[Women’s travel] You don’t have to trek to have fun! A plan to make memories with friends who feel nature with their whole body.

You may be thinking: ‘I’m not interested in trekking, but can I enjoy the Kumano Kodo?’.
The Kumano Kodo is not limited to trekking, there are many ways to enjoy it!
You can experience the great outdoors with your whole body, visit shrines that have been the object of worship since ancient times…
Here is a model course for two days and one night, where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and reset your stress levels

14:00　Change from train to rental car at JR Kii-Tanabe Station.

Take the limited express Kuroshio train to Kii-Tanabe, the gateway to the Kumano Kodo.
Rent a car in front of the station and head for your accommodation.

15:00　Arrive at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA Short break with local snacks and juice.

Arrive at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA, located in the mountains at an altitude of 300 metres, by climbing a mountain road.
Relax and unwind with locally produced soft drinks, coffee and snacks as an all-inclusive package… A cup of coffee in the great outdoors is an exquisite treat.

15:30　Forest bathing on the Kumano Kodo, the Road of Resurrection

In fact, the road that runs right in front of the inn is the Kumano Kodo itself. If you leave the inn and go a little to the left, you will enter a mountain path.
You can enjoy a forest bath, so feel free to take a walk♪

16:30　Visit the Takahara-Kumano Shrine.

A five-minute walk from the inn takes you to the Takahara Kumano Shrine. This is a place with a long history and is believed to be the oldest shrine along the Kumano Kodo. Gently pray to the deity for your innermost wishes.

The colourful shrine pavilions are eye-catching, but you will also be overwhelmed by the several camphor trees surrounding the precincts. The size of the camphor trees surrounding the Takahara-Kumano precincts is a bit surprising! Feel the presence of these camphor trees, estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, close at hand. How about the experience of getting fit at a power spot on the Kumano Kodo?

17:00 Panoramic views of the majestic mountains of Kumano

A five-minute walk from the inn takes you to the Takahara Kirinosato(Fog Village) Rest Area, which has a good view. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the mountain ranges and terraced rice paddies in the distance. At dusk, you can look out over the beautiful red-tinted mountains. We recommend bringing an all-inclusive drink and having a girls’ talk♪

18：00 Relax in the hot springs at Kirinosato Takahara.

A 10-minute walk from SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA is the day spa at ‘Kiri-no-Sato Takahara’ you can relax. The view of the plateau from the hot spring is fantastic♪ Relax your tired body after a long day’s walk.

The hot springs at Kirinosato Takahara are from Watarase Onsen in Hongu Hot Spring Village. The water is heated by firewood made from local thinnings, making the water gentle and pleasant to the skin!
It is recommended to call in advance to confirm whether you can enter the day-trip hot spring baths, as it depends on how crowded the ‘Kirino-sato Takahara’ is.

▷Kiri-no-Sato Takahara

Telephone number: 0739-64-1900

Address: 826 Takahara, Nakaheji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, 646-1416

Please call in advance to check availability when using the day spa.

19:00　Barbecue on the terrace!

In the evening, enjoy local vegetables, meat and seafood on the terrace BBQ…. all the ingredients, crockery and stoves are provided at the inn, so all you need to do is share with your friends. All-inclusive drinks include local craft beer and plum wine to accompany the BBQ!

20:00　Let’s get the girls talking over a bonfire!

Gathering around a bonfire together will warm your body and soul. As you gaze at the flickering flames, you can talk about things such as happy memories of the past or worries that you wouldn’t normally be able to talk about, revealing your true self.

21:00　Let’s go and see the stars in the sky…♪

As night falls, the sky is full of stars, which cannot be seen in the city. Gazing at the beautiful starlight will relieve your daily stress. The inn always has bench coats on hand, so there is no need to worry even in cold weather! Take a lantern and go on a starry sky tour♪

Day 2.

If you get up early, you may be able to see a sea of clouds… A sea of clouds tends to appear when there is a big difference in temperature between day and night, and a sunny day after a day of rain is a good time to aim for it!

7:00　Take in a full body load of morning air.

When you wake up in the morning, go outside and take a deep breath! The mountain air and negative ions will permeate your whole body and make you feel refreshed. It’s also great to open the glass doors in the living room to let in the morning sun while doing yoga or stretching!

8:00　Breakfast in an open space

Enjoy jam made from locally produced mandarins and plums bread and cheese.

10:00　check-out

After checking out, go sightseeing! The following sights are recommended♪

Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine

The shrine has been a central sanctuary for Kumano pilgrims since ancient times. A huge torii (torii gate) of about 34 m rises in the Oyunohara, the former shrine site. There is also a post of Yatagarasu, a messenger of the Kumano gods, in the precincts of the shrine.

▷45 min drive from SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA.

Tsugakura-Oji and Nonaka’s fresh water.

The ruins of Oji Shrine, where the Nonaka one-way cedar, with branches extending in the direction of the Kumano Sanzan, is located within the precincts of the shrine. Nonaka’s fresh water is a spring that has been selected as one of the 100 best waters.

▷30 min drive from SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA.

Chikatsuyu-Oji

One of the most important and highly ranked of the ‘Kumano 99 Oji’ shrines, which are scattered along the Kumano Kodo, dedicated to the Kumano deities, and one of the five highest-ranking Oji.

▷25 min drive from SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA.