This is because the train runs along the Pacific Coast of Wakayama, often within sight of the sea. We use not only photos or videos but also handmade materials or actual goods from guides' living room, that makes you feel livelier. Overnight stay at Kisho... NARUTO & BORUTO Anime Park with Shuttle Bus, Ugafuku Shrine ( Goddess of Money Washing), View all hotels near Kumano Kodo on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Kumano Kodo on Tripadvisor. It’s a nice scenic trail out of the village. The first landmark is the Tainai Meguri. It is said to insure a smooth deliver of babies for women and general good luck for men. And for us if any country has engendered those feelings its Japan. These call to mind the magical tree in Hayao Miyazaki’s fantastic movie “Totoro.” They have been the spiritual heart of this village for centuries and you can still feel their power. The name means “passing through the womb” and it might remind you of the Tainai Meguri at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. The route finding here is a little confusing and the route has apparently changed a bit recently. Kumano Kodo UNESCO Walk and Pilgrimage Trail The Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrimage trails that cross over Kii Peninsula on the bottom east corner of Honshu, the main island of Japan. Hiking the Kumano Kodo really is a great immersion into Japanese culture. The view from the bathtub at Hoshizora-no-Yado is fantastic. Early October is too early for fall colors here or in Kyoto :(, We traveled independently walking some of the trails on this pilgrimage. The trail climbs continuously through forest above Takijiri. The mountains you pass through are not the highest but this trail does involve quite a bit of … Just after leaving the station, you’ll see the Tanabe Tourist Information Center on your left. Along the Kumano Kodo there are panoramic viewpoints on the mountain ranges and on crystal clear rivers snaking through the valleys. Between the Hyakken-gura Lookout and the ruins of the Sakura-jaya Teahouse the trail follows some gentle ups and downs then finishes with a nice ridge section leading us into the valley below along with occasional glimpses of the Akagi-gawa River … They also produce excellent maps and brochures about the area. ... Two friends and I did the Kumano Kodo 5 night self guided trek in May this year. Hikers on the cobble lined Nakahechi route. Takijiri to Hongu walks through timber plantations, all tall cedars in lines, no minimal undergrowth (because of the darkness). Just a few kilometers southwest of Hongu is Yunomine Onsen, which is where many people stay on the third night of this trip. After the pass, you’ll descend once again, noting a huge landslide to the right of the trail below the pass. The following pictures were taken by my friend Nelson Alvarez, with whom I walked this route. Trek the Kumano Kodo in Spring. You can walk to Yunomine from Hongu or Hosshinmon-oji, but many people take the bus from Hongu. The Kumano Kodo Trail is for just that and is located in the Kansai region of Japan. I loved it. You will find the ticket vending machine opposite the information counter. The trails were a bit wet, but with the exception of 2 steep sections fairly easy forested hills trails. The maps warn of the trail descending sharply to meet a river, but I couldn’t find this junction and wound up following the road all the way to Hosshinmon-oji. You will feel the power emanating from the inner hall of the shrine. It has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. more, Recommended experiences in and around Kinki. If you like beaches, in warm months (May to October) you can go to the beach resort of Shirahama, which has both great onsen and a nice stretch of white sand beach. The downstairs room has no view, but is very private. After breakfast at your lodgings, you can enjoy the morning views from Takahara. The actual pass is a road, on the other side of which you will see a gate leading to the trail down the opposite side. The most popular and accessible route is the Nakahechi, which starts at Takijiri, a trailhead about 15km west of Tanabe, the city on the west coast of Wakayama that serves as the main entry point for the Kumano Kodo (it’s accessible by express trains from Kyoto and Osaka. Over this walk as I said your in a tunnel, one a few occasions (which I can count on one hand) there was a viewpoint to see the beautiful hills. Soon after the Tainai Meguri, the trail reaches a peak, after which it starts to descend. The route finding gets a bit tricky as you leave Chikatsuyu. Be warned, it’s a lot narrower than you might expect. Enjoy traditional fresh bento boxes for lunch. Sunday, May 17, trail advocates from around the world converge on Portland for the 2015 International Trails Symposium, May 17-20. You can also ask questions in English of the helpful people who work there. Getting back from Hongu to the cities up north is easy. The advantage of winter is fewer crowds. Buy a ticket for “Takijiri”, which will cost 960 yen ($9 USD). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. It’s a pretty easy climb. The well-maintained trail threads its way through deep valleys, mountains and small villages to offer a … One of the highlights of Kumano are onsen (hot springs). In fact, it’s one of the nicest sections of the entire walk. All reviews two days early april steep sections language barrier trail accommodation pilgrimage scenery maps walk website japan parts osaka mountains tb typhoon points peninsula roads importance meals. Arriving at your destination each day the traditional local guesthouses offer reviving onsens and wonderful local food. The friendly host will make your experience more interactive. The village of Takahara is incredibly picturesque. The Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau runs the Kumano Travel Reservation System with which you can book lodging, luggage transfers and other services/activities. It’s a brilliant way to experience Japan’s rural side and ancient religious traditions. Those network of paths is the Kumano Kodo trail, which many still walk to this day. The Kumano Kodo is not a single track, but rather a network of trails with a common destination. (Tsugizakura-oji to Hosshinmon-oji Google map full size version). The actual trailhead is behind Takijiri-oji Shrine, across the road from the information center. Follow the signs for Platform 3, which is where you catch trains south to Wakayama. This is a virtual tour using Zoom, online conference system. The views from the village over the valley