kumano kodo travel blog

Let's begin with a brief history lesson… Located nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Osaka on Japan's Kii Peninsula, the Kumano Kodo is a network of pilgrimage routes that have been in use for more than 1,000 years.. Those who hike the Kumano Kodo will follow in the footsteps of ancient emperors and samurai who made this journey in centuries past.

Kumano Kodo accommodation. Obviously there are countless options of places to stay at along the Kumano Kodo trail. These are a mixture of Japanese-style lodges and Western B&Bs/hotels. Prices vary massively from as little as 2,500 yen (£18) per night all the way up to 25,000 yen (£180) per night for an uber lux place.

The third day (and second full day) of a Kumano Kodo itinerary is the hardest: It's 25 km from Chikatsuyu to Hongu, a journey that includes significant changes in elevation and lots of variance in trail quality, and even a temporary detour that now seems to be permanent.While this won't necessary take you the 9-12 hours most officials say it will, the sheer length of the day will certainly ...

The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage is the name given to several hiking routes that criss-cross Japan's Southern Kii peninsular. These paths through towering cedar forests, around lush mountains & between rural villages lead pilgrims between the three grand shrines of Kumano: Kumano Hongū Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha ...

The trail was used by emperors, samurais, and common people alike, and it is still an important part of Japanese culture today. In 2004, the Kumano Kodo was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. A summary of the hike. The Kumano Kodo is a 75-kilometer trail that takes 5-6 days to complete.

Wear Proper Hiking Footwear on the Kumano Kodo Trail. There is a Kumano Kodo Luggage Shuttle. Cash is King in Japan. There Are a Few Dangerous Animals on the Kumano Kodo Trail. Kumano Sanzan is a Highlight, but so is Everything Else! Practice Proper Pilgrimage Etiquette on the Kumano Kodo Trail.

Hi there! Kumano Kodo is the "ancient road" or "ancient trail" of Kumano. The Kumano Kodo in Japan is a UNESCO world heritage pilgrimage route, and there are different Kumano Kodo routes.. One of the most popular Kumano Kodo walking routes is the Nakahechi Route.. And one of the most traditional ways to do the Kumano Kodo is by doing mostly full-day hikes every day walking the Kumano Kodo.

The Kumano Kodo Routes . The Kumano Kodo is made up of multiple routes, all radiating from the grand central shrine Kumano Hongu Taisha. The most popular & accessible of these is the Nakahechi Route, starting from Takijiri-oji in the West, passing through Hongu & finishing at Kumano Nachi Taisha in the East.

The hike today will take you all the way to Kumano Hongu Taisha via Hosshinmon-oji (20 to 24 kilometres/7.5 to 9 hours). While it is the longest of all your hiking days on the Kumano Kodo - Nakahechi Route, do make sure to stop at Tsugizakura-oji [ Google Maps location ]. The giant cedar trees are magnificent.

Kumano Sanzan - the three Grand Shinto Shrines of the Kumano Kodo Kumano Hongū Taisha. Kumano Hongū Taisha [Official website, Google Maps location] is located in the centre of the Kii Mountains, at the confluence of the Kumano and Otonashi Rivers.Its original entrance is marked by the world's largest shrine gate (called Torii) - the Ōyu no hara Torii - which is 34 metres high and 42 metres ...

Absolutely true story. The Kumano Kodo can be done as a guided walk with a group, as a self-guided walk via a travel company who books your accommodation and organises transport to and from, or you can just set out on your own. The latter is my usual preference. But in Japan, on these remote hikes, it's dead-set a headache.

Standing at 133m, Nachi Falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan! Hearing them tumble down the rocks felt like a beautiful yet sad song, telling me my time in Kumano had ended. For centuries, the Kumano Kodo has been seen as a place of healing and regeneration, both physically and spiritually.

Kumano Hongu Taisha — Found at the center of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and serving as the lead shrine to over three thousand shrines across Japan, this sacred complex can be reached by climbing up 580 stone steps.; Kumano Hayatama Taisha — A sacred space, three deities of Shintoism are said to have come to Earth on a rock near the shrine. Religious artifacts dating back to the third ...

Allow a minimum of 4 full days for the full hike plus 2 days for arrival and departure. If you have less time, you can shorten the trek by catching the bus. The Kumano Kodo tourist information desks provide pilgrims with bus timetables. Make sure you check the timetable in advance as buses run quite infrequently.

Day 3: Trek from Chikatsuyu to Hongu Taisha Shrine The Hongu Taisha Shrine, one of Kumano's three grand shrines. Wake up early this morning for a long 8 to 9-hour hike through the mountain trails to Hongu Taisha, one of the three main shrines of the Kumano Kodo.This 14.9-mile (24km) trek is the longest of the trip, but can be modified to 9 miles or 4 miles by taking a bus part of the way.

One of Japan's most remote and rewarding journeys, the Kumano Kodō hiking route weaves through the mountainous Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka. Once a sacred pilgrimage trail reserved for emperors and samurai, the 'Kumano Old Road' is today open to all seekers and wanderers, with plenty of intensely photogenic shrines and natural beauty ...

10 towns and cities, 20 passes, 170 kilometers, 1,200 years. Painting the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route by numbers offers barely a glimpse into the profound and formidable history of this ancient pilgrim path that connects two of Japan's most sacred religious centers — the Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture and the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture.

Kumano Kodo refers to a network of ancient pilgrimages trails situated across the Kii peninsula in southern Kansai region. Kodo means "old ways" and pilgrims have walked the mountainous trails to visit Kumano, a center of mountain worship, since ancient times. The hiking trails have been in use for over 1,000 years and are designated as ...

Nine months in Europe last year, completing eight long-distance hikes clocked up 3220 km. In August 2017, I walked the Kumano Kodo in Japan. Originally I wanted to walk parts of the 88 Temple Walk on Shikoku Island. But I found it too complicated to organise and started with the Kumano Kodo, a much shorter walk.

Most years, spring and Autumn are the preferred times to travel the route to avoid the heat. We chose to begin the pilgrimage on the first day of June 2020 - the day that the government officially lifted the lockdown in Japan. June is early Summer in Japan and temperatures start creeping into the 30-degree region.

Get There. Kumano Kodo (熊野古道, Kumano Kodō) refers to a network of pilgrimage trails through the southern Kansai region. The Kodo ("old ways") are a key part of the region's World Heritage designation and have been in use for over 1000 years. They are the only pilgrimage routes besides the Camino de Santiago to be designated a World ...

The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route is one of the world's premier spiritual roads. Winding through the mountains of Honshu's Kii Peninsula, an area straddling Wakayama, Nara, Osaka and Mie prefectures, it's been walked by pilgrims on their quest for enlightenment for over a millennium. Modern travelers come to experience moments of quiet ...

Getting to the Kumano Kodo trailhead. Transport and travel to the start and finish of the Kumano Kodo is surprisingly easy, with the international airport of Kansai being relatively close on Japan's excellent rail system. To get between some of the locations on the Kumano walking trail there is a local bus service if you decide you need it.