Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Tour with Licensed Guide & Vehicle
Description
This is the ideal pick for time-tight travelers wanting to discover lots of Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage highlights in a day. An ancient network of pilgrim trails dating back more than 1000 years connecting historic shrines and temples running through the river and deep mountains..all set to the backdrop of Kii Peninsula. The Kumano area has been considered a sacred site since prehistoric times. There are three major shrines in Kumano. Together, they are known as the Kumano Sanzan; each enshrines one of the area’s mountains, and under the influence of Buddhism came to be worshipped as the three deities of Kumano. Your guide and driver will fully support your Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage tour. We assure you will spend plenty of time with sacred breathtaking views. Note*: Tour details has a possibility of change depending on the traffic conditions. Please feel free to ask us if you have any special request for your itinerary. We will do our best to meet your request.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Kumano Kodo (熊野古道, Kumano Kodō) refers to a network of pilgrimage trails through the southern Kansai region. The Kodo ("old ways") are a key part of the region's UNESCO designation, and have been in use for over 1000 years. They are the only pilgrimage routes besides the Camino de Santiago to be designated a world heritage site. The pilgrimage routes developed as a way for people to move between the sacred areas on the Kii Peninsula. At the center of this religious area are the three Kumano shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, collectively known as Kumano Sanzan. By the 12th century, the Kumano Sanzan were well known shrines in Japan, drawing pilgrims from Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. More than just a means to reach the three shrines, the pilgrimage trails were designed to be a religious experience in themselves and often pass through difficult, even dangerous, mountain terrain.
Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社, Kumano Hongū Taisha) is one of the Kumano region's three famous shrines. As well as enshrining its own deity, Hongu Taisha also enshrines the deities of the other two Kumano shrines, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, and the sun goddess Amaterasu. It serves as the head shrine of over 3000 Kumano shrines across Japan. Reference to Hongu Taisha was first documented in the 9th century, which the establishment of the shrine must have preceded substantially. Due to floods in 1889, the shrine was moved from its original location at Oyu no Hara to its present site one kilometer away. In front of Oyu no Hara stands the biggest torii gate in the world, which, at 33 meters tall, dwarfs visitors passing under it.
This was the original site of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, until a flood in 1889. Now, only two small stone shrines remain, guarded by the world's largest torii gate.
Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社) is one of Kumano's three important shrines. It is located in Shingu City on the southeast coast of the Kii Peninsula. Together with the other two shrines, Hongu Taisha and Nachi Taisha, Hayatama Taisha holds an important place in Japanese mythology. While the buildings were rebuilt recently, Hayatama Taisha has occupied the same spot on the Kumano Riverbank since at least the 12th century. In addition, religious artifacts that date back to the 3rd century are evidence that the area has been a site of worship for much longer. In fact, a Shinto creation myth claims that three kami (Shinto deities) descended to earth on a rock not far from the shrine.
Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社) is one of the three Kumano shrines, situated a few kilometers inland from the coastal hot spring resort of Katsuura. The shrine is part of a large complex of neighboring religious sites that exemplify the fusion of Buddhist and Shinto influences that is particular to the Kumano region. The site also boasts the tallest waterfall in Japan. The veneration of the Kumano shrines as holy sites of Shintoism predates Buddhism's introduction to Japan in the mid 6th century. Once Buddhism arrived in Kumano it took root quickly, and rather than competing with the indigenous religion for religious authority, it began a long process of harmonious mixing.
The Nachi Falls is the tallest waterfall in Japan as single uninterrupted drop of 133 meters, with a depth of 10 meters and one ton of water dropping down the cliff every second. The falls is counted as one of the Three Major Waterfalls in Japan and designated as the place of scenic beauty of Japan. The falls also forms a part of the "Sacred Site and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your driver pick you up at your hotel, the nearest station or your preferred location around Kumano Kodo.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
Reviews(16)
Kiyoko was amazing. We are very greatful for everything she did and prepared for us. She got in touch well in advance to make sure she could design an itinerary that was suited to our needs and desires, and boy! She did an outstanding job! We saw and experienced everything we wanted. And about Kumano Kodo, well it is just breathtaking. We'll come back to explore more of what it has to offer.
Hello, thank you very much for your kind feedback!! Both me and Mr. driver are very happy to hear your comment. It will be great if you will come back to Kumano Kodo sometime in the future and walk other parts of pilgrimage routes. Please convey our regards to your partner. Thank you again!! Kiyoko
Yuka was absolutely amazing!!!! She went above and beyond to make our dreams come true. We only had 8 hours to get our Dual Pilgrim certificate and she made sure we got all our stamps, saw all the shrines and made it to the official office to get our certificates! She had sweet treats for us and streamers to celebrate our accomplishments! Yuka was fabulous. I would highly recommend her.
