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9 Days / 8 Nights
Starting and ending in Kyoto |
The Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail, is a pilgrimage route to Kumano, part of the mountainous Kii Peninsula which stretches south from the Kansai cities of Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. The well-maintained trail threads its way through deep valleys, mountains and small villages to offer a wonderfully-varied hike over four days. Stay at comfortable family-run inns with excellent food, soak in natural hot springs, and visit the shrines along the way. The pilgrimage routes to the three great Kumano Shrines – Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha – were popularized during and after the Heian Period (794-1185), when the Imperial family and nobility began to seek salvation in sangaku shinko (a belief in the supernatural power of mountains), rather than through common religious practices. Emperor Gotoba (1180-1239) made no less than thirty pilgrimages to Kumano, recording his thoughts and feelings in the Kumano poems. Our journey begins in the modern city of Kyoto, and we travel south by train along the coast, and spend four days hiking the Nakahechi, one of the Kumano Kodo trails, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is a day mid-way to relax on a thrilling boat ride up the spectacular Doro Gorge. We cross the Kii Peninsula on foot to its eastern coast, and the fishing town of Katsuura, with two nights at a hot spring hotel, and finish by travelling on to Kyoto by train.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- From imperial Kyoto, head through the Kumano mountains to the Pacific Ocean fishing port of Kii-Katsuura
- Village to village walking on enchanting sections of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail
- Bathe in an outdoor hot-spring bath beside the Pacific Ocean
- Ride a traditional boat on the Kumano River
- See the Three Grand Shrines at Hongu, Shingu and Nachi
- Enjoy an exclusive Shamisen musical performance in a lovely traditional setting on the Kumano Kodo trail
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ADVENTURE INCLUDES:
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, airport transfers, lunches and drinks with meals, entrance fees to museums, temples, etc. not mentioned in itinerary, single room supplemental fee for solo travelers at hotels.
EXTENSION IDEAS
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Pace 4 - Multiple destinations, average time in each location: 1-2 days
Activity Rating 4 - Activities of moderate intensity, intermediate level of fitness required.
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ITINERARY:
Day 1 - Meet in Kyoto
Meet at the hotel in the centre of Kyoto in the evening. There will be a Welcome Dinner at a nearby restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 - Kyoto and Transfer to the Kii Peninsula
There will be free time in the morning to explore Kyoto, with an optional walk through some local food markets. We will then travel south along the coast by train to Tanabe (2 hours), then transfer by local bus (40 mins) to Takijiri, at the beginning of the Nakahechi, part of the network of ancient pilgrimage trails known as the Kumano Kodo, or Kumano Ancient Trail. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kumano Kodo became popular from the 11th century as a place of pilgrimage from Kyoto by Emperors. The Kii Peninsula, which extends south from Nara and Osaka, has long been considered sacred in Japan, the entrance to the land of Yomi, the mythical afterworld. It is also the site of the three sacred shrines of Kumano, the Kumano Sanzan. We continue with a 2-hour hike to the small mountain-top village of Takahara, where we stop for the night. Our accommodation is a delightful Japanese-style ryokan built by local craftsmen in wood with rooms affording a spectacular view over the surrounding mountains. There are hot spring baths made of hinoki (cypress wood) and the sumptuous evening meal is made with organic locally-sourced ingredients.
Hiking: 4.5 km, 2 hours (370 metres ascent, 175 metres descent)
Accommodation: Ryokan (Travellers Inn)
Hiking: 4.5 km, 2 hours (370 metres ascent, 175 metres descent)
Accommodation: Ryokan (Travellers Inn)
Day 3 - Hike Takahara to Chikatsuyu
Starting from Takahara, we continue eastwards along the Nakahechi pilgrimage trail. Along the path you pass small jizo bodhisattva statues, placed there by locals to protect travelers. There are also the sites of old cha-ya (tea houses), which provided rest to pilgrims right up until the early 20th century. We descend to the village of Chikatsuyu, and our accommodation for tonight. We stay in the friendly guest house run by local couple Mr and Mrs Kinoshita. A former companyworker in the coastal town of Tanabe, Kinoshita-san moved to his home village to set up the popular guesthouse. Next door they have their own natural hot spring baths, and in the evening you will try their delicious ‘takikomi-gohan’ (rice steamed with vegetables), freshly-caught fish, and tempura. After dinner, a local Shamisen music group will treat us to a private performance in the lovely setting of our Chikatsuyu Branch. Enjoy this rare opportunity for a close-up experience of Japanese musical tradition.
