Kumano Ancient Trail
Kumano Ancient Trail
Kumano Ancient Trail
9 Days Starting and ending in Kyoto, Japan
Visiting: Kyoto, Tanabe, Nakahechicho Chikatsuyu, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Shingu, Katsuura
Tour operator:
Tour code:
JKK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 13
Physical rating:
High, Strenuous hiking
Age range:
16-0
Special diets catered:
Contact us
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Our Kumano Ancient Trail tour is a small group guided tour bringing hikers along the beautiful and historic Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage route, on the storied Kii Peninsula. The hiking routes are beautiful, weaving through small rural villages and past monuments and shrines left to and by pilgrims for over a thousand years. The hike takes in 3 main shrines of pilgrimage - Grand Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha, and Nachi Taisha - the three shrines of Kumano. This is a strenuous tour with multiple days of linear hiking featuring steady steep ascents and some days have more than 6 hours of hiking. 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. Not only will you be in the good care of your expert local English-speaking guide, but we are also the only company with a local branch on the Kumano Kodo trail. Discover Japan off the beaten track, taking the slow road.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Meet In Kyoto
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Meet at the tour hotel in central Kyoto in the evening. There will be a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 : Travel To The Kii Peninsula
Location: Tanabe
Accommodation: Ryokan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We travel south along the coast by train to Tanabe (about 3 hours), then transfer by local bus (about 40 minutes) 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 hilltop village of Takahara, where we spend the night. Our accommodation is a delightful Japanese-style Ryokan built by local craftsmen in wood with rooms affording spectacular views over the surrounding mountains. There are hot-spring baths and the sumptuous evening meal is made with organic locally-sourced ingredients.
Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370m/1,200 feet ascent, 175m/575 feet descent
Time required: about 2 hours
Day 3 : Hike Takahara To Chikatsuyu
Location: Nakahechicho Chikatsuyu
Accommodation: Minshuku
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Starting from Takahara, we continue eastwards along the Nakahechi pilgrimage trail. Along the path we pass small jizo bodhisattva statues, placed there by locals to protect travellers. 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. 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.
Walking distance: 11.3km / 7 miles
Elevation gain: 350m/1,150 feet ascent, 360m/1,180 feet descent
Time required: 4 hours
Day 4 : Hike Chikatsuyu To Hongu Grand Shrine
Location: Kumano Hongu Taisha
Accommodation: Hot springs ryokan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we hike two scenic sections of the Kumano Kodo trail, passing ridge-top villages and oji shrines. Nobles would rest at these sub-shrines to refresh themselves and compose poems. From Chikatsuyu we walk first to Kobiro, then take a local bus to Hoshinmon-oji. From Hoshinmon-oji we descend to Hongu Grand Shrine. 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 to Yunomine Onsen, one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, or to Kawayu Onsen famous for the thermal water bubbling to the surface of the crystal clear river. We stay overnight in a comfortable Ryokan with its own hot spring bath or ‘rotemburo’.
Walking distance: 12.9km / 8 miles
Elevation gain: 321m/1,055 feet ascent; 360m/1,180 feet descent
Time required: 4 hours
Accommodation: Onsen Ryokan (Hot-spring Travellers Inn)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 : Boat Ride On The Kumano River
Location: Shingu
Accommodation: onsen ryokan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We transfer by local bus to the Kumano River. We board a traditional wooden flat-bottomed 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. Afterward, 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.
Day 6 : Hike To Nachi Grand Shrine And Waterfall
Location: Katsuura
Accommodation: Japanese-style Hot-spring Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We transfer by local bus to Koguchi and hike the final section of the trail over the Ogumotorigoe Pass, to glimpse the Pacific Ocean and then descend to Nachi-taki waterfall and Nachi Taisha (Grand Shrine), one of the three ‘Grand Shrines of Kumano’.
From there we take a short bus ride to the fishing port of Katsuura and to our hotel.
Walking distance: 14.5km / 9 miles
Elevation gain: 980m/3,215 feet ascent; 920m/3,020 feet descent
Time required: 6 hours
Day 7 : Optional Coastal Hiking Or Relax At The Hot Spring
Location: Katsuura
Accommodation: Japanese style hot spring hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today there is an optional hike along a different section of the Kumano Kodo. This is a coastal part of the Iseji route, which has some lovely views over the Pacific ocean, pretty villages and the oldest paved section on the entire Kumano Kodo network, with stone blocks dating back eight hundred years. Alternatively, you can choose to relax and try the various hot spring baths in your hotel. You can also explore the town, with its excellent seafood, old-fashioned Japanese shopping arcade and a few interesting backstreets.
Optional walk
Walking distance: 6.4km / 4.1 miles
Elevation gain: 546m/1790 feet ascent; 539m/1768 feet descent
Time required: 3 hours
Day 8 : Transfer To Kyoto, Farewell Dinner
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner, Farewell
We leave the Kii Peninsula this morning, travelling on the coastal rail line to Kyoto. Our final tour night is at a central western-style hotel in the city and we enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant with our guide.
Day 9 : Tour Ends
Location: Kyoto
Meals Included: Breakfast
On our final day, we will say farewell in Kyoto after breakfast at the tour hotel. Your guide will be on hand to offer assistance and advice for your journey to the airport or onward travel in Japan.
What's Included
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Accommodation
8 nights in hotels, and Japanese inns (ryokan and minshuku)
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Entrance Fees
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Fully Guided
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Local Taxes
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Train Tickets
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Meals as indicated in your itinerary
Daily breakfast and 8 dinners
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Forwarding of one piece of luggage on two occasions
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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Country Entry Visas
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Drinks with Meals
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International Travel
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Pay locally for drinks with meals and for lunches
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Entrance fees to museums, temples etc. not listed in the itinerary
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Travel insurance
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A single room supplement is required for solo travellers at hotels
Check out our Q&As
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Company Instant Book
You may book instantly and if space is available, we will accept your booking up to 35 days prior to travel, subject to availability of space. Please note that tours are guaranteed to operate once they reach a minimum number of travellers.
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What is the maximum group size?
Our small-group guided tours have a maximum of 12 or 13 participants which keeps them small, friendly, and personal.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No. Visas are the responsibility of the traveler and are not included. We can not provide visa support. Please contact your local Japanese consulate or embassy of the entry requirements for your country and citizenship.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our groups tend to be international. As our guides are English speaking guides, most of our guests are English speakers, hailing from America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries in Europe.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are always happy to book pre-tour or post-tour nights for you. We also offer an exciting range of extensions and experiences so you can create your own ideal itinerary.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This trip is strenuous. Our strenuous tours generally have multiple dedicated days of trail walking, with some days of up to six hours or more and significant ascent and/or descent. We recommend strenuous tours for anyone who does regular full-day walking or hiking and is comfortable to walk for extended periods on consecutive days, with much of each day involving ascent and descent.
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
4 star in the cities and best available on the trails
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
All travellers get our Preparing for your Trip and Travelling in Japan documents, as well as a detailed personalized itinerary. Those travelling on one of our self-guided tours receive our bespoke topographical maps and walking instructions.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
No
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
For our small-group guided tours, if you would like to share with another traveler we will seek to match you up. If we are successful then you need not pay the solo supplement.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our travellers are typically English speakers from around the world. On our small-group guided tours, you travel in the company of one of our professional local guides.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
As per our booking terms and conditions, change fees would apply. If you have to change your dates due to the prevailing entry requirements for Japan please contact us and we would be happy to work with you to change your dates without charge.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Oku Japan requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oku japan charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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