Upon arrival at Kansai airport, be met and transferred 1.5 hours to Mount Koya. Traditionally, Mount Koya is the sacred site for esoteric Buddism, and it is valued as UNESCO World Heritage nowadays.
You will walk with our guide and learn the history of Shingon Buddhism, and it’s the significance of Mount Koya by walking inside the temple complex. You will also take a stroll inside Okunoin, which houses the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi.
You will overnight in one of the temple lodging, and enjoy the vegetarian cuisine
Wake up in the early morning and join the morning prayer with the monks. You will then be transferred to Kuman Kodo and begin your walk. Kumano Kodo is an ancient pilgrimage stretching across the Kii Mountain, people from all levels of society have been undertaking this religious rite of worship and purification, and it is inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage as Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage.
We will take the path from a forest of oak trees to Kumano Jinja Shrine. The journey is about 2 – 2.5 hours and you will enjoy a panoramic view of Hatenashi mountain range and paddies fields.
Walking distance: 4.5km / 2.8 miles
Elevation gain: 370m / 1,200 feet of ascent
After the visit to Kumano Jinja Shrine, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the onsen. Your dinner will be served at the hotel.
Today, you will venture into Kumano Hongu Taisha, which is the heart of the region and the pilgrimage network were built around it. The walk will take about 2 – 2.5 hours.
Walking distance: 7km / 4 miles
Elevation gain: 120m / 395 feet of ascent and 360m / 1,180 feet of descent
After the visit to the Hongu Taisha and lunch, you may opt for a paper-making workshop or visit the Nakahechi Art Museum, which is a modern glass structure along the pilgrimage route.
Return to your hotel and rest of the day. Your dinner will be served in the hotel.
Check out your hotel and we will take a walk to Kumano Nachi Taisha after breakfast. Nachi Taisha is famous for its beautiful surroundings, and it is usually known as the icon of Kumano Kodo.
The journey to Nachi Taisha is about 1 to 1.5 hours trek inside an ancient path, and you will spend some time visiting the temples and waterfall.
After lunch, you will be transferred 3.5 hours to Shima. En route, you may visit Hayatama Taisha if time permits.
After breakfast, visit a nearby Amako village (Woman Diver) and learn about their lifestyle. They may demonstrate their aquatic skills and harvest something from the sea. At the end of the visit, you will enjoy the fresh seafood lunch together with the Ama.
Return to your resort in the afternoon and relax.
After breakfast, transfer 2.5 hours to Nagoya airport for your flight back to your home.
