How to get from Toba station to Osatsu using the Toba city Kamome Bus.

How to get from Toba station to Osatsu using the Toba city Kamome Bus.

 

So, you have decided to take the road less travelled and plan on taking the Kamome Bus. 

 

 

  

You might be worried that it could be confusing, but this guide will tell you exactly how to do it.

Let’s start by breaking down the trip into its basic steps.

 

You can find this bus at the Toba Bus Centre, located across the street from Toba Station. 

 

The total trip from Toba Station to Osatsu is about 35-45 minutes depending on traffic.

The bus ticket is 600 JPY one way, but you can save some money by buying a Kamome Bus One-day Pass for 1000 JPY. 

 You must buy the pass at the Toba Bus Centre. You won’t be able to buy the pass once you are on the bus.

 

It’s a good idea to grab a copy of the bus schedule (Tobus Map) at the Toba Bus Centre or after getting off the train at the Tourist Information Centre located beside the ticket gates.

 

The bus line you want to take is the “Toba-Kuzaki Line 鳥羽～国崎線”, and you want the bus heading for Kuzaki 国崎.  The “Toba-Kuzaki Line 鳥羽～国崎線” bus leaves from the stop marked #2 (Green).

Once in Osatsu, you will want to get off at the “Ishigami-san Mae 石神さん前” bus stop.

 

 

 Click here to download the bus schedule

 

　かもめバス石神さん方面の時刻表ページのみはこちら

 

 

 

 

Those are the basic steps for using the Kamome Bus to get from Toba station to Osatsu.

For seasoned travellers in Japan, this might be enough, but for those who haven’t used buses in Japan let’s take a closer look.

 

Let’s ride the Kamome Bus to Osatsu from Toba station (with pictures). 

 

 

 Here is the view just after passing the ticket gate. The Tourist Information Centre (Kamome Bus schedules available) is to the right, the convenience store is straight ahead.

 

Tourists arriving on the JR train must walk up the stairs and come to Kintetsu station.

You want to use the #2 exit to the left to get to the Toba Bus Centre. The exits are clearly marked in yellow and black and can’t be missed.

 

 

 

The #2 exit takes you over Toba’s main road, Route 42.

 

 

After crossing the road, there will be a stairway on your left that goes to the Toba Bus Centre.

 

 

Head down the stairs to the lobby of the Toba Bus Centre.

  

 

The ticket window is for both the Kamome Bus (Toba City) and the CAN Bus (Toba to Ise).

The Kamome Bus you want to take is the “Toba-Kuzaki Line 鳥羽～国崎線”. There are five Kamome Bus routes so make sure you use the correct one.

The bus headed for Kuzaki (国崎) will take you to Osatsu (相差) and to the Ishigami-san Mae bus stop (石神さん前). 

 

 The “Tobus Map” bus schedule is available at the ticket window, so take one for checking bus times later.

 

 

As mentioned before, a regular one-way ticket is 600 JPY, so a round trip will cost 1200 JPY. You can save some money by getting a one-day pass at the window (Kamome Bus only).

 

 

The one-day pass will cost 1000 JPY. If you are in Toba for the night, a two-day pass for 1500 JPY is the best deal if you plan on using the bus for both days.

 

The Michikusa Ticket doesn’t include Osatsu, so make sure to choose the Kamome Bus. 

 

 

You can find coin lockers of two sizes at the Toba Bus Centre if you need to store your bags.

 

 

There are three bus stops at the bus centre marked by number and colour.

 

The bus for Osatsu leaves from the green #2 stop.

 

 

The bus will say “国崎” above the front window. When getting on the bus, enter at the rear door. If you don’t have a day pass, grab a ticket from the dispenser when you get on. All Japanese buses operate this way because you pay at the front when you get off. If you bought a day pass, you can show it to the driver when exiting at the front. 

 

 

 

The picture shows what a one-day Kamome Bus ticket looks like.

The total journey will take between 35-45 minutes depending on the time schedule. Some bus stops are skipped depending on the time of day.

 The bus will follow Route 42, passing Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba’s castle ruins, and Toba Aquarium.

 

 

Heading into the countryside, the bus will follow the Kamo River down Route 167 passing several older farming communities.

 

 

After passing the well know souvenir shop “Osho”, you will make a left turn.

 

 

 

The route crosses the train tracks at Matsuo station and heads into the lush green hills.

 

 

 

15 minutes later, you will crest the final hill, providing an amazing view of the rias coastline. As the bus heads down the hill, the driver will announce “Tsugi wa Ishigami-san mae”. That is your cue to push the stop button. Make sure you push the button, otherwise the bus might not stop.

 

 

Remember to get off the bus at the front and show your ticket to the driver. If you are paying with cash, place your money and the ticket in the machine beside the driver. If you bought a bus pass, just show the driver and get off. Ishigami-san, the Osatsu Ama Culture Museum, and Osatsu Kamado Ama Experience are all within walking distance.

 

 

 

 

Now is a good time to check the return bus schedule so you know when to be back at the return bus stop.

 

Getting back to Toba station is the same process as go going to Osatsu, but in reverse. There are two things to keep in mind.

 

 

 

 

1.       The bus stop you get off at, “Osatsu Ishigami-san Mae 相差  石神さん前”, and the return bus stop are different.

The return stop will have the same name, “相差  石神さん前”, but is a short walk up the road. You can see the location on the small map above. The bus stop you get off at is orange and the bus stop to return to Toba station is blue.

 

 

 

 

1.       The bus returning to Toba station will have “鳥羽駅” on the sign above the front window, and will stop at the station, not the bus centre. Make sure to get off at Toba station and pick up any bags you might have left at the bus centre.

 

 

 

 

If you made it to the end of this guide, you should have no problems getting to Osatsu by bus.

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One thing to remember, because the Kamome Bus is city run, many of the passengers are elderly and take time to get on and off the bus. Many of the bus stops will be for city residents and stop near banks, clinics, and city offices.

 

It is a great way to see the everyday side of Toba and the local scenery.

Maybe the leisurely pace of the Kamome Bus is the perfect fit to relax and take the slow road to your destination.