Train & Bus Route: Temple 65 to Temple 66

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Train & Bus Route from Sankakuji to Unpenji

You can travel from Temple 65, Sankakuji Temple, to Temple 66, Unpenji Temple, using a combination of bus, train, and ropeway.

Walking the entire route takes approximately 18 km and 7 hours, making this a challenging section. By using public transportation, you can reach Unpenji Temple in approximately 5 hours for ¥1,630.

However, you still need to walk approximately 7 km from Sankakuji Temple to Kawanoe Station and about 3 km from the Tanigami Education Center bus stop to the Unpenji Ropeway Lower Station. Also, keep in mind that the Kanonji City Community Bus does not operate on Sundays.

This article introduces the fares, travel times, timetables, and transfer options for traveling from Sankakuji Temple to Unpenji Temple.

Temple Information

Timetable

Comparing Public Transportation and Walking Routes

The distance from Sankakuji Temple to Unpenji Temple is approximately 18 km, making this a challenging section for walking pilgrims. In particular, Unpenji Temple is located at an elevation of approximately 912 meters, so the climb along the way can be physically demanding.

Even when using public transportation, you cannot travel the entire route by bus, train, and ropeway. You still need to walk approximately 7 km from Sankakuji Temple to Kawanoe Station and about 3 km from the Tanigami Education Center bus stop to the ropeway’s Lower Station.

Even so, the route is convenient if you want to conserve energy because you can use the Unpenji Ropeway to overcome the final approximately 660 meters of elevation gain.

From Sankakuji Temple to Kawanoe Station

It is approximately 7 km from Sankakuji Temple to JR Kawanoe Station. Although the distance is fairly long, most of the route is downhill, making it less strenuous than climbing toward Unpenji Temple.

From Kawanoe Station, take the JR Yosan Line to Toyohama Station.

From Toyohama Station to the Ropeway

From Toyohama Station, take the Kanonji City Community Bus to the Tanigami Education Center bus stop.

However, this bus does not operate on Sundays. Since the service is not available on certain days, be sure to check the timetable in advance.

From the Tanigami [Education Center] bus stop, it is approximately 3 km, or about a 40-minute walk, to the Unpenji Ropeway Lower Station.

Take the Unpenji Ropeway

The Unpenji Ropeway covers approximately 2.6 km from the Lower Station to the Upper Station in about 7 minutes. It allows you to overcome an elevation difference of approximately 660 meters in a single ride, making it especially convenient if you want to avoid the final climb.

You can also enjoy views of the surrounding mountains from the ropeway, giving you a chance to relax and recover from the long walking sections on your way to Unpenji Temple.

If the Bus Schedule Does Not Work

Because this route involves a combination of train, bus, walking, and ropeway, connections may not always work smoothly depending on the time of day.

If the connections do not work well, you do not necessarily have to travel all the way from Sankakuji Temple to Unpenji Temple in one day. Another option is to travel to JR Kanonji Station first, then visit Temple 68, Jineiji Temple, and Temple 69, Kanonji Temple.

There are also buses from JR Kanonji Station toward the Tanigami [Education Center] area, so you can adjust the order of your pilgrimage according to the public transportation schedule.

Which Route Is Recommended?

If you want to conserve your energy, the public transportation + ropeway route is recommended.

On the other hand, if you want to experience the mountain trail to Unpenji Temple as a walking pilgrim, you can choose the walking route.

For this section, the main choice is whether to “walk the entire route” or “avoid the final climb by taking the ropeway.” Choose the option that best suits your physical condition, the weather, and the bus schedule.

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