This guide covers three routes whose operators publish their own timetables: the Nara Kotsu line from Yamato-Yagi to Shingu, the Ichibata routes on the Oki Islands, and the Nohi run from Takayama to Shirakawa-go. It does not describe rules for the whole country.
On weekdays the last bus on the Nara Kotsu line from Yamato-Yagi arrives at Shingu at eight twenty-two p.m. On weekends and holidays the last arrival at Shingu is also at eight twenty-two p.m. Heading back, the last departure from Shingu toward Yamato-Yagi is a morning run, at nine fifty-nine a.m. on weekdays. On the Oki Islands, the Tsuma Line has four departures from Oki Hospital, the last at five fifty-two p.m.
Yamato-Yagi to Shingu: Three Runs Each Way
The three departures from Yamato-Yagi toward Shingu are at nine fifteen a.m., eleven thirty-eight a.m. and one thirty-eight p.m. On weekdays the three arrivals at Shingu are at three forty-seven p.m., six twenty-four p.m. and eight twenty-two p.m. On weekends and holidays the three arrivals at Shingu are at three forty-seven p.m., five forty-nine p.m. and eight twenty-two p.m.
The three weekday departures from Shingu toward Yamato-Yagi are at five fifty-three a.m., seven forty-six a.m. and nine fifty-nine a.m. On weekdays the three arrivals at Yamato-Yagi are at twelve twenty-four p.m., two forty-one p.m. and four fifty-four p.m. On weekends and holidays the three arrivals at Yamato-Yagi are at twelve twenty-four p.m., two twenty-four p.m. and four twenty-four p.m.
Weekends, Holidays and the Wait at the Stop
On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the second departure from Yamato-Yagi and the third departure from Shingu take a partly changed route within Nara Prefecture and pass some stops to run faster. Between Gojo and Hotel Subaru, the faster runs serve seven stops, including Gojo, Hoshi no Kuni, Uenoji, Totsukawa Onsen and Hotel Subaru.
While you wait at Totsukawa Onsen, the footbath at the waiting room of the bus stop is open daily from seven a.m. to six thirty p.m.
Oki Islands: Four Runs on Each Line
On the Tsuma Line, four buses leave Oki Hospital, the first at eight fifty-two a.m. and the last at five fifty-two p.m. In the other direction, four Tsuma Line buses run toward Oki Hospital, the first leaving at seven eleven a.m. and the last at three fifty p.m.
On the Goka Line, four buses head toward Oki Hospital, the last leaving at three fifty-six p.m. The Fuse Line has four departures toward Oki Hospital, the last at four oh four p.m. The Nakamura Line has four departures toward Oki Hospital, the last at four oh two p.m.
To compare places to sleep on the islands, see lodging options on the Oki Islands.
Takayama to Shirakawa-go on the Nohi Bus
The bus from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Shirakawa-go takes about fifty minutes. The one-way fare from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Shirakawa-go is two thousand eight hundred yen.
A round-trip ticket set for the Gassho-zukuri Minkaen from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center costs six thousand two hundred yen for an adult and three thousand one hundred yen for an elementary school child.
Last Runs and Fares Side by Side
| Route and direction | Last run |
|---|---|
| Yamato-Yagi to Shingu, weekdays, last arrival at Shingu | Eight twenty-two p.m. |
| Yamato-Yagi to Shingu, weekends and holidays, last arrival at Shingu | Eight twenty-two p.m. |
| Shingu to Yamato-Yagi, weekdays, last arrival at Yamato-Yagi | Four fifty-four p.m. |
| Shingu to Yamato-Yagi, weekends and holidays, last arrival at Yamato-Yagi | Four twenty-four p.m. |
| Tsuma Line, last departure from Oki Hospital | Five fifty-two p.m. |
| Goka Line, last departure toward Oki Hospital | Three fifty-six p.m. |
| Route | Adult fare |
|---|---|
| Yamato-Yagi to Shingu, one way | Six thousand one hundred fifty yen |
| Gojo to Shingu, one way | Five thousand three hundred yen |
| Oki loop line, right-hand direction, every section | Two hundred yen |
| Oki loop line, left-hand direction, every section | Two hundred yen |
| Takayama Nohi Bus Center to Shirakawa-go, one way | Two thousand eight hundred yen |
Check official information before visiting.
Related Reading
See how to ride rural buses and one-man trains in Japan, the Oki Islands, Kumano Hongu and Takayama.