Kumano Kodo Highlights

You will be staying overnight in the city of Kyoto. You will travel on your own to Kyoto and check into the hotel. We will leave a message for you at the hotel informing you of the meeting time for the next day. No meals included.

TBD; Walking: TBD

Before leaving, you will transfer your luggage to Kii-Katsuura Onsen. You will need enough for 3 days and 2 nights in your overnight bag. After breakfast you will meet the guide at the specified time and start the day with a Welcome/Orientation meeting. We will then begin our journey tracing the footsteps of pilgrims from Kyoto 1,000 years ago. We will be taking more modern and safer modes of transportation to Kawayu Onsen, where we will be staying overnight. Kawayu Onsen is unique in that during the winter months you can enjoy an outdoor bath dug into the sand banks of the Oto River. After checking, you can enjoy the baths next to the river. Breakfast at the hotel and buffet dinner at the ryokan are included.

Travel: 6 Hours; Walking: Light

Today is the first day of our pilgrimage. We will take a shuttle van or bus to Hosshinmon-oji. The Hosshinmon-oji was one of the five most important Oji along the Kumano Kodo because it was considered the entry into the sacred area around the Hongu Shrine (Oji were important places of worship along the Kumano Kodo). We will walk the 7 km (5 miles) to the Hongu Taisha Shrine. The first half of the walk is through small villages, but the second half of the walk is through a secluded, forested area. At the Hongu Taisha, our first shrine of the Kumano Sanzan, we will tour the shrine and pay our respects to the Kumano deities. Before continuing, we will stop at the Kumano Hongu Heritage Center where we can rest and learn more about the fascinating history of the Kumano Kodo. Later, we will continue our pilgrimage to the nearby Oyunohara. This was the original location of the Hongu Taisha until 1889, when the shrine was destroyed by a flood and moved to its present location on higher ground. All of the pilgrimage trails of the Kumano Kodo lead to the Oyunohara. We will take the bus to Yunomine Onsen. Here you can bathe in the Tsuboyu bath, the only bath designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pilgrims have performed hot water purification rituals in this bath for more than 1,000 years to prepare for their visit to the Hongu Taisha. We will return to our ryokan by bus where you can soothe away the sore muscles in the baths at the ryokan. Breakfast and dinner buffets at the ryokan are included.

Travel: 1 Hour;; Walking: Heavy

We will take a short bus ride to the boat dock where we will take a boat cruise along the Kumano River to the city of Shingu. In the past, it was common to travel from the Hongu Taisha to the Hayatama Taisha by boat along the Kumano River. From the boat dock in Shingu, we will walk to the Hayatama Shrine. While the shrine’s current buildings are relatively new, the shrine has been located at its current location since at least the 12th century. Excavations in the area have unearthed religious artifacts from the 3rd century, indicating the area has been a site of worship even longer. The 800-year old tree located on the grounds highlights the areas tradition of nature worship. We will also visit the nearby Gotobiki-iwa, a gigantic rock located halfway up the slope of Gongen Mountain. Kamikura Jinja, a small shrine located at the base of this monolith is a truly unique experience. It is said that the gods descended to earth by stepping on this large stone. From there we will travel by bus or train to the city of Kii-Katsuura where we will be staying overnight in our ryokan with unique baths in seaside caves. After checking in, we will retrieve your luggage from the ryokan. Breakfast and dinner buffets at the ryokans are included.

Travel: 2 Hours; Walking: Medium

In the morning we will transfer your luggage to Kyoto. You will need enough for 2 days, 1 night in your overnight bag. Today we will visit Nachi Taisha, the third of the Kumano Sanzan. We will take a bus to the base of the Diamonzaka, a 2 km (1 mile) cobblestoned staircase. The Daimonzaka winds its way through huge cedar trees that are as old as 800 years from the valley bottom to the Nachi Taisha Shrine. The Nachi Taisha Shrine is perhaps the most dramatic shrine in Japan. It is located high on a hillside with impressive views of the 133 meter (about 435 feet) tall Nachi-no-Otaki waterfall, Japan’s tallest waterfall. This waterfall was the original religious focus of the area, and was venerated by the earliest Japanese people. Even today it is hard not to be impressed by the power and the beauty of the falls. We will return to our ryokan at the Kii-Katsuura Onsen where you can once again rest in the seaside baths. Breakfast and dinner buffets at the ryokan are included.

Travel: 1 1/2 Hours; Walking: Medium

After checking out of the ryokan we will return to Kyoto by express trains where we will check into our hotel for the evening. After checking in we will retrieve our luggage from the hotel. The rest of the afternoon will be free for you to explore Kyoto on your own. In the evening we will enjoy our Sayonara dinner of kushiage (fried skewers of vegetables, fish and meat). Breakfast buffet at the ryokan and dinner at a local restaurant are included.

Travel: 5 Hours; Walking: Light

It’s time to say “Sayonara”. You will continue around Japan on your own. Breakfast at the hotel included.

Travel: TBD; Walking: TBD