and mountains are lovely, particularly in early evening. You can see why this became such a major spiritual center in Japan. Eventually, you’ll start to descend more steeply and come to a bridge. Two friends and I did the Kumano Kodo 5 night self guided trek in May this year. You can use a Japan Rail Pass for these journeys). It was an amazing trip and would highly recommend it. You want to take the uphill route. Most, difficult was actually the first kilometer, 40 minutes straight up. The other two, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, are both near the eastern coast of Wakayama and are connected to Hongu Taisha by well-traveled pilgrimage routes. This is a rather drab section of the trail, but there are some nice views of the mountains along the way. This is awesome in September when the water is still warm but the crowds have gone home. After crossing this, you’ll ascend continuously to Detour Pass (so named because this section is a detour around an older section that was destroyed in a landslide). From there, you can bus it out to Shingu, on the coast, where you can catch trains back to Osaka and onward. One of only two UNESCO World Heritage trails in the world—the other being the Camino de Santiago in Spain—the Kumano Kodo in Japan has been a pilgrimage route since 800 AD. The June rainy season can be wet, but it doesn’t usually rain every day. Just south of Osaka in Wakayama prefecture, the trail has been described as a "pilgrimage of ants" due to the huge number of pilgrims that would walk the trails in the 12th Century. Pilgrims praying at Kumano Hongu Taisha. Walking times can vary depending on walking pace and rest times. However, the real highlight here is the hot water that comes out of the river bottom. Hagabis landed on the next peninsula, luckily for me. Thanks Japan, and thanks Walk Japan XXX. Finally, you will find a huge torii (Shinto shrine gate) towering above the river behind the Heritage Center. Today is a solid day of hiking that takes you through some nice mountain scenery. See my one page guide, Buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at, Compare Japan flight prices and timings to, If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a. The route goes right through the middle of town. Iseji trail – Kumano Kodo in 7 days. Since it was a network of trails, there is no one set trail. The Tanabe city website tb-kumano has all the information including free maps and a local accommodation service. This is probably the single most beautiful section of the hike. You’ll follow the mountain road for a while before the trail branches off down a hill on your right. These pilgrims used a network of routes, now called the Kumano Kodo, which stretched across the mountainous Kii Peninsula. You can hike the Kumano Kodo year round. From the moment we met up with our tour group, 7 in all, at a snug hotel in Osaka we were able to sit back and focus on the culture, history, religion, scenery & relevance of the Kumano Kodo, and leave the complexities of logistics and language barrier to our competent guide Josh. The numerous paths roam through Mie, Nara and Wakayama prefectures, from the bottom of mountain forests to the Pacific Coast, to end in Kumano Sanzan area where the three great Shinto shrines are to be found. We went to Koyasan at the end of the trek, but that's another post :-), Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Kinki, Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine: Tickets & Tours, Samurai & Ninja Museum with Experience: Tickets & Tours, Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum: Tickets & Tours, Eikando Zenrinji Temple: Tickets & Tours, Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes: Tickets & Tours, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple: Tickets & Tours. Those walking both routes can request a Dual Pilgrim Credential certificate on a complimentary basis at the Kumano Hongu Heritage Centre, located below the Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, or at the Kumano Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Centre located next to Takijiri-oji. March and April are both spring months and extremely popular along the trail to visit as it is cherry blossom season in Japan. The Kumano Kodo is a pilgrimage trail through the mountainous Kii Peninsula, and brings hikers to small villages, past picturesque farmsteads, historic shrines, and through giant cedar forests. There can be some tricky route finding, particularly in the afternoon, so you’ll have to keep your wits about you. There’s a small covered shelter here. This is where to buy your bus ticket to Takijiri, the start of the Nakahechi section of the Kumano Kodo. Kumano Kodo (熊野古道, Kumano Kodō) refers to a network of pilgrimage trails through the southern Kansai region. Hiking Kumano Kodo: The basics. Soon after passing a TV tower, you enter the village of Takahara. The Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō, the largest peninsula of Japan. The Onsens are amazing after a long day walking, you get over the embarrassment of being naked in front of strangers the first time you try them, we had a 65yr old female prude with us and we couldn't get her out after she tried the first one, she loved it, and you sleep like a baby after the relaxing hot water. Buy trail snacks in convenience stores or supermarkets in Kyoto or Osaka before heading south. The walk itself was an integral part of the pilgrimage process as they undertook rigorous religious rites of worship and purification. Most of the accommodations in the village are marked on the maps produced by the Tanabe Kumano Tourism Bureau (note that some are before the main part of the village, some are in the village and some are on the far side). The trek requires moderate fitness level to complete, perfect for practicing heavy-gear trekking. Walking the Kumano Kodo you get to stay in traditional ryokans and minshukus that provide an authentic Japanese hospitality experience, onsens and great regional food. The Iseji trail runs along the east coast of the Kii Peninsula and … Shortly after crossing the bridge, you’ll come out to a fairly major road, on the other side of which is a “Michi-no-Eki” (a rest stop for motorists). After this, you follow a mountain road for quite a long stretch. What a way to end a day of hiking! If you would prefer a bit more of a challenge and prefer more challenging walking then the Kumano Kodo Trail may suit you better. Along the trails, you will pass by many small shrines, called oji. 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