@@vyster44 it took me 2.5 hours or say less than 3 hours to Takahara. It’s a short distance but the ascent in some parts has some difficulty level. I also like taking my time walking 😅 Takahara to Chikatsuyu is a little over 9km, so I guess from Takijiri to Chikatsuyu is more than 12km. It took me around 5 hours or so from Takahara to Chikatsuyu. Some go all the way to Chikatsuyu but what also appealed to me was the chance to stay in the minshukus in the mountain settlements that’s why I spent a night in Takahara. 🙂
@@vyster44 I stayed in Hatago Masara. Though I booked my rooms in Kumano Kodo months in advance. I also met hikers during my stay and they had to look for rooms quite far from Takahara because everything was booked. But anyways, perhaps going straight to Chikatsuyu should be a good idea as well!
So glad to have stumbled across your video. I am going in a few weeks and very thankful for the details that you have shown. Super helpful to know what to expect. Thank you!!!
Here is a thought about your little bear bag. i saw a piece of artwork about a Buddhist priest who attached bells to his walking staff, so that insects would hear him to get out of the way while he was walking. This emphasizes the importance of respecting the lives of other beings.
I quite agree with this! I really love this Japanese or East Asian (?) concept of do no harm especially nature. However, the bell didn’t work for the “floating” insects, I think they still almost hit my face. 😂
Thank you for watching! Have a safe and awesome hike! The Kumano Kodo is one of my memorable adventures in Japan and I hope it’ll be an amazing experience for you as well.
Wow, it’s such a God-send that you documented this trip! I, too, am going on the same pilgrimage with some friends this November. Ive ironed out our itinerary, but in the interest of micro-planning (😅), I needed to find resource such as yours. I feel responsible for the safety of my group- this helps immensely. Im actually more scared of getting flak for not covering all the bases. Thanks again! Im watching all your videos. Im sure there will be more- I will be watching out for them. 🙏
Thank you so much! I had the same challenges when I was planning because I would be traveling and hiking alone so I wanted to know what kind of trail and mountain I was facing. It was also difficult for me to film this because I had two rainy days on the trail, and also I wanted to finish the hike as soon as possible. There aren't a lot of videos about the Kumano Kodo, but the official Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's videos are very helpful, as well as their website. Good thing you're planning this early! I hope you have already secured your rooms, November is quite peak season in Japan. 🙂
Ah, yes, the tickets and accommodations have all been booked as early as March. Autumn would be such a wonderful time to do the Kumano, but for the crowds- I don’t know if it would be a peaceful and meditative walk with all the tourists… you did well to do a solo trip- I actually enjoy planning and going on solo trips because Im only responsible for me.😌 Great job with the vlog! Me I only take pictures- I can’t (or don’t) narrate as well as you. Im on Vimeo and that’s where I post. Happy travels!
Hi I watched your kumano videos. Very nice ! Is it ok if you share the names of your accomodations in Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Hongu and Kii Katsuura? We plan to do Nakahechi trail in October.
Thank you for watching the Kumano Kodo videos! Good luck on your hike! These are the accommodations; each had their charms and I had amazing stays! Takahara - Hatago Masara Chikatsuyu - Happiness Chikatsuyu Hongu (Yunomine Onsen) - Ryokan Yunomineso Kii Katsuura - Hotel Sunrise Katsuura
Thank you! I didn’t see any leaches on the trail, just one encounter with a long, fat millipede and small crabs. 😁 I hope the weather will be better in November!
Thank you for watching! I booked all my accommodations -- except the one in Katsuura -- via the Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's Kumano Travel reservation system online. You will find all sorts of available inns and ryokans there in almost all the settlements in the different Kumano Kodo routes. I also paid through the system -- it's quite easy but it's reservation first before booking and you need to create an account. Note that many inns may be already booked, but there are many options. I also booked there my luggage shuttle service -- you can find many services there that cater to the needs while hiking the Kumano Kodo, including guides! Here is the link: www.kumano-travel.com/en Here are the places where I stayed: Takahara - Hatago MaSara Chikatsuyu - Happiness Chikatsuyu Yunomine Onsen - Ryokan Yunomineso Tanabe City - Django Hostel and also Konyamachiya Townhouse Katsuura - Hotel Sunrise Katsuura (booked via Rakuten, but the website also has accommodation options here). I hope this helps!
Hi there, Kabayan😊, am going to hike Kumano Nakahechi this 1st wk of April 2025, same as yours. I want to ask if toiletries are provided on guesthouses in Kumano. Thanks. ❤
I’m going this week and haven’t planned. Very spontaneous but the trail is calling me. Thank you for this.
Good luck and have fun! Are you doing the Nakahechi route as well?
Thank you! How long was your hike to Takahara? I’m going straight to Chikatsuya. I’m worried it is too long 🙈
@@vyster44 it took me 2.5 hours or say less than 3 hours to Takahara. It’s a short distance but the ascent in some parts has some difficulty level. I also like taking my time walking 😅 Takahara to Chikatsuyu is a little over 9km, so I guess from Takijiri to Chikatsuyu is more than 12km. It took me around 5 hours or so from Takahara to Chikatsuyu. Some go all the way to Chikatsuyu but what also appealed to me was the chance to stay in the minshukus in the mountain settlements that’s why I spent a night in Takahara. 🙂
I wanted to do the same but then I couldn’t find last minute rooms in Takahara 😔
Where did you stay
@@vyster44 I stayed in Hatago Masara. Though I booked my rooms in Kumano Kodo months in advance. I also met hikers during my stay and they had to look for rooms quite far from Takahara because everything was booked. But anyways, perhaps going straight to Chikatsuyu should be a good idea as well!
