travel info
How to get to Wakayama? Wakayama is reachable by JR train from Osaka. Make sure you sit at the back of the train (it's very important!!!) because the train will spilt into 2 as it travel (yes, split). The first part of the train will go to the airport and the second part will go to Wakayama.
How to go to Kada? You might want to visit the tourist information office first. The Wakayama tourist information center is located in the underground shopping arcade in front of the JR train station (not the restaurant arcade under the station), they have excellent English map and English speaking staff.
From JR Wakayama train station, you can take the JR train to Nankai Wakayama Shi Nankai station (but it is infrequent, only have 1 or 2 per hour), it is better to take city Bus (bus 0 leaves for Wakaymashi nankai station frequently and cost 220Y, other city buses will pass through the Wakayamshi station on the way), you can also walk, north west for about 2km or 30 minutes, passing along the Wakayama castle on the way.
From Nankai station, go to track 6 for Kada train, (2 to 3 trains per hour).
If you come from Osaka, it might be better to take the Nankai line from Nankai Namba Station. It goes directly to Nankaishi station, much less logistic complication. (Kada is only reachable by Nankai, not by JR) After you reach kada station, the Awashima shrine is about 2km south west of from the kada train station, along the coast, and a bit in the mountain.
The Kintetsu train station is close to the Wakayama JR train station