Tour Review
This trip had amazing experiences that I will never forget.
★★★★★
This unforgettable trip featured easy-to-follow trails, warm local encounters, and the convenience of luggage shipping. Highlights included a soul-cleansing ritual in a river on the way to Nachi, breathtaking views at Nachi Falls and Daimonzaka, and a surprise horagai performance. I’d gladly do this tour again with family or friends.
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Itinerary
■Overview
After your guide meets you at Nagoya station, you will travel by train and local bus to the Grand Shrine of Ise, the most important shrine in Japan. After enjoying lunch in the historic districts of Oharaimachi and Okage Yokocho that lead up to the shrine, you will visit the shrine itself, a solemn and sacred destination for pilgrims with more than 2,000 years of history.
Next, let’s get you checked into your accommodations for the night, one that dates back over 200 years. Here, you will have some time to learn more from your guide about the Iseji route, which is one of the many ancient traditional pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo that weave through the sacred Kii Peninsula. For a special treat following the multi-course Japanese dinner.
■Detailed Information
9:00 Meet the guide at Nagoya Station, and start the pilgrimage journey.
9:50 Transfer from Nagoya to Ise using public transportation (Kintetsu Railway or JR).
11:10 Arrival at Iseshi Station. Visit Ise Jingu, Oharai Machi, and Okage Yokocho.
15:30 Walk to the accommodation.
16:10 Check in at the accommodation.
17:00 Orientation and tour introduction by the guide.
18:00 Dinner at the accommodation.
■Overview
After breakfast, enjoy the beautiful scenery as a private vehicle takes you and your guide to the next hotel to drop off your luggage. Then, following a lunch of local specialties, begin your own Kumano Kodo pilgrimage on the first trail: the Magose-toge Pass. This breathtakingly beautiful route is famous for its ancient, moss-covered cobblestones and spectacular views. History, nature, and spirit accompany you through the pristine forest on your way to the quaint fishing town of Owase. A satisfying dinner at a local restaurant and a well-earned rest at the hotel await.
■Detailed Information
8:45 Check out and meet the guide at the accommodation.
9:00 Transfer by private vehicle from the ryokan to Michi-no-Eki Miyama via Hotel Viola (to drop off luggage). *Private vehicle service ends here.”
11:00 Arrival at Michi-no-Eki Miyama.
12:00 Magose-toge Pass.
16:30 Check in at the accommodation.
17:45 Dinner at a local restaurant (10-minute walk).
■Magose-toge Pass
Distance: 5.2 km (3.2 mi)
Time: 3 hr
Elevation Gain: 325 m (1066 ft)
■Overview
The morning brings more time to immerse yourself in the tranquility of this sacred place. Follow the footsteps of ancient pilgrims over thousand-year-old paving stones along the trail of Hadasu-no-Michi. Get lost in the gentle swaying of the bamboo trees at Obuki-toge Pass, and feel the presence of stone guardians watching over your journey through Matsumoto-toge Pass.
This evening—or early the next morning—be sure to take some time to explore Onigajo Cliff, an otherworldly coastal formation just a stone’s throw from the hotel.
■Detailed Information
8:00 Check out and meet the guide at the accommodation.
9:02 Take the JR train from Owase Station to Atashika Station.
9:36 Pick up a bento box at a cafe in Atashika.
9:40 Total hiking: From Atashika to Hadasu/Obuki-toge Passes, then to Matsumoto-toge Pass (halfway), and finally to Onigajo (7.4 km, 6–7 hrs including lunch).
17:00 Walk to the accommodation, check in, and have dinner at the accommodation.
Matsumoto-toge Pass
Distance: 6.7 km (4.2 mi)
Time: 2 to 3 hr
Elevation Gain: 150 m (492 ft)
■Overview
Take the morning to explore this small coastal city—maybe even catch the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean. Then, take the train down the coast to Shingu Station to enjoy more local cuisine.
After lunch, climb the 538 stone steps to Kamikura-jinja Shrine, where spectacular views await. This sacred site is said to be where the deity enshrined at Hayatama-taisha Shrine first descended to earth.
Next, visit Hayatama-taisha itself—one of Japan’s most important shrines, and a key destination for generations of pilgrims who came before you.
After a delicious dinner at a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant, you may wish to experience a bit of local nightlife at a traditional Japanese “snack bar” run by sisters who have long been active in the area as geisha (additional charge applies).
■Detailed Information
10:00 Check out and meet the guide at the accommodation, then take a shuttle bus provided by the hotel (or a taxi or private vehicle) to Kumano-shi.
11:14 Take the Express Nanki train from Kumano-shi Station to Shingu Station.
11:34 Arrival at Shingu station, with lunch at a local restaurant.
13:00 Walk to Kamikura-Jinja shrine.
14:30 Walk to Kumano Hayatama Taisha.
15:15 Walk to the accommodation and check in.
18:30 Dinner at a local restaurant.
※Then dive deeper into Kumano! Experience a Japanese “snakku” (snack bar) and Geisha entertainment — an optional experience for those interested (8,000 yen per person).
Matsumoto-toge Pass
Distance: 6.7 km (4.2 mi)
Time: 2 to 3 hr
Elevation Gain: 150 m (492 ft)
■Overview
A private vehicle will take you to Fudarakusanji Temple to listen to the fascinating stories of the monks’ attempts to reach a land of paradise they believed was to the south and hear about a mandala painting by a Buddhist nun. After that, the final trail of the Iseji route will take you to Nachi Falls. By now, your journey from Ise will have allowed you to immerse yourself in the rich and varied spiritual beliefs of this magical land. Perhaps you are now even able to clearly sense the presence of invisible beings. Take a step further into nature here to where the gods dwell. You can offer them your prayers at Nachi Falls, Seigantoji Temple and Nachi Taisha Shrine. This brings the Kumano Kodo Iseji to an end. Next, you will be transferring to a beautiful resort in Shirahama, where you can enjoy soaking in an onsen (natural hot spring)!
■Detailed Information
8:00 Check out and meet the guide at the accommodation, then transfer to Kii-Katsuura Station by private vehicle.
8:30 Arrival at Kii-Katsuura Station. Store luggage in a coin-operated locker (included).
9:05 Transfer to Daimonzaka by local bus.
9:24 Arrival at the Daimonzaka bus stop.
9:30 Walk from Daimonzaka to Nachi Falls.
10:30 Arrival at Kumano Nachi Taisha and Nachi Falls (World Heritage).
12:29 Take a local bus from Nachi-no-Taki bus stop to Kii-Katsuura bus stop.
12:53 Arrival at Kii-Katsuura Station.
13:00 Lunch (Excluded; Recommendation: Nigiwai Ichiba for lunch break).
15:00 Pick up luggage from the coin-operated locker at Kii-Katsuura Station.
15:21 Take the Rapid Express Kuroshio 30 from Kii-Katsuura Station to Shin-Osaka Station.
19:22 Arrival at Shin-Osaka Station. The tour concludes.
Daimonzaka Walk
Distance: 1.3 km (0.8 mi)
Time: 1.5 hr
Elevation Gain: 390 m (1280 ft)
This itinerary is subject to change
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