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    • Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)
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    • Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)
      Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) (Classic)
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    Self-Guided Adventure

    Classic
    Tailor-made

    Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

    3 Nights: from US$1287 per person (twin share) Trip Code: KK003

    This short walking module introduces the Kumano Kodo network of pilgrimage routes with a series of gentle hikes punctuated by stays in traditionl countryside inns and visits to some of the area's famous shrines. This module is designed to be incorporated into a longer Self-Guided Adventure. Read more >

    The Kumano Kodo is the name given to an area of pilgrimage routes to the south of Osaka and Kyoto, encompassing parts of Nara, Wakayama and Mie Prefectures.

    The Kumano Kodo centres around three great shrines: Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha - known collectively as the Kumano Sanzan. Emanating from these three shrines the various pilgrimage trails trace their way through dense forest and across high mountain passes and stunning valleys, linking the various sacred sites of the area from Yoshino and Omine to Mount Koya and even as far as the great shrine of Ise - Shintoism's most sacred site.

    For more than a thousand years these trails have been trudged by those from all walks of life, from retired emperors to the lowliest of itinerant peasants, and they remain in use as pilgrimage routes to this day.

    As you follow in the footsteps of the pilgrims you'll make your way across the tip of the Kii Peninsula from Kii-Tanabe to Kii-Katsuura, a journey that will encompass stays at Kawayu Onsen with its steaming riverbed hot spring baths; Yunomine Onsen, one of Japan's oldest and most enchanting spa towns; and Kii-Katsuura, right on the water and overlooking the bay.  

    Along the way you'll visit all three of the Kumano Sanzan shrines, stay in traditional Japanese-style accommodation, take a boat cruise on the Kumano River, wander amongst ancient cryptomeria trees and marvel at Japan's tallest waterfall.

    The Kumano Kodo is an area not to be missed: steeped in legend and history, with a mystical atmosphere and outstanding natural beauty.

    At a glance

    What's Included

    What's included

    • Three nights' Japanese-style accommodation (two nights fully en suite, one night en suite toilet only)
    • Breakfast and dinner at your accommodation every day, two bento lunchboxes
    • All train travel between destinations
    • Traditional boat cruise on the Kumano River
    • Same-day luggage shuttle service between destinations on the Kumano Kodo
    • Kumano Kodo orientation and guidebook
    • Pocket WiFi device
    • Personalised InsideJapan Info-Pack

    What's NOT included:

    • Local transport between destinations, including all buses
    • Any entrance fees, including those for temples, shrines and onsen
    • Lunch upon arrival in Kii-Tanabe

    Trip Highlights

    • Soak in some of Japan's finest natural onsen baths
    • Marvel at the tallest waterfall in Japan
    • Sample kaiseki cuisine
    • Visit all three of the Kumano Sanzan sacred shrines
    • Stay in traditional ryokan accommodation
    • Appreciate the natural beauty of the Kumano area

    For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380

    What, where, when and how...

    • Map & Dest.
    • Day by Day
    • Accommodation
    • Experiences
    • How to Book

    Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) - 4 Days

    Map for Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

    Destinations

    • Kawayu Onsen
      Kawayu Onsen

      Read more >

    • Yunomine Onsen
      Yunomine Onsen

      Read more >

    • Kii-Katsuura
      Kii-Katsuura

      Read more >

    Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) - 4 Days - Day by Day

    • Day 1 Kawayu Onsen
      Day 1 Kawayu Onsen
    • Day 2 Yunomine Onsen
      Day 2 Yunomine Onsen
    • Day 3-4 Kii-Katsuura
      Day 3-4 Kii-Katsuura
    View all days

    Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) - 4 Days - Accommodation

    • Fujiya Ryokan
      Kawayu Onsen
      Fujiya Ryokan

      Moderate

    • Adumaya Ryokan
      Yunomine Onsen
      Adumaya Ryokan

      Superior

    • Katsuura Gyoen
      Kii-Katsuura
      Katsuura Gyoen

      Superior

    Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) - 4 Days - Experiences

    • Shinrin-yoku
      Shinrin-yoku

      Read more >

    • Tsuboyu hot spring bath
      Tsuboyu hot spring bath

      Read more >

    • Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails
      Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails

      Read more >

    • Day 1

      1

      Today you'll catch the train from Kyoto to Kii-Tanabe, a small coastal city in Wakayama Prefecture and for centuries the gateway to the Kumano Kodo.