Hi! Thank you for your beautiful comments! It was my honor to be with you in such a memorable moment. Now I've finished Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Route with you and it's my time to complete Camino de Santiago! I put it in my bucket list and make it next year! Hope see you again in Camino! YUKA
Kiyoko was a fantastic, knowledgeable, patient and friendly guide and Mr. Hiroshi was a very attentive, professional, and kind driver. We were travelling with three small children and Kiyoko made our tour very specialized to consider our needs. We also had dietary restrictions and she ensured we had a great culinary experience both during the tour, and helping us to ensure we were able to eat properly after the tour by showing us things and giving recommendations. The tour was really beautiful, with epic views and a lot of history that you can feel just in the air.
Thank you very much for your kind comment!! Both the driver and I appreciated your kindness and consideration. We could perform the tour thanks to your cooperation. We wish you will enjoy the rest of your stay in Japan. We will be happy if you come back to Japan, and Kumano sometime in the future. Please convey our regards to your family, friends and children. Thank you very much again!! - Kiyoko
The sites and driver were stellar. The guide was not incredibly helpful and could use updates in her approach and hand-held reference docs.
We appreciate your kind feedback and our guides do too! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour with your guide. We look forward to your next visit to Japan. Japan Guide Agency
Just an incredible amount of preparation and effort on behalf of the guide Miyuki to make the widespread three Kumano shrines accessible in a turbo-charged 8 hours. Fantastic.
You visited the three grand shrines of Kumano, guided by the Yatagarasu crow. I once again realized the charm of the Yatagarasu. It rained in Shingu, but thankfully, the rain wasn't too heavy in the other locations. Nachi Great Fall was even more powerful after the rain. The Hashikui iwa rocks were also beautiful. I'm glad if you were able to enjoy the rich nature and culture of Wakayama Prefecture. - Yuki
Yuka was a great guide. Flexible, practical, kind, knowledgeable and her English was the best we've heard so far. This all made for a great tour along spectacular and beautiful locations.
Hi! Thank you for your beautiful comments! I'd really appreciate how you enjoy our culture and nature. To tell you the truth, I was worrying about our tour because of a bad weather. But your positive attitude made me relieved, especially your princess's beautiful smiles. It was a wonderful moment for me as well. Hope see you again soon! Yuka
We had a great tour guide who helped in so many ways in preparation before the trip, during the trip, and afterwards! Kiyoko was great and we would 100% book her again!!
Hello J & N, Thank you very much for your kind comment!! I am very happy to hear that!! I also thank you for choosing this tour and coming to Kumano. I appreciate it very much. We hope you will come back to Japan and Kumano in the future. Thank you again!! Kiyoko
The experience was great. Our guide Kiyoko contacted us early and we worked out a tour based on our pickup point, what we wanted to see and her recommendations. We did about four iterations and she put a lot of thought and effort into each one. We saw all the main temples and Nachi Falls. Kiyoko recommended a walk along the traditional trail and that was an excellent suggestion. The walk gave you a feel for what the experience would be if you did the entire thing (but without some of the more difficult parts). Kiyoko is also very knowledgeable about the places visited and her English is good, We settled on taking a train back to Tanabe to make the most of our time and Kiyoko scouted out several places to eat after our tour that were close to the train station. Once we picked one, she set up the reservations, translated their whiteboard menu to English so we could pick our meal in advance due to the tight train schedule. On the day of the tour, our selected foods were waiting for us in a private room when we arrived. Overall very very happy with our guide and the whole experience. The amount of work she put in made us feel special.
Thank you very much for your great review. I appreciate it. You responded each questions asking other members about their preferences. That helped a lot making our tour customized. I am happy to hear that you liked the walk in the forest. Though one of your sisters could not walk and go see some places, I hope she also enjoyed the parts that she participated. Also thank you for your kindness for inviting me to dinner. It was a great time with you and your family members. I appreciate this opportunity. Thank you very much. Kiyoko
Excellent in every way. Our driver braved a storm as we went to our destinations and our guide, Yuka, was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and wonderful. A great choice for anyone looking to see a lot in a limited time.
Hi! Thank you for your lovely comments! At first I was really worrying that we could have our tour or not because of that bad weather. Actually we had some scarely moments when our car went forward in a heavy rain. But after a big rain we've had a big blessing from that big water fall! People say that whoever get wet at Nachi Waterfall would become happy. We're happy now but anyway we all have been soaking wet!!! We've got a biiiig blessing from Nachi Waterfall!! Thank you for giving me such a wonderful moment. I'll never forget the day spent with you in Kumano. See you again in Osaka my hometown at EXPO'25! Yuka
Magical full day at the three grand shrines. Yuki hiked with us up all the steps 😄 and explained the enshrinement of the deities very well. Our driver stipped at other notable sights/sites along the route and found a lively sushi restaurant for lunch. I loved it all. Thank you!
I really enjoyed being with you two. You have a lot of interest and knowledge in Japanese history and ancient legends, and it was worthwhile to explain to you as a guide. It was a beautiful day, neither too hot nor cold, as if to bless you. It was a really wonderful day. Yuki
