5 days Kumano Kodo pilgrimage

Day 1: You will make your own way to Yunomine Onsen by trains and bus. Please check “Directions to Departure Location” for directions to your accommodation tonight. Please make sure you arrive by 18:00 so you won’t miss a delicious Japanese dinner prepared by the accommodation. The evening is free for you to enjoy a soak in the hot spring spa and relax.

Day 2: You will meet your tour guide this morning at 8:30am at the accommodation after breakfast. Since you will return to the accommodation tonight you can just bring with you items for the hike only today. You will start hiking from the accommodation and walk the Agagigoe trailhead to Funatama Shrine(6km approx 2hrs). You will see some historical statues on the way and the stream at the end of the trail. After making some wishes at Funatama Shrine, you will continue hiking on the Nakahechi trail to Kumano Hongu Taisha(8km approx 3hrs) This walk will be mild and you can enjoy the scenery of rice farms, tea farms and old stone paths. You will visit Kumano Hongu Taisha which is one of the major shrines of Kumano Kodo. The last part of the hike today is the Dainichigoe trailhead which leads back to Yunomine Onsen. It will be the toughest walk today with an elevation gain of approx 200ms(3.5km approx 1.5hrs) The onsen thermal hot spring baths are an important part of the pilgrimage tradition.

Day 3: After breakfast, you will start with visiting Nachi Taisha Shrine along with Seiganto-ji temple, and enjoy the spectacular view of Nachi-no-Otaki waterfalls. Please note that you will not be coming back to the accommodation and therefore you will need to bring all of your luggage with you. You will visit You will continue hiking to Koguchi on Ogumotorigoe trail (14.5km approx 6hrs) and then walk up to Hyakken-gura, which provides some spectacular views. The trail continues on a forest track and eventually descends into Koguchi, an isolated village surrounded by mountains and rivers. You will then take the bus to Kawayu Onsen and will check in at your accommodation.

Day 4: You will take the bus to the starting point of the hiking course today. Walk the Kumano Sankei Michi Koheji path (11km approx 4hrs) which is a tough uphill climb, through forests with an elevation gain of approx 1000m until you hit Hatenashi Toge Pass. You will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the beautiful mountain ranges from the Pass. From here, it's downhill to the bus stop where you will take your bus back to the accommodation. Your guide will say good-bye at this point and you can enjoy your last night with dinner and a hot spring bath at the accommodation. Your guide will provide you with directions to your airport or your next destination.

Day 5: You will leave the accommodation at your convenience. Please make sure you have enough time to get to the airport if you have a flight to catch.