Transport in Wakayama

Amanohashidate and Ine day tour was the highlight of my Osaka trip, and using the JR pass in almost all of my train rides in Osaka and the neighboring areas of Kobe and Kyoto was very maximized. I even got to ride the Shinkansen to Himeji using the JR pass.

Super worth just for buses alone. But, be mindful of what trains to get, as this ticket can only be used for the Nankai Koya (green on google maps) trains between Osaka-Namba/Gokurakubashi. If you want to get the faster Limited Express (blue), you need to pay a surcharge of 790 jpy cash at the station BEFORE boarding. The guards do check. FYI, they only give you a receipt for the surcharge, not an actual ticket. So, when exiting the station, you must scan your QR code. TIPS: Day trip is doable if you don't want to stay overnight. I left 8am, returned by 5pm. Start at Okunoin and go backwards towards Koyasan station using buses. Plan buses/trains ahead of time, to avoid waiting a lot. I booked a day before, planning as I go, but I wasted maybe 1.5hrs overall waiting. Carry enough cash! The Gokurakubashi ticket counter, some local restaurants and fees you may pay are often in cash only. Ensure you are on the right platform end (some trains are short), ask staff for help.

The JR Pass is excellent value! We only waited about 5 minutes in line at the Kansai Airport counter, and the staff immediately helped us reserve seats on the Haruka train. From queuing to boarding, it took just 15 minutes in total. It's fantastic to have unlimited rides on the Hello Kitty Shinkansen and trips to Hiroshima included. For a 5-day pass focused on the Kansai area, it offers extremely high value. The only downside is that it doesn't cover Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen services between Kyoto and Osaka/Shin-Osaka. However, the Thunderbird limited express train that operates on the same route is also very comfortable and pleasant."

This is my second time getting this pass and I would always get this for my Kansai itnerary. It is very convenient to have especially when multiple companies are operating different set of train lines. Also, its coverage so vast so that you can basically do unlimited variation of your itineraries.

It just so happened that the place I was staying was near Tengachaya, and I could directly exchange the paper tickets at the Nankai subway station. On the first day, I took the train directly to Rinku Town, and the scenery was beautiful on the return trip at dusk. On the second day, I took the limited express to Wakayama City. Because I wanted to experience reserved seating, I spent money to buy a seat. When I arrived in Wakayama City, I first took the fish train to Kada. Near the port, I saw a restaurant and went in for lunch. The sashimi was very fresh and delicious. I also went to Wakayama Castle, which was super beautiful. There were even ninjas around! Although climbing up was tiring, it was worth it.

Buying this JR PASS will have it shipped to your home, then you go to a designated location to exchange and receive the JR PASS ticket. You can make seat reservations at the counter or at the ticket machine. This time I used it for five days from Nagoya all the way to Osaka, very convenient, recommended for those who need it!