      Here you'll have a quick orientation session, grab a fresh seafood lunch and hop on the bus to Kawayu Onsen in the heart of the Kumano Kodo.

      This little onsen village is located a short distance from Hongu Taisha, the main shrine and the point at which all the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes converge.

      Here you'll be staying at a famous ryokan inn right next to the Oto River, steaming with the heat from volcanic hot springs. A gorgeous kaiseki dinner will be included in your stay here tonight and a bento lunchbox will be provided for your day of walking tomorrow.

      Overnight: Fujiya Ryokan

    • Day 2

      2

      After breakfast you'll hop aboard the shuttle bus from your ryokan to Hosshinmon-Oji, one of the Kumano Kodo's most important landmarks and the gate that marks the outermost entrance to Kumano Hongu Taisha.

      From the gate you'll walk the seven kilometres to the shrine itself, a route that will lead you past market stalls in Hosshinmon Village, through deep forest, across tea plantations and past terraced fields.

      After visiting the shrine, another bus will bring you to Yunomine Onsen, home to the only operational UNESCO World Heritage registered onsen bath in Japan and the site of your next ryokan inn. Dinner will be included here this evening.

      Overnight: Adumaya Ryokan

    • Day 3-4

      3-4

      Your day will begin as you float through steep gorges and past waterfalls along the Kumano River to Kumano Hayatama Taisha, another of the Kumano Sanzan and the first of today's shrines.

      After exploring Hayatama Taisha you'll make your way to Daimonzaka Chushajo, from whence you'll walk to the final Kumano shrine: Nachi Taisha. The walk takes about an hour along an impressive cobblestone staircase lined with ancient Japanese cedar trees, and at the end Nachi Taisha stands majestically in front of the largest waterfall in Japan – the 133 m high and 13 m wide Nachi-no-Otaki.

      After visiting Nachi Taisha you'll take a short bus ride to Kii-Katsuura, where you'll be staying at a fabulous Japanese-style hotel with hot spring baths looking out across the bay. Dinner will be included at your hotel again tonight.

      On day four we recommend making the most of your stay in Kii-Katsuura by getting up early to visit the city's wonderful fish market – a fascinating experience!

      Later this morning you'll take a limited express train around the Kii Peninsula to Osaka, a journey of just under four hours.

      Overnight: Katsuura Gyoen

    View all days
    • Day 1

      1

      Today you'll catch the train from Kyoto to Kii-Tanabe, a small coastal city in Wakayama Prefecture and for centuries the gateway to the Kumano Kodo.

      Here you'll have a quick orientation session, grab a fresh seafood lunch and hop on the bus to Kawayu Onsen in the heart of the Kumano Kodo.

      This little onsen village is located a short distance from Hongu Taisha, the main shrine and the point at which all the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes converge.

      Here you'll be staying at a famous ryokan inn right next to the Oto River, steaming with the heat from volcanic hot springs. A gorgeous kaiseki dinner will be included in your stay here tonight and a bento lunchbox will be provided for your day of walking tomorrow.

      Overnight: Fujiya Ryokan

    • Day 2

      2

      After breakfast you'll hop aboard the shuttle bus from your ryokan to Hosshinmon-Oji, one of the Kumano Kodo's most important landmarks and the gate that marks the outermost entrance to Kumano Hongu Taisha.

      From the gate you'll walk the seven kilometres to the shrine itself, a route that will lead you past market stalls in Hosshinmon Village, through deep forest, across tea plantations and past terraced fields.

      After visiting the shrine, another bus will bring you to Yunomine Onsen, home to the only operational UNESCO World Heritage registered onsen bath in Japan and the site of your next ryokan inn. Dinner will be included here this evening.

      Overnight: Adumaya Ryokan

    • Day 3-4

      3-4

      Your day will begin as you float through steep gorges and past waterfalls along the Kumano River to Kumano Hayatama Taisha, another of the Kumano Sanzan and the first of today's shrines.

      After exploring Hayatama Taisha you'll make your way to Daimonzaka Chushajo, from whence you'll walk to the final Kumano shrine: Nachi Taisha. The walk takes about an hour along an impressive cobblestone staircase lined with ancient Japanese cedar trees, and at the end Nachi Taisha stands majestically in front of the largest waterfall in Japan – the 133 m high and 13 m wide Nachi-no-Otaki.

