KUMANO KODO

TOUR LENGTH : 4 days

TYPE AND LEVEL OF TRIP :  Village-to-village walking on the Kii Peninsula with three hikes of 2-7 hours

WALKING SEASON : All year (snow falls occasionally from December to March)

The Kii Peninsula points south away from the great cities of Kyoto and Osaka, and is one of the most remote and mystical areas of Japan, despite its proximity. Long a place of pilgrimage, it is the site of three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan). From the 11th century successive emperors and their families made the long and difficult pilgrimage to Kumano from Kyoto. Several pilgrimage trails were established, amoungst them the Nakahechi-do, Kohechido and Ohechi-do, collectively know as the Kumano Kodo (Old Orad of Kumano).

Our walk focuses on part of the Nakahechido, which weaves its way through the forested mountains and small villages to the Grand Shrine of Hongu, before sinishing near the Pacific Ocean at Nachi Grand Shrine.

Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.

Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.

Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw

Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.

Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.

Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw

Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.

Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.

Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw

Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.

Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.

Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw