Kumao Kodo
4 day self guided tour
TOUR LENGTH : 4 days
TYPE AND LEVEL OF TRIP : Village-to-village walking on the Kii Peninsula with three hikes of 2-7 hours
WALKING SEASON : All year (snow falls occasionally from December to March)
Hiroshima and the Seto Inland Sea are some of the most scenic areas of Japan. This tour offers exploration of the wonderful variety of towns, villages and islands in both rural and central Hiroshima, experienced through activities suited to you, with kayaking, cycling, sightseeing walks and hiking availabe. Explore the seaside town of Tomonoura and UNESCO World Heritage island Miyajima (famous for its friendly deer and the iconic "floating" Torii gate off Itsukushima Shrine), walk through the emotional history of Hiroshima and timeless hilltop communities of Onomichi, fishing with our version of the varied and scenic island hopping cycling course Shimanami Kaido. Pass over the Setouchi Inland Sea visiting remote islands, which together with delicously fresh seafood cousine, offer a uniquely modern cafe culture, before arriving in Ehime prefecture on Shikoku Island; the perfect entry point of our 4 day Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage tour.
Please ask for information about tour extensions to the port villages and thatched room comminities of mountains northern Kyoto, the art island of Naoshima on the Setouchi inland sea or the historic ancient captal of Nara.
This tour offers gentle cycling and hiking suitable for children of 12 and up. All activities are option, so please enquire for alternatives if travelling with younger passengers. For the cycling sections, E-bikes are also available for a supplement.
Day 1
Hike from Takijiri to Takahara
Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.
Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.
Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw
Day 2
Hike from Takahara to Chikatsuyu
Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.
Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.
Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw
Day 3
Hike from Chikatsuyu to Hongu
Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.
Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.
Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw
Day 4
Hayatama Grand Shrine and Shingu
Our tour includes train tickets for your journey from Kyoto or Osaka to the small town of Kii-Tanabe on the mystical Kii Peninsula, gateway to the historic Kumano Kodo Trail. The railway line runs close to the ocean for the latter part the journey and offers fine views out over the sea. The journey from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is around two and half hours; from Kyoto it is around three hours and usually requires a change of trains at Shin-Osaka station. Board a local bus outside Kii-Tanabe station and travel forty minutes to Takijiri. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi portion of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route begins. From Takijiri the path climbs steadily to the ridge-top village of Takahara, and takes around two hours.
Stay tonight in a small, Japanese style hotel in the tiny village of Takahara, or in a Japanese Minshuku in the nearby village of Kurisugawa. Both options serve good, home-cooked dinners featuring local seasonal ingredients. The small Japanese style hotel in Takahara has both Japanese and western style rooms, all with wonderful views over the valley and mountains.
Walking distance: 4.5 km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370 metres ascent / 1200 feet of ascent and neglibible descent
Time required: About 2 hours
Accommodation: Japanese style hotel in Takahara, or Minshuku (Family run Guesthouse) in Kurisugaw
Package
Inclusions
3 nights at Japanese inns along the Kumano Kodo trail
3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
Round-trip train tickets from Kyoto or Osaka
Detailed day by day itinerary and walking directions
Topographical maps
Local support by telephone and at the Kumano Kodo Branch office
Preparing for your trip and travelling in Japan guidebooks
Optional orientation at the Kyoto Office
