Nakahechi Route | Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji
Route Guide | Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji
- Takijiri-oji to Takahara
- Takahara to Gyuba-doji Guchi
- Gyuba-doji Guchi to Chikatsuyu-oji
- Chikatsuyu-oji to Tsugizakura-oji
Nakahechi Route Guide List
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji
This one-day hike begins at the Takijiri-oji shrine beside the Tonda River and follows a mountain trail passing through Takahara and Chikatsuyu village to Tsugizakura-oji. The route has some steep inclines and downhill slopes on uneven surfaces. There are paved sections in the village of Takahara and from Chikatsuyu village to Tsugizakura-oji.
This is a popular starting day for multi-day walks on the Nakahechi section of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. It is also possible to break this walk into small sections. The Gyubadoji-guchi to Chikatsuyu-oji and Chikatsuyu-oji to Tsugizakura-oji courses are common, short, easy walks. The Kodo Aruki-no-Sato Chikatsuyu facility in Nakahechi has a shuttle bus service for these sections.
There are restaurants in Kiri-no-Sato Takahara Lodge, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Michi-no-Eki Rest Stop, and in Chikatsuyu, but most walkers opt to bring a lunch with them to eat along the trail. The Kumano Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Center is located at Takijiri-oji and has some introductory exhibitions about the route.
 Takahara Village |
 Tsugizakura-oji |
 Toganoki-jaya Teahouse |
Course Data
Distance:17 km
Time: ~6 hrs
※Walking times do not include breaks and are based on the abilities of a healthy walker, without a pack, in good weather. Please plan accordingly.
Difficult rating: 4
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama. Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound).
Nearest bus stops: Takijiri (Start), Nonaka-no-Ipposugi (Finish)
Accommodations: Takahara (Kiri-no-Sato Takahara Lodge), Chikatsuyu (Minshuku Chikatsuyu), and Nonaka (Irorian Minshuku, Minshuku Nonaka Sanso). There are no lodgings at Takijiri-oji.
Restrooms: Takijiri-oji, Takahara Kiri-no-Sato rest area, Jujo-oji, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Michi-no-Eki Rest Stop, Chikatsuyu, and Tsugizakura-oji.
Maps: Chikatsuyu Village map, Nakahechi East area map
 Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 1 |
 Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 2 |
Elevation Chart:
Takijiri-oji is on the left and Tsugizakura-oji is on the right.
Takijiri-oji to Takahara
The Kumano Kodo trailhead starts from behind Takijiri-oji, which is considered to be where passage into the precincts of the sacred mountains begins. Be sure not to miss the Kumano Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Center before your walk. It is a steep climb to Takahara Village through native and planted forest. Around 15 minutes into the climb, there is a set of large boulders. Some of these form a cave called Tainai-kuguri, where you can test your faith by climbing through the crack at the far end. Another boulder, the Chichi-iwa rock, is associated with a local legend. The Takahara Kumano-jinja shrine is one of the oldest buildings along this section of the pilgrimage route and features giant camphor trees. The village of Takahara offers panoramic views of the Hatenashi mountain range.
 Takijiri-oji |
 Kumano Kodo Walkers |
 Takahara Village |
Course Data
Distance: 3.7 km
Time: ~2 hrs ※
Difficult rating: 2.5
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama. Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound). There are no buses to/from Takahara. The nearest bus stop is at Kurisugawa on Highway #311 (~30 minute walk from Takahara).
Nearest bus stop: Takijiri (Start), Kurisugawa (Finish)
Accommodations: Kiri-no-Sato Takahara Lodge
Maps:
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 1
Elevation Chart:
Takijiri-oji is on the left and Takahara is to the right. They are joined by a red line.
Takahara to Gyuba-doji Guchi
The trail from Takahara continues to climb into the mountains from the east end of the tiny settlement. About 1.5 hours into the walk one reaches the Jujo-oji clearing, a popular spot for picnic lunches. The highest part of this trail is the remains of the Uwada-jaya Teahouse (~690 meters above sea level). The trail then descends quickly past the Three-Fold Moon Viewing area to the creek by Osakamoto-oji. The pilgrimage route runs close to Highway #311, which you can cross to reach the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Michi-no-Eki rest stop. The Gyubadoji-guchi bus stop is located here.
