid for five consecutive days, this highly convenient ticket offers unlimited rides on JR conventional lines and limited express trains (up to six reserved seats), Ise Railway, Wakayama Electric Railway, and regional bus routes like Mie Kotsu and Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus within the area. Please check the website for more information.

Ryujin Bus Kumano Hongu Line 4-Day Free Ticket
This Ryujin Bus mobile ticket is convenient for visiting facilities along the Nakahechi Route from Kii-Tanabe Station. Use the mobile ticket service QUICK TRIP to purchase tickets in advance and use them via your smartphone. Available in six languages, it makes bus travel more convenient for international visitors by reducing currency exchange needed for high costs on long-distance routes. Designed for the Nakahechi route, it is used by many international tourists and can be purchased for 3,500 yen per adult. Please check the website for more information.

The Kumano Kodo area hosts large festivals rooted in history and culture, making your trip to the area unique. These event periods also mark the region’s busiest times.

Spring: Kumano Hongu Taisha Annual Festival (April 13-15)
This is the largest of the sacred rituals held at Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, one of the Kumano Sanzan shrines. Attracting large crowds each year, it is a traditional festival you cannot miss if you are coming for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage in spring.

Summer: Tanabe Festival (Tokei-jinja Shrine’s annual festival) (July 24-25)
Held at Tokei-jinja Shrine, just a short distance from Kii-Tanabe Station, this annual festival is known as the largest festival in the Kinan region. Its grandeur will remind you of Kyoto’s Gion Festival, with its eight magnificent floats parade through the town, drawing crowds of up to 100,000 people each year.

Autumn:Mifune-matsuri Festival (Kumano Hayatama Taisha Annual Grand Festival) (October 16)
This event concludes the annual festival at Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, one of the Kumano Sanzan shrines. The main celebration is the boat procession ritual, where nine swift rowboats compete for speed on the Kumano River.

Other periods expected to be crowded: Similar to Ise Shrine and other tourist destinations, dates coinciding with Japan’s major holidays (Golden Week from late April to early May, Obon in mid-August, etc.) can become extremely crowded. When using Kii-Tanabe Station or the Kumano Kodo routes during these periods, it is essential to plan transportation and activities in advance to avoid crowds.

Kii-Tanabe Station is more than a transit point. It is the gateway to the modern pilgrimage route, combining thorough support for travel to a World Heritage site with continuously evolving transportation services. Use the station’s extensive support, convenient luggage delivery service, and cost-effective, multilingual sightseeing passes to enjoy a safe and profound journey along the Nakahechi Route of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, embraced by history and nature.