Immerse yourself in the Nakahechi route, the most popular and historic section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails!
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Private Plan for 1 Person
Private Plan for 2 or 3 People
Private Plan for 4 or 5 People
Private Plan for 6 People or more
The Highlight
Trek the Nakahechi route, the most popular and historic section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, on a 3-day journey with a professional storyteller guide.
Enjoy the stunning natural beauty, local plantations, and seasonal highlights like cherry blossoms or autumn foliage, alongside the trail's rich history.
Stay at different traditional Minshuku guesthouses on your first and second nights for a variety of unique local experiences, complete with hearty meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Experience
As sister pilgrimage routes, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Kumano Kodo and Spain’s Camino de Santiago (St. James’ Way) share a deep bond. For over 20 years, these two regions have collaborated to promote world peace through youth exchange programs and joint tourism initiatives.
Kumano's spiritual history is rooted in a unique coexistence of religions, beautifully blending Shintoism and Buddhism (Shinbutsu-shugo). At the heart of this belief is a deep reverence for nature. We believe that Kumano’s enduring respect for the natural world carries a powerful message of peace to the world today.
Take your time, walk slowly, and immerse yourself in the rich history of the trail as your expert guide brings the following highlights to life.
Gyuba Doji Statue This charming, 50 cm tall stone statue of Gyuba Doji is small yet iconic, serving as the beloved symbol of the Nakahechi route.
Chikatsuyu Oji A welcoming trailside village filled with local restaurants and cozy guesthouses. Enjoy a peaceful stroll along its beautifully paved paths.
Tsugizakura Oji Famous for its grove of magnificent, ancient cedar trees. These giants are known as the "One-Sided Cedars of Nonaka" because all their branches uniquely face southeast toward the sacred mountains.
Hosshinmon Oji Known as the "Gate of Awakening of the Aspiration for Enlightenment," this spot marks the outer entrance to the grand sanctuary of Kumano Hongu Taisha.
Mizunomi Oji Home to a fascinating legend: it is said that the great monk Kobo Daishi struck the ground with his staff, causing fresh water to gush out. Today, a spring still welcomes weary hikers.
Fushigami Oji The name "Fushigami" (prostrating in prayer) comes from ancient pilgrims who would drop to their knees in awe here, as it offers the very first glimpse of Kumano Hongu Taisha. Even today, you can see the original shrine site, Oyunobara, nestled between the distant mountains.
Kumano Hongu Taisha The ultimate destination of the Nakahechi route. After a long and arduous journey, pilgrims arrive at this grand head shrine, which exudes a deeply spiritual, ancient atmosphere unlike any other. Oyunobara The original site of Kumano Hongu Taisha before it was relocated. Today, this vast, sacred clearing is home to Japan’s tallest Otorii (Grand Gate), standing at a breathtaking 33 meters high.
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー Information about tour operator Name H.I.S. Co.,Ltd. address Kamiyacho Trust Tower 5F 4-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6905, JAPAN registration number No.724 by Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency
Information about tour Place of departure and destination WAKAYAMA number of days of travel 3 days means of transportation Public transportation meals BREAKFAST 2, LUNCH 2, DINNER 2 Minimum number of passengers to operate.(2) Ｎumber of GUIDE：(1) ・Please, read and understand the terms and conditions about our travel packages at the following link: https://www.his-j.com/company/yakkan/boshu_j_2009.pdf ・Please, read and understand the terms and conditions about this product at the following link: https://www.his-j.com/company/yakkan ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Guide Services
Languages Spoken by Guides
- English
Itinerary
- Include: Dinner
- 07:00Meet your assistant at Shin Osaka station. (Shin-Osaka Station 3F East ticket gate for Conventional line)
- 07:34Limited Express Kuroshio1 Shin Osaka station→ Kii Tanabe station (Arrive at 10:00am)※No assistant will accompany you.
- 10:00Arrival at Kii Tanabe Station.※Meet with your guide.
- 10:15Takijiri Oji bus stop. (Local Bus/ Arrive at 10:53am)
- 11:30Takijiri Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Center.
