The route is from Namba Station in south downtown of Osaka to Wakayamashi Station in Wakayama via Sakai, Izumiōtsu, Kishiwada, Kaizuka, Izumisano, Sennan, Hannan and Misaki municipalities.

Nankai and Kintetsu are the only two private railway operators in Kansai that offer charged Limited Express trains.

The following year the Hankai Co. merged with Nankai Railway, and the line was extended to Wakayama.

The present line to Wakayamashi was completed in 1903, and in 1906 the first dining car on a private railway in Japan was introduced on the Wakayama express.

Electrification at 600 VDC began in 1907 on the section from Namba to Hamaderakōen, and was completed in 1911.