      After visiting Nachi Taisha you'll take a short bus ride to Kii-Katsuura, where you'll be staying at a fabulous Japanese-style hotel with hot spring baths looking out across the bay. Dinner will be included at your hotel again tonight.

      On day four we recommend making the most of your stay in Kii-Katsuura by getting up early to visit the city's wonderful fish market – a fascinating experience!

      Later this morning you'll take a limited express train around the Kii Peninsula to Osaka, a journey of just under four hours.

      Overnight: Katsuura Gyoen

    Close all days

    Trip Reviews

    (12 month average based on 1 review)

    • Self-Guided Adventure Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

      Excellent

      We had a great trip, which was very well organised and packed with exciting experiences. Inside Japan were very straightforward to deal with and we had no problems at…

      Read more >
    • Self-Guided Adventure Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

      Excellent

      Our trip was extremely well-organised and everything worked seamlessly

      Read more >
    • Video Gallery > Watch video Video Gallery

    Trip Reviews

    • Self-Guided Adventure Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

      Excellent

      We had a great trip, which was very well organised and packed with exciting experiences. Inside Japan were very straightforward to deal with and we had no problems at…

      Read more >
    • Self-Guided Adventure Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)

      Excellent

      Our trip was extremely well-organised and everything worked seamlessly

      Read more >

    (12 month average based on 1 review)

    5.0 out of 5 from 1 review Show all Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking) Reviews

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    How to book

    If you would like to book this Self-Guided Adventure, all you need to do is make an enquiry using our online form or give us a call at one of our offices in Bristol (UK), Boulder (USA), Brisbane (Australia) or Nagoya (Japan) to begin planning your holiday.

    There are no blackout dates for this trip. However, please be aware that at the busiest times of the year the named accommodation may not be available, in which case the price can not be guaranteed. However, we will always do our best to match the prices you see here as closely as possible.

    All of our Self-Guided Adventures are completely flexible, so if you like what you see here but would like to make a few changes - where it's to add in destinations, request special experiences, upgrade accommodation or plan extra nights - please don't hesitate to get in touch and one of our expert consultants will help you tailor a trip to suit you.

    Self-Guided Adventure Styles

    To help you get a feeling for our Self-Guided Adventures, we have divided the itineraries into four grades outlined below. Of course this style of travel is fully tailorable, so it’s not a problem to mix elements and grades to suit you!

    Essential Tailor-made

    Just the basics included so you can choose how much you spend

    Style Facts

    • Two- to three-star accommodation
    • No airport transfers (but a city transport pass and detailed airport transfer instructions are provided)
    • Ordinary class Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus some dinners
    • Cultural experiences

    Classic Tailor-made

    Mid-range hotels and Japanese inns, some private guiding and cultural experiences

    Style Facts

    • Three-star accommodation
    • Local professional guides for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Airport meet-and-greet and transfers
    • Ordinary class Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus some dinners
    • Cultural experiences

    Superior Tailor-made

    Enjoy in-depth cultural immersion while staying in high-quality accommodation

    Style Facts

    • Four- to five-star accommodation
    • Local professional guides for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Entrance fees and lunch included with the private guides
    • Private airport transfers
    • Green car (first class) Japan Rail Passes
    • Breakfast every day plus several lunches and dinners
    • In-depth cultural experiences

    Deluxe Tailor-made

    Luxurious hotels and Japanese inns, fine dining and exclusive experiences with a focus on comfort and ease of travel

    Style Facts

    • The very best five-star accommodation
    • Exclusive cultural experiences
    • Local professional guides with drivers and private cars for sightseeing in key destinations
    • Entrance fees and lunch included with the private guides
    • Private airport transfers
    • Private car transfers between stations and hotels
    • Green car (first class) reserved seat train tickets
    • Breakfast every day plus several lunches and dinners

    Contact us

    • GB Inside Japan UK office

      + 44 117 244 3380
    • US Inside Japan US office

      + 1 303 952 0379
    • AUS Inside Japan Australia office

      + 61 7 3186 8800
    • JAP Inside Japan - Japan office

      + 81 52 253 6068

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    Order a brochure or enquire today

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