- 12:30Lunch is not included. Please take lunch by your own.
- 12:45Departure from Takijiri Oji.
- Nezu Oji
- Tsurugi Sutra Mound
- Needle Jizo
- 15:30Takahara Kumano Jinja
- 16:30Check-in at accommodation. (end of guide service)
- Enjoy dinner at your accommodation.
- Include: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Breakfast at your accommodation
- 08:00Meet with the guide at Takahara rest area.
- 08:10Departure
- Koshin Tower
- Daimon Oji
- Jujo Oji
- Uwadawa jaya
- Osakamoto Oji
- 13:00Lunch is included. Michi no Eki Kumano Kodo Nakahechi
- Gyuba Doji Statue
- Chikatsuyu Oji
- Hisohara Oji
- Tsugizakura Oji
- 16:30Check-in at accommodation. (end of guide service)
- Enjoy dinner at your accommodation.
- Include: Breakfast, Lunch
- Breakfast at your accommodation
- 07:30Meet with the guide at your accommodation.
- Kobiro Oji
- Onnazaka Toilet
- Entrance to detour route
- Snake-shaped Jizo
- Yukawa Oji
- 11:40Lunch is included. Mikoshi Toge Pass
- 12:10Toilet, Departure
- Akagi Goe Junction
- Hosshinmon Oji
- Mizunomi Oji
- Fushigami Oji
- Sangen jaya Teahouse remains
- Lookout Point
- 16:00Kumano Hongu Taisha ※If you arrive early, you will be guided to Oyunobara.
- 16:40Take a bus departing from the Hongu Taisha-mae bus stop to Kii Tanabe Station.※No guide will accompany you.
- 19:50Limited Express Kuroshio36 Kii Tanabe station→ Shin Osaka station(Arrive at 22:08pm)※No guide will accompany you.
- 22:08Tour ends at Shin Osaka station.
Price Details
How to Use
- Voucher will be sent via email. Please show your e-voucher at designated location.
Purchase Notice
- This is a private tour. Only your group will participate.
- You can customize it as you like. If you have any requests please let us know in advance.
- If you want to change your schedule even on the tour day, your guide is always happy to help you.
- You can skip the spot where you don't go (※in this case we do not refund any fees) or change it with another place.
- If you add some new spots by your request, please pay the ticket fee on the spot. (Note that you may need to pay extra transportation fee)
- Public transportation will be used during the tour. Please note that, excluding the limited express train, seating is not guaranteed.
- Luggage delivery service is available. -The route includes steep and rocky terrain, so please wear comfortable trekking shoes. -Staying at a minshuku or shukubo is often different from the norm, with no amenities and shared bathrooms and toilets. -Please prepare trekking shoes or comfortable walking shoes. Useful goods: ・Trekking shoes ・Hiking poles ・Rucksack ・Raincoat -Your guide will ask you to put your signatures to agree on the Basic Conditions of the guiding group when you meet him or her.
- The Kumano Kodo walk may be canceled at the location due to inclement weather, unavoidable circumstances, or other reasons. Please note that in this case, refunds will not be provided.
Important Booking Information
Customer Guidelines:
- Please refrain from consuming alcohol on the vehicle.
- Kindly take all trash with you when leaving the vehicle. Please do not leave any trash on board.
- Please ensure you arrive promptly at the designated meeting place.
- Please be aware that weekends, holidays, and event days may experience high levels of congestion.
- The schedule may be subject to sudden changes or shorter visit durations due to reasons such as traffic congestion.
- Refunds will not be provided if you fail to arrive at the meeting location on time (no show).
- In the event of a natural disaster, such as a typhoon, the tour will be canceled, and a full refund will be issued.
- Wearing your seatbelt is mandatory while the bus is in motion due to legal regulations.
- Smoking is strictly prohibited on the vehicle.
- Please refrain from standing up while the vehicle is in motion.
- If you accidentally leave any belongings on the vehicle, please be aware that they will be disposed of.
- Please personally take responsibility for your valuables.
Note: These guidelines are provided to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Thank you for your cooperation.