These days, buses attract attention of thrifty travelers as the means of long-distance transportation. Shinkansen (bullet train) has been the major transportation device from Tokyo to Nagoya or Osaka, but nowadays, more and more travelers are using bus for their business trip. Thanks to the established highway network, bus provides cheaper and faster way to travel compared to railways other than Shinkansen. Growing preference towards ecological and economical travel made some travelers shift from using their own cars to buses, and I assume that in the future, more travelers from overseas would choose the inexpensive route buses for their trip as well.
Under such circumstances in Japan, here I would like to introduce an exceptional bus trip to you. Left behind from highway constructions, there is a route bus running as long as 6.5 hours throughout Kii Mountain Range with a scenic view of ancient nature and good old Japan. A route operated by Nara Kotsu Bus Lines between Kintetsu Yamato-yagi Station in Kashihara, Nara to JR Shingu Station in Shingu, Wakayama. Three shuttle service is available per day, bearing the responsibility as the daily transportation for locals but not many would take a ride throughout the route. Nevertheless, enthusiastic bus fans and travelers started to get on board since this route bus was introduced in NHK, the Japanese national television, as “the route bus running the longest distance in Japan.” For my trip, I took this unique bus from Nara Prefecture side heading to Shingu in Wakayama Prefecture, a rare bus trip “taking the longest route bus in Japan down to unexplored regions.”
＜09：15 Departure from Yamato-yagi Station →10：25 Arrival at Gojo Bus Center＞
About ten passengers were on board at the starting point in front of Kintetsu Yamato-yagi Station, some travelers heading to Totsugawa Onsen and local users towards their daily stops. The section to Gojo Bus Center is the regional transportation in the south-western part of Nara Prefecture, stopping at every single stops in spite of its name as the express bus. Considering the efficiency, the bus company seems to have no choice but to accomplish the mission and the object of each area than keeping their appearance. For the first hour of the ride, vast pastoral land spread out of the bus window, just like the scenery you would see from any route bus in Japanese countryside.
＜10：30 Departure from Gojo Bus Center→12：10 Arrival at Uenoji＞
The bus continued its journey south on Route 168, going across Yoshino River flowing down to Gojo City (the name changes to “Kino-kawa” after it reaches Wakayama Prefecture) and drove through Anou, the area famous for its plum grove. Anou Plum Grove has a long and distinguished history that its plums were written in poems composed by court nobles exiled from the capital during Nanbokucho era 700 years ago.
Railroad construction on the same route as the bus to Shingu was once planned, but now only the vestige of halfway-constructed Goshin Line can be seen. Ironically, the premature ending to the railroad plan preserved the nature of Kii Mountains from human being, but left the area with brutal traffic for the local residents. In fact, up to now the road is still used as the national route though it is so narrow that it does not allow the bus to go by other vehicles. The journey on the bus went along Niu River, an arm of Yoshino River, and reached a rough mountain path just about the end of the river. This grueling path is Tentsuji Path, located at 800 m above sea level separating Yamato and Kumano region. Nowadays Tentsuji tunnel 1176 m in length lets the traffic to pass through at ease, but we can readily understand how tough it was to pass through this spot in the old days. Moreover, this Path has been the border between the ancient country of Yamato and Kumano, and also was a dividing ridge making the river flow to the Pacific Ocean. During the period of upheaval in the end of Tokugawa Shogunate, Tenchugumi, a military group with imperialist-anti foreigner ideology had set up its base in this area, but was tragically perished in this area as the group consequently became the enemy of the imperial court.
The view dramatically changed after passing through the tunnel, exhibiting steeper and rougher side of the Kii Mountain Range. As the bus drove down the mountain pass to Sarutani Reservoir, the mountain was steeper but the negative ions from the forest gave a refreshing sensation as if cleansing every part of the body. The areas with untouched nature had particularly deep forest that made me believe the existence of forest nymph living here and there.
The bus headed straight to the South along the V-shaped valley of the mainstream and the arms of Totsugawa River. Road expansion works for Route 186 is conducted in many parts of this area, while dump truck pass by the bus in this narrow road requiring high driving techniques. The bus is driven by dedicated drivers for this route presenting high skills as a professional, effortlessly touring by any cars that pass by. I was simply amazed by watching the driver’s skill.
In the meantime, the bus entered Totsugawa Village, the largest village in Japan in terms of the size of the area. The village is surrounded by mountains after mountains with endless peaks. River flows in between the mountains carving out the steep V-shaped valley and suspension bridges are thrown over such landform. The longest bridge among them is the “Suspension Bridge of Tanise,” one of the well-known bridge in Japan with 297ｍ in length and 54ｍ high from the surface of the river. The bridge swung every step I made and thrilled me from the sight of the river bed under my feet. It is just like taking a walk in the air. This bridge was build as the community road by the local resident’s funding, but now turned into a fine tourism asset. A camping site is available at the riverbank in the valley, entertaining the visitors with views of sky full of stars, forest, river and the Japanese scenery. The area is blessed with abundant nature. The bus makes a brief stop for about 15 minutes at Uenoji bus stop for bathroom break. Suspension Bridge of Tanise is 3 minutes walk from this bus stop; the passengers can barely manage to cross the bridge back and forth, but make sure not to loose footing to avoid risking your life…
Continued..
Source: Travel Vision
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