Koyasan & Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route 3-Day Tour

Japan

General information

Description
Koyasan & Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route 3-Day Tour

Tour points

  • This tour takes you to World Heritage Koyasan and Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route along with a National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter or an English-speaking Region-specific Tour Guide Interpreter (different guide interpreters will be assigned per day).
  • Those who are interested may experience joining Koyasan's "Asa-no-Otsutome," Buddhist morning chants held at the worship hall.
  • For the Kumano Kodo walk, the tour will take the Nakahechi route, a popular route even beginners will enjoy.
  • The Day 2 and Day 3 itinerary will be accompanied by an English-speaking Region-specific Tour Guide Interpreter.
  • Customers will stay in a temple lodging at Koyasan and a hot spring accommodation representative of Wakayama Prefecture.

Itinerary

Time Contents
 *Public transportation will be used during the tour. Please note that, excluding the limited express train, seating is not guaranteed. Also, customers cannot join bringing suitcases. Luggage delivery service is not available.
Day 1
0930		Depart from Swissotel Nankai Osaka Walk to Nankai Namba Station.
1000-1119Depart from Nankai Namba Station Take the Koya Limited Express train (reserved seats) to Gokurakubashi.
1125-1130Depart from Gokurakubashi Station To Koyasan via Cable Car*Public transportation will be used during the tour. Please note that, excluding the limited express train, seating is not guaranteed. Also, customers cannot join bringing suitcases. Luggage delive
1136Depart from Koyasan Station Board a Koyasan local bus and head to the town center.
1200-1300Koya-san Cooking Hanabishi LunchPlease refer to [Regarding Meals] in the remarks.
 Danjo Garan Complex The Danjo Garan Complex is a sacred place representing the concept of Shingon Mikkyo Buddhism established by Kobo Daishi (Saint Kobo). Accompaniment by the National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter assigned for Day 1 ends here.
1730Koyasan Temple Lodging Enjoy a dinner of Buddhist vegetarian cuisine in a temple lodging situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city.Please check in on your own.
Day2
0600		Morning Chants (Optional) Customers who wish to participate in the Buddhist morning chants may do so. It starts at 6:00.
 Koyasan Temple Lodging After having breakfast, customers will have free time until departure. Check-out
0930Depart from Koyasan Temple Lodging The English-speaking Region-specific Tour Guide Interpreter assigned for Day 2 will pick up customers.
0955Depart from Senjuinbashi Board the Koyasan & Kumano Access Bus and head to Gomadanzan.
1050Gomadanzan Enjoy a sweeping view of the Ryujin Skyline that stretches along the mountain ridge.
1105Depart from Gomadanzan Board the Koyasan & Kumano Access Bus and head to Gyubadoji.
1323Arrive at Gyubadoji After arriving, please have lunch on your own.
(60min)Ancient Route Walking Experience Experience walking along the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage route, from Gyubadoji to Chikatsuyu.[Remarks] The Kumano Kodo walk may be canceled at the location due to inclement weather, unavoidable circ
1604-1648Depart from Chikatsuyu-oji Take the route bus to Kawayu Onsen.
Day3
0820		Depart from Ryokan After having breakfast, customers will have free time until departure. Check out on your own.The National Government Licensed English Guide Interpreter will meet customers.Take the ryokan's free shuttle bus to Hosshinmon-oji.
0900Depart from Hosshinmon-oji Enjoy the Kumano Kodo walk to Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. (Walking distance approx. 6.9 km, about 4.5 hours) Hosshinmon-oji is known as the entrance to the sacred site of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine.
1100Arrive at Fushiogami-oji Lunch break.
1145Depart from Fushiogami-oji Head to the Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. From here, take a leisurely walk downhill through the woods. (There are no restrooms until Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine.)
1330-1410Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine Enter through the shrine gate and lay your eyes on a National Important Cultural Property, the cypress bark-roofed shrine hall. Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow, is the symbol of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine. It is als
1425-1445Oyunohara (Former Shrine Site) See the large torii gate measuring 34 meters tall and 42 meters wide.
1505-1710Depart from Kumano Hongu Taisha Bus Stop Take the route bus straight to JR Kii-Tanabe Station.The English-speaking Region-specific Tour Guide Interpreter assigned for Day 3 will not board the bus or limited express train. Customers are to return to Osaka
1742Depart from JR Kii-Tanabe Station Take the JR limited express train Kuroshio (reserved seats) to Shin-Osaka (will stop to arrive at Tennoji at 19:32 on the way).
1950Arrive at JR Shin-Osaka Station Tour ends after arrival

Tour details

Minimum Participants2 people
Tour type3 Days Tour
Tour time3 Full Days
Pick up locationsSwissotel Nankai Osaka
Drop off locationsShin-Osaka Station
Plannning CompanyJTB Global Marketing & Travel Inc.
LanguageEnglish
Meals2 Breakfasts
2 Lnches
2 Dinners
Meal optionsN/A

Remarks

  • [Reception Method]
    At reception, please show your reservation confirmation sheet, a printout of the reservation confirmation e-mail, or show the e-mail on your mobile device screen to staff.
  • [Operation Conditions/Tour Conditions]
    If the minimum number of participants (2) is not met by 21 days before the scheduled date, the tour on that date may be canceled.
    Please inform us of your accommodation and contact details for the day prior to the tour. If the tour is canceled, customers will be notified by the conducting company or their travel agent. This tour is accompanied by either a different National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter or a Region-specific Tour Guide Interpreter for Day 1 and Days 2 and 3. For Days 2 and 3, 1 National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter will accompany 4 participants.
  • [Exemptions/Itinerary Guarantee Itinerary/Destinations]
    Public transportation will be used during the tour. Please note that, excluding the limited express train, seating is not guaranteed. Also, customers cannot join bringing suitcases. Luggage delivery service is not available. On Day 3, customers will be taking the bus bound for Kii-Tanabe Station and the limited express train from there to Tennoji or Shin-Osaka Station on their own (without an accompanying guide interpreter).
    During the tour, please strictly follow the instructions of the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter, as well as all itinerary times. Participants who do not follow the group may be asked to leave the tour. Refunds will not be issued in such cases.
    The Kumano Kodo walk may be canceled at the location due to inclement weather, unavoidable circumstances, or other reasons. Please note that in this case, refunds will not be provided.
    Children younger than 12 years old are not permitted to participate on this course. This tour is recommended for customers used to walking.
    The order of activities and arrival times may differ depending on road conditions and congestion at destinations.
  • [Important Notes/Supplements Meeting/Pick-up/Pick-up Location]
    Swissotel Nankai Osaka / 940
  • [Important Notes/Supplements Accommodation Information]
    Koyasan Area Koyasan Temple Lodging
    Japanese-style room (No private bath or toilet)　
    Kawayu Onsen Area Midoriya
    Standard Western-style room (with bath and toilet) or Japanese-style room
    Accommodation location and room type may not be selected. Accommodation may be provided in a similar grade hotel instead.
    Dinner and breakfast at customers' accommodation location is not included in the tour booking charge.
  • [Important Notes/Supplements What to Wear/Bring]
    The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route features unpaved roads and stone-paved roads. Please participate in shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. (Walking distance along Kumano Kodo is a total of about 8.5 km spread across 2 days, requiring about 7 hours.) Please bring a backpack or similar to keep hands free.
    Please bring a raincoat in case of rain while walking along Kumano Kodo.
    The temperature at Mt. Koya (Koyasan) is about 8 degrees Celsius lower than in Kyoto and Osaka. Please bring warm attire.
    Fees for coin lockers is not included. For customers using this, please pay on your own.
  • [Important Notes/Supplements Regarding Meals]
    Lunch on Day 1 will be bento box style Japanese cuisine. Buddhist vegetarian cuisine will be provided for customers that would like a vegetarian meal so please make a request on the day.

Important notes

  • COVID19 Safety Infomation

    • *Updated: as of Dec 2020. The itineraries may change without notice.