So glad to have stumbled across your video. I am going in a few weeks and very thankful for the details that you have shown. Super helpful to know what to expect. Thank you!!!
Here is a thought about your little bear bag. i saw a piece of artwork about a Buddhist priest who attached bells to his walking staff, so that insects would hear him to get out of the way while he was walking. This emphasizes the importance of respecting the lives of other beings.
only at the second stamp, but has shaking your little bell become a signal of accomplishment? i can dig it!
I quite agree with this! I really love this Japanese or East Asian (?) concept of do no harm especially nature. However, the bell didn’t work for the “floating” insects, I think they still almost hit my face. 😂
A wonderful adventure！
It was and it was a great one! We are looking forward to more hiking in Japan, its nature is amazing.
interesting vlog and places nice shots grabe...
Thank you! 🙏 😊
Thanks for sharing your journey. I'm hoping to do it this autumn, so your video is very helpful.
Thank you for watching! Have a safe and awesome hike! The Kumano Kodo is one of my memorable adventures in Japan and I hope it’ll be an amazing experience for you as well.
Awesome video! great job🩷
Thank you! Cheers!
Nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
Wow, it’s such a God-send that you documented this trip! I, too, am going on the same pilgrimage with some friends this November. Ive ironed out our itinerary, but in the interest of micro-planning (😅), I needed to find resource such as yours. I feel responsible for the safety of my group- this helps immensely. Im actually more scared of getting flak for not covering all the bases. Thanks again! Im watching all your videos. Im sure there will be more- I will be watching out for them. 🙏
Thank you so much! I had the same challenges when I was planning because I would be traveling and hiking alone so I wanted to know what kind of trail and mountain I was facing. It was also difficult for me to film this because I had two rainy days on the trail, and also I wanted to finish the hike as soon as possible. There aren't a lot of videos about the Kumano Kodo, but the official Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's videos are very helpful, as well as their website. Good thing you're planning this early! I hope you have already secured your rooms, November is quite peak season in Japan. 🙂
Ah, yes, the tickets and accommodations have all been booked as early as March. Autumn would be such a wonderful time to do the Kumano, but for the crowds- I don’t know if it would be a peaceful and meditative walk with all the tourists… you did well to do a solo trip- I actually enjoy planning and going on solo trips because Im only responsible for
me.😌 Great job with the vlog! Me I only take pictures- I can’t (or don’t) narrate as well as you. Im on Vimeo and that’s where I post. Happy travels!
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thank you, keep on watching!
👏👏👏👏
❤❤❤
Hi I watched your kumano videos. Very nice !
Is it ok if you share the names of your accomodations in Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Hongu and Kii Katsuura?
We plan to do Nakahechi trail in October.
Thank you for watching the Kumano Kodo videos! Good luck on your hike! These are the accommodations; each had their charms and I had amazing stays!
Takahara - Hatago Masara
Chikatsuyu - Happiness Chikatsuyu
Hongu (Yunomine Onsen) - Ryokan Yunomineso
Kii Katsuura - Hotel Sunrise Katsuura
😊
I am doing the same in November, great video to have a rough expectation. Any leeches spotted?
Thank you! I didn’t see any leaches on the trail, just one encounter with a long, fat millipede and small crabs. 😁 I hope the weather will be better in November!
Wonderful series...extremely helpful. I am going in mid October. Can you pls send me the link of guesthouses you stayed at?
Thank you for watching! I booked all my accommodations -- except the one in Katsuura -- via the Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's Kumano Travel reservation system online. You will find all sorts of available inns and ryokans there in almost all the settlements in the different Kumano Kodo routes. I also paid through the system -- it's quite easy but it's reservation first before booking and you need to create an account. Note that many inns may be already booked, but there are many options. I also booked there my luggage shuttle service -- you can find many services there that cater to the needs while hiking the Kumano Kodo, including guides! Here is the link: www.kumano-travel.com/en
Here are the places where I stayed:
Takahara - Hatago MaSara
Chikatsuyu - Happiness Chikatsuyu
Yunomine Onsen - Ryokan Yunomineso
Tanabe City - Django Hostel and also Konyamachiya Townhouse
Katsuura - Hotel Sunrise Katsuura (booked via Rakuten, but the website also has accommodation options here).
I hope this helps!
@@travjournal thank you so much for such a prompt and detailed reply! Super helpful information. Thanks again .
What time of year did you go? What was the weather like?
It was early April and half the time it was raining. It was still a fun and interesting hike! Wrapped up the Kumano Kodo with a perfectly fine day.
What month was your hike? Thanks😊
Hi! I hiked in April. :-)
Hi there, Kabayan😊, am going to hike Kumano Nakahechi this 1st wk of April 2025, same as yours. I want to ask if toiletries are provided on guesthouses in Kumano. Thanks. ❤
When did you start your hike pls?
I started the hike early April this year. 🙂