Here's some additional information related to our tours, the Kumano Kodo and the Kumano region. If you don't find your questions answered here, please send us a message through our Contact page or shoot us an email at info@kumanokodotours.com
About the Kumano region
What is the Kumano Kodo?
Why is the Kumano region so important?
How far is the Kumano Kodo from Kyoto?
What to expect and what to bring
What should I bring?
How strenuous is the trekking?
What is the maximum group size?
What is the lodging like?
Can I choose to book a single?
What is the food like?
What if I have allergies or dietary constraints?
How much spending money should I bring?
Logistics and other
What transportation should I arrange?
What's the difference between a private tour and a group tour?
I'm traveling on my own... should I join?
I have extra bags that I don't want to take on the tour, what should I do?
What is the Kumano Kodo?
Why is the Kumano region so important?
How far is the Kumano Kodo from Kyoto?
What to expect and what to bring
What should I bring?
How strenuous is the trekking?
What is the maximum group size?
What is the lodging like?
Can I choose to book a single?
What is the food like?
What if I have allergies or dietary constraints?
How much spending money should I bring?
Logistics and other
What transportation should I arrange?
What's the difference between a private tour and a group tour?
I'm traveling on my own... should I join?
I have extra bags that I don't want to take on the tour, what should I do?
About the Kumano RegionWhat is the Kumano Kodo?
The Kumano Kodo is one of only two pilgrimage routes globally designated as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is a pilgrimage route leading to the grand Kumano Hongu Shrine that has been walked by emperors, ascetics and peasants alike for over 1,000 years. There are four Kumano Kodo routes leading to Hongu, and on our tours we use the Nakahechi, the first and oldest of the routes. Pilgrims traditionally made their way from Kyoto to Osaka, then down the western side of the Kii peninsula before cutting eastward onto the Nakahechi where they entered the once-autonomous and spiritually significant region of Kumano. After completing their pilgrimage and rites at Hongu, pilgrims would then go on to Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha, completing the pilgrimage to the Kumano Sanzan, or three Grand Shrines of Kumano. Many pilgrims would travel to Hayatama Taisha, located on the southern tip of the peninsula looking out to the Pacific Ocean, via riverboat along the Kumanogawa river. While both our tours utilize the same river to get to Hayatama, only the World Heritage tour completes the Kumano Sanzan by visiting Nachi Taisha. Why is the Kumano region so important?
Even before Buddhism's arrival to Japan in the 6th century, the region of Kumano was a center of religious thought and nature worship among Japan's indigenous religions such as Shinto and Shugendo. Practitioners underwent ascetic discipline training in this densely forested region, designating mountains, boulders and rivers as spiritually significant places. Gotobiki-iwa, for example, is an important site of the creation story in Shinto belief as it is said to be the place where gods first touched down onto Earth. We will visit Gotobiki-iwa at the conclusion of both our Pilgrimage and World Heritage tours. As Buddhism melded with Japan's native religions, the Kumano region became more significant nationally as the imperial family made over 100 pilgrimages to Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, and as the centuries passed the aristocracy and common classes followed. How far is the Kumano Kodo from Kyoto?
Our tours cover quite a large area. All of our tours start in Koyasan which is roughly 2.5 hours drive from Kyoto. Logistics and other questionsWhat transportation should I arrange?
If you have booked a fully guided tour, all of your transportation is covered, we will meet you at your accommodation in either Osaka or Kyoto! For trips that aren't fully guided, we will meet in Koyasan! I'm travelling on my own... should I join?
Of course! Many of the participants on our group tours are exploring Japan on their own, so you will be with like-minded travelers. Since our tours are capped at 8, you will have time to hike on your own but also eat, drink, walk with and get to know your fellow participants. I have extra bags that I don't want to take on the tour, what should I do?
You may bring one hiking backpack, and a medium sized suitcase with you on the tour (assuming max capacity of 6). For luggage you will not be bringing with you, we recommend that you send your bags to the accommodation you'll be staying at after the tour. This is a fairly common and very affordable practice in Japan. A large suitcase can be shipped anywhere in Japan for around 1,500 to 2,000 yen with the Black Cat courier service (Takkyubin in Japanese), most 7/11 stores can help you with this! Major train stations such as Kyoto or Osaka will also have lockers or storage facilities. |
What to expect and what to bringWhat should I bring?
On both the Pilgrimage and World Heritage tour we will be hiking for two or more days, but you will be able to wash your clothes at least once during the trip. At minimum, we recommend you bring hiking boots, a 30-40 liter backpack, a full change of trekking clothes, 3 pairs of hiking socks, a rain jacket and rain pants, a swimsuit for the mixed-gender outdoor hot spring at our lodging in Kawayu Onsen, a hat and a wide-mouth water bottle (there are many freshwater springs along the way to fill up on water). You are free to bring a small backpack for carrying your water, food and rain gear while on the trail, and a suitcase to carry all your extra clothes and amenities. Courier fee (Y9,000 per person) is now included in the tour cost for all tours (as of Winter 2016) How strenuous is the hiking?
A good fitness is required for the hiking portions of the Kumano Kodo trail on both our Pilgrimage and World Heritage tours. Participants should be prepared to hike up to 15 km or 9 mi in a day and climb 250 meters in elevation (of 10% grade) a couple times each day. In terms of time we will usually hike between 4-6 hours on most days. The trail does not reach altitudes above 800 m and there is no scrambling (using your hands to climb) involved, so no need to worry about that. Participants are strongly advised to practice hiking with a backpack up hills or mountains for similar distances before coming on our tours What is the maximum group size?
For private tours, there is no maximum capacity however, groups larger than 6 will require some special arrangements. We will on occasion run group tours, the maximum capacity is 6. What is the lodging like?
We stay at family-run inns and ryokans, and both the service and the food is excellent. Our group tours are based on double-occupancy rooms. At each inn or ryokan, there are private bathing facilities as well as hot springs that are in-house or within a short walk. While most of the lodging we stay at has futons to sleep on, some have proper western beds. If you would prefer to sleep on a bed, please let us know when you make your booking inquiry and we'll do our best to make it happen. Can I choose to book a single?
Yes! When you make your booking inquiry request a single and we'll let you know what the single-occupancy supplement for your tour is. What is the food like?
Delicious! Our lodging provides small-batch, homemade Japanese and Kumano cuisine. This means rice, soup, fish, pickles, pork, chicken, beef, and farm-fresh vegetables. Especially in the ryokan lodging, dinners tend to have many dishes, often up to ten, including dessert. Breakfasts tend to be a bit simpler, usually rice, eggs, soup and fish. For lunch the chefs will send us off with a bento lunch to power us through the day. What if I have allergies or dietary constraints?
In Japan it's next to impossible to have an authentic culinary experience with dietary restrictions such as gluten intolerance and veganism, even pescatarians and vegetarians can have a difficult time. If you have dietary restrictions such as these, we can do our best to have the chefs at our lodging cater to your needs, but it will be very difficult to have a fully-rounded meal. If you do have dietary restraints, please let us know and we will call our lodging to see how they will be able to cater to you. How much spending money should I bring?
Our tours include accommodation, 2 meals at each accommodation, 1 packed lunch every day and transportation. We highly recommend that you bring your own snacks for hiking the trail. Options to buys supplies along the trip will be limited so it is best to have all of your snacks ready! At Hongu Shrine you'll also be able to purchase alms, charms and artwork in the surrounding shops. Additionally, beer, sake and other delicious beverages are not included in the tour. If you are on a self-guided Koyasan World Heritage Tour, make sure to have cash for transportation to your next destination from Hongu. Keep in mind and Japan is largely cash based! |
