Japan Trip: Kumano Kodo | One-Day Tour Guide

Kumano Kodo is one of only two world-class pilgrimage routes in the world. The entire route is about 40–70 km, with the most beautiful section being 7–8 km. Along the way, you can enjoy magnificent natural scenery, rich cultural experiences, and local customs. You can arrange a 1, 2, or 3-day hiking route according to your itinerary and needs, making it very suitable for hikers with different needs.❗️

🔷🔷🔷My Kumano Kodo One-Day Tour Guide:

🚗Transportation: Take the Kuroshio train from Osaka for 4 hours to Kii-Katsuura Station

🏨Accommodation: Hotel Urashima, an independent island hotel, provides turtle boats or shuttle buses to Kii-Katsuura Station

📅Kumano Kodo One-Day Tour Itinerary:

⏰Morning: Daimonzaka - Nachi Taisha - Seiganto-ji Temple

🕐Afternoon: Three-Story Pagoda - Nachi Falls

🗺️Take a bus from Kii-Katsuura Station to Daimonzaka Station, then walk for 40 minutes to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area

💎Attraction Features:

📍Daimonzaka: Kumano Kodo, with huge cedar trees on both sides of the stone steps, all of which are centuries-old trees. Although the 40-minute journey is relatively difficult, it is very beautiful and worth it.

📍Nachi Taisha: It has the most beautiful scenery of the three Kumano mountains. You can see "Yatagarasu" paintings everywhere in the courtyard, and there is an 850-year-old camphor tree as a sacred tree.

📍Seiganto-ji Temple: The inspiration for the oil house in Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" comes from here. It has a symbiotic bond with Nachi Taisha and is also the first Buddhist holy place in Kansai.

📍Three-Story Pagoda: The red building and the waterfall are beautifully combined to form its unique features. It is also one of the best viewing spots for the waterfall.

📍Nachi Falls: As the source of natural beliefs, it is the highest and largest waterfall in Japan, with a drop of 133 meters.

📌Tips:

1️⃣The Kuroshio train is a reserved seat train. Book your seat online in advance. Choose the last row so you can put your luggage behind you.

2️⃣The 40-minute journey from Daimonzaka to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area is all steps and is very tiring. It is especially slippery when it rains, so you can do it according to your ability. If you can't walk, you can take a bus directly to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area.

3️⃣When I went to the Three-Story Pagoda, it was under maintenance, so I only saw a 2D picture, which was a bit regrettable. Check the temple website in advance.