Recommended for university students! Hiking the Kumano Kodo, a World Heritage Site in Wakayama
I walked the Kumano Kodo with members of my university club
I am Omae, a 3rd year student of the Faculty of Tourism at Wakayama University, who is interning at SEN.RETREAT.
At the end of November, members of the outdoor club I belong to walked the Kumano Kodo path for two days and one night on Saturday and Sunday.
I wanted to walk the Kumano Kodo, a famous World Heritage Site, if I had come all the way to Wakayama, where the university is located.
So I organised it with my circle members and nine of us walked the Kumano Kodo Nakaheji route from Takijiri-Oji to Chikatsuyu.
I will introduce what kind of plan we used to walk the Kumano Kodo.
We hope you will find it useful.
Kumano Kodo Hiking Day 1
13:00 Lunch at Ryuyu, Mizunosato, Roadside Station
The group met at Wakayama Daigaku-mae Station at 10:30 and split into two groups by car.
Lunch was served at ‘Roadside Station, Mizunosato Ryuyu’ in Ryujin-mura, which is famous for its Ryujin shiitake mushrooms. There was a wide variety of healthy yet filling dishes for the students, using large and filling Ryujin shiitake mushrooms. The price range is around 700-1,500 yen.
There was also a table where all nine of us could sit together, although there was a bit of a wait, so we could all enjoy eating together.
15:00 Start hiking from Takijiri Oji!
After lunch we headed to Takijiri Oji, parked at Takijiri Oji and left with only the necessary luggage.
It was raining a little while we were in the car and we were worried about the weather, but when we arrived at Takijiri Oji the weather cleared up and we were able to start the hike pleasantly.
17:00 Go to the Takahara, goal of day 1
It was tough at times as we had to go up all the way from Takijiri, but we arrived at the Takahara, the goal of the first day, in no time at all after chatting with our friends.
On the road there was a large rock called Chi-iwa. There, it is said that you can pray for safe delivery by going through a hole made under the big rock, which is called ‘Tainai Kuguri’.The hole was smaller than expected and very exciting.Also, from the top of Iimoriyama, the sea of clouds could be seen over the deep green mountains, which is typical of Wakayama.
Pray at the Takahara Kumano Shrine.
The Highland Kumano Shrine is a vermilion-lacquered, cypress bark-roofed, kasuga-zukuri shrine built in 1403 and is said to be the oldest existing shrine along the Kumano Kodo.
We paid our respects and enjoyed playing omikuji together.
Accommodation at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA
We arrived at SEN.RETREAT TAKAHARA where we stayed with moderate tiredness.
As it is a one-unit rental, we were able to stay in a large group and enjoy ourselves without having to worry about other guests.
Members are excited by the spacious and very beautiful museum.
After the bath first, it was time for the meal we were looking forward to.The main course was wild boar shabu-shabu, and there were plenty of other drinks and local snacks found only in Wakayama Prefecture, so we had a full meal.The delicious meal and good company filled our stomachs and hearts, and we were very satisfied.
Although we said we were full, dessert was a different story, so we spent a relaxing time with delicious pastries from Wakayama Prefecture and tea or coffee.
It was also very beautiful and impressive to see the stars in the sky.
We went to bed at midnight to prepare for the next day and had a good night’s sleep under the fluffy duvet.
Hiking on the Kumano Kodo Road, Day 2.
8:00 Check out.
We woke up at about 6.30am and had breakfast together at 7am.
We had a good breakfast with jam and bread made from Wakayama fruit, and checked out at 8am to leave.
11:30 Go to the finish line, Chikatsuyu.
Walk through the straight stretch of trees typical of the Kumano Kodo to Chikatsuyu.
The path also features a lovely stone statue of Ushiba-doji, a guardian deity of the Emperor Hanayama, who is said to have been on a pilgrimage to Kumano and is designated as a historical site by Tanabe City.
12:00 Lunch at Chikatsuyu
At noon, the group arrived in Chikatsuyu and had lunch in three groups: at Kumano Yasai, a café converted from a former liquor storehouse for more than 40 years, and at Chikatsuyu, an old road walking village with various souvenir shops and restaurants, which was reopened at the end of August this year.
After lunch, we boarded a bus shortly after 13:30 to return to the starting point at Prince Takijiri.
15:00 To Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine
After returning to Takijiri Oji, we drove to the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine.
In the middle of the fields, the huge, towering Otorii gate is solemn and powerful. After relaxing by the Kumano River, we paid our respects at the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine.
16:00 To Yunomine Onsen
To wash off the sweat from the exercise, we went to Yunomine Onsen, known as the oldest hot spring in Japan.
Not only did the hot spring water feel good, but I was also healed by the elegant townscape with its hot springs and inns.
We also enjoyed hot spring eggs in the 90°C hot water gushing out of the hot water barrels along the river.
21:30 Return home
After a refreshing dip in Yunomine Onsen, we had dinner in Tanabe city centre and returned home, enjoying the conversation in the car.
Summary
Many of us were beginners at climbing, but we all enjoyed the hike to the end while chatting together.
The time flew by as we walked lively and talked together.
Although it was the end of November, the weather was pleasantly warm and not cold, and we were able to enjoy the colourful scenery of autumn leaves and gingko trees.
The beautiful scenery such as sea of clouds and starry sky, autumn leaves, deep mountains and beautiful mountain ranges, delicious Wakayama foodstuffs and good times with friends were all wonderful memories.
I would also like to walk the Kumano Kodo on other courses.
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