 Takahara Kumano-jinja Shrine |
 Kumano Kodo Trail |
 Rice Harvest in Takahara |
Course Data
Distance: 8 km
Time: ~3 hrs ※
Difficult rating: 3
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama to Kurisugawa and Gyubadoji-guchi. Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound).
Nearest bus stop: Kurisugawa (Start; 30 minute walk from Takahara), Gyubadoji-guchi (Finish)
Accommodations: There are no accommodations at Gyubadoji-guchi, but lodging can be found in nearby Chikatsuyu Village (Minshuku Chikatsuyu).
Maps:
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 1 |
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 2 |
Elevation Chart:
Takahara is on the left and Gyuba-doji Guchi is to the right. They are joined by a red line.
Gyuba-doji Guchi to Chikatsuyu-oji
The trail begins across Highway #311 from Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Michi-no-Eki rest stop. It is a short climb to the Hashiori-toge Pass where the small Gyuba-doji statue is located. This statue shows Kazan, one of the first abdicated emperors to pilgrimage to Kumano, sitting on a horse and cow. The trail descends a cobblestone staircase to a viewpoint of the Chikatsuyu Village below. In the village across the Hiki-gawa River on your left is the Chikatsuyu-oji.
 Gyuba-doji Michi-no-Eki rest stop |
 Gyuba-doji Statue |
 Chikatsuyu Village |
Course Data
Distance: 1.3 kms
Time: ~30 mins ※
Difficult rating: 1
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama to Gyubadoji-guichi and Chikatsuyu. Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound).
Nearest bus stop: Gyubadoji-guchi (Start), Chikatsuyu-oji (Finish)
Accommodations: Chikatsuyu Village offers lodgings. (Minshuku Chikatsuyu)
Maps: Chikatsuyu Village map
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 2
Elevation Chart:
Gyuba-doji Guchi is on the left and Chikatsuyu-oji is to the right. They are joined by a red line.
Chikatsuyu-oji to Tsugizakura-oji
This section follows the old highway through Chikatsuyu Village along the south side of Mt. Takao, gradually climbing over 200 meters in elevation. If you need a break, to the northwest of the Chikano Elementary School is the lovely cafe Bocu, a macrobiotic restaurant. In the shrine grove of Tsugizakura-oji are the massive Nonaka-no-Ipposugi cedar trees. The shrine grove and its old-growth trees were saved from destruction by Minakata Kumagusu during the early 20th century. The Nonaka-no-Shimizu spring, one of the 100 famous waters of Japan, is located just below the shrine. The Toganoki-jaya Teahouse is located next to the sanctuary.
 Chikatsuyu-oji |
 Tsugizakura-oji |
 Nonaka-no-Shimizu Spring |
Course Data
Distance: 4 km
Time: ~1 hr 15 mins ※
Difficult rating: 1.5
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama to Chikatsuyu. Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound). There are two bus stops in the Tsugizakura-oji area: the main one is Nonaka-no-Ipposugi located on Highway #311 (a 20-minute walk), and the other is the Nonaka-no-Shimizu bus stop close to the Nonaka-no-Shimizu spring. Note: most buses run on Highway #311, so double-check bus timetables.
Nearest bus stop: Chikatsuyu-oji (Start), Nonaka-no-Ipposugi (Finish)
Accommodations: Irorian Minshuku is between Chikatsuyu and Tsugizakura-oji. Minshuku Nonaka Sanso is located next to the Nonaka-no-Ipposugi bus stop on Highway #311.
Maps: Chikatsuyu Village map, Nakahechi East area map
Takijiri-oji to Tsugizakura-oji Map 2
Elevation Chart:
Chikatsuyu-oji is on the left and Tsugizakura-oji is to the right. They are joined by a red line.
