How to travel from Kumamoto to Koyasan, Japan

The distance between Kumamoto and Koyasan is around 590km (367 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 5h 15m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Kumamoto to Koyasan by train, bus, car, plane and subway. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out KoyasanKumamoto if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
4 x train
+

Plane and Train

Fly from Kumamoto (KMJ) to Osaka Itami (ITM) then take the train to Osaka, Shinimamiya then Hashimoto(Wakayama) and then to Gokurakubashi.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    ¥19,575($145)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
+
train
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Train

Take the train to Shin-Osaka and then to Hashimoto(Wakayama).

  • Duration5h 60m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    ¥18,345($135)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Sannomiya Station.

  • Duration13h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥14,785($110)
Operated by

Kintetsu Bus

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Koyasan Reihōkan.

  • Duration8h 50m
  • Distance776km (482 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kumamoto and Koyasan

There are several options for getting from Kumamoto to Koyasan by train, bus, car, plane and subway. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥14,785 ($110) and will take around 13h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 5h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥19,575 ($145).

The distance between Kumamoto and Koyasan is around 590km (367 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 491km (305 miles)

It takes around 5h 60m to get from Kumamoto and Koyasan by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kumamoto to Koyasan is to fly and then take the train which takes around 5h 15m and will set you back approx ¥19,575 ($145).

The cheapest way to travel between Kumamoto and Koyasan, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥14,785 ($110) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kumamoto and Koyasan. It typically takes around 5h 60m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Kumamoto to Koyasan. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Shin-Osaka, Dobutsuen-Mae, Hashimoto(Wakayama), Gokurakubashi and Kōyasan-eki. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 5h 60m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen, Nankai Railways and Japan Railways Limited Express run train services between Kumamoto and Koyasan. Trains depart hourly and will take around 5h 60m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Kumamoto and Koyasan. It typically takes around 13h 35m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kumamoto to Koyasan. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Sannomiya Station, Kobe Sannomiya, Kansai Airport Terminal 1 and Daimon South Parking lot. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 13h 35m.

Kintetsu Bus run regular bus services between Kumamoto and Koyasan. Buses run once daily and take around 13h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kumamoto to Koyasan. We recommend that you fly from Kumamoto (KMJ) to Osaka Itami (ITM) then take the train to Osaka, Shinimamiya then Hashimoto(Wakayama) and then to Gokurakubashi. instead which will take 5h 15m.

The closest major airport to Koyasan is Kansai International Airport (KIX) (KIX) which is approximately 38km (24 miles) from Koyasan. Kobe Airport (UKB) (UKB) and Itami Airport (ITM) (ITM) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Kumamoto and Koyasan. The distance is around 776km (482 miles) by road and it will take around 8h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kumamoto to Koyasan is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 60m and will usually cost around ¥18,345 ($135).

How do I get from Kumamoto to Koyasan

Compare travel optionsbetween Kumamoto and Koyasan

Transport options from Kumamoto to Koyasan
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 2 similar
5h 15m
¥19,575($145)
hourly590km (367 miles)
Train and Plane5h 30m
¥21,905($160)
hourly676km (420 miles)
Fly to Chūbu Centrair (NGO), train6h 15m
¥33,405($245)
hourly901km (560 miles)
Train
5h 60m
¥18,345($135)
hourly723km (449 miles)
Bus
13h 35m
¥14,785($110)
once daily815km (506 miles)
Drive
8h 50m
¥11,635($85)
on demand776km (482 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kumamoto and Koyasan

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Koyasan

The following major airports near Koyasan offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

KIX
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
International Airport
Distance
38km (24 miles) from Koyasan
UKB
Kobe Airport (UKB)
Domestic Airport
Distance
56km (35 miles) from Koyasan
ITM
Itami Airport (ITM)
Domestic Airport
Distance
64km (40 miles) from Koyasan