Hiking: 11.3 km, 4 hours (350 metres ascent, 360 metres descent)
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)
Hiking: 11.3 km, 4 hours (350 metres ascent, 360 metres descent)
Accommodation: Minshuku (Family-run guesthouse)
Day 4 - Hike Chikatsuyu to the grand shrine at hongu
From Chikatsuyu we take a local bus to Kobiro-oji, one of the many small shrines along the route. Nobles would rest at these sub-shrines, called ōji, to refresh themselves and compose poems. We then hike one of the most scenic sections to Hongu Grand Shrine, passing on the way through ridge-top villages. The symbol of the shrine is the mythological three-legged raven, representing the Hongu, Nachi, and Hayatama shrines – the same motif as the one used by the Japan Football Association. The three-legged crow was in mythology sent to guide Emperor Jimmu, on his journey from Kumano to the Yamato Plain. After visiting the shrine, we transfer by local bus (15 mins) to Yunomine Hot Spring, one of the oldest in Japan. We stay overnight in a comfortable ryokan with its own rock-built outdoor hot spring bath or ‘rotemburo’.
Hiking: 12.9 km, 6 hours (321 meters ascent, 360 meters descent) There are also 2-hour and 9-hour options
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Hiking: 12.9 km, 6 hours (321 meters ascent, 360 meters descent) There are also 2-hour and 9-hour options
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Day 5 - Boat ride on the kumano river
We transfer by local bus to the Kumano River. We board a traditional-style boat to take us on a gentle one and a half hour ride along the Kumano River to the Hayatama Taisha Shrine, just as Imperial pilgrims did in olden times. Afterwards, we will travel back by bus to Yunomine Onsen for another night at our hot spring ryokan. There will be time to soak in one of the natural hot spring baths before dinner.
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Day 6 - Hike to nachi grand shrine and waterfall
We transfer by local bus to the Koguchi, and hike the final trail over the Ogumotorigoe Pass, to glimpse the Pacific Ocean and then descend to Nachi Taisha (Grand Shrine) and Nachi-taki (waterfalls), one of the three ‘Grand Shrines of Kumano’. From there we transfer by a short bus ride (30 mins) to the fishing port of Katsuura, and to our modern hotel. This amazing hotel is built on a private island in the middle of the sheltered Katsuura Bay, and features open-air hot springs. Soak in the hot spring water whilst feet away from the lapping waves of the Pacific.
Hiking: 14.5 km, 6 hours (980 metres ascent, 920 metres descent)
Accommodation: Japanese-style Hot-spring Hotel
Hiking: 14.5 km, 6 hours (980 metres ascent, 920 metres descent)
Accommodation: Japanese-style Hot-spring Hotel
Day 7 - Hiking to coastal trail or relax at hot spring
Choose between a hike along a coastal part of the Kumano Kodo, or have a day to relax. You can try the various hot spring baths in the hotel. You can also choose to explore the local fishing town of Katsuura, with its excellent seafood.
Optional hiking: 6.4 km, 3 hours (546 metres ascent, 539 metres descent)
Accommodation: Japanese-style Hot-spring Hotel
Optional hiking: 6.4 km, 3 hours (546 metres ascent, 539 metres descent)
Accommodation: Japanese-style Hot-spring Hotel
Day 8 - Transfer to Kyoto
We leave the Kii Peninsula this morning, travelling on the coastal rail line to Kyoto (3.5 hours), where we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with our guide.
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 9 - Tour Ends
Our tour finishes today after breakfast. Your guide will be on hand to give help and advice about getting to the airport, or onward travel in Japan.
