Nakahechi Route |
Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Route Guide | Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Nakahechi Route Guide List
Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
This full-day hike is on pavement to Kobiro-toge Pass and then on unpaved mountain trail to Hosshinmon-oji. From Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha, the trail switches between forest trail and paved road through settled areas. There are no restaurants along the way, so it is best to bring a bag lunch. The creek beside Jagata Jizo and Mikoshi-toge are common lunch stops. The 7-kilometer section from Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha is a very popular half-day walk.
 Toganoki-jaya Teahouse |
 Dokyuzenmon Jizo |
 Kumano Hongu Taisha |
Course Data
Distance: 21 km
Time: ~6 hrs 30 min
※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 to Nonaka-no-Ipposugi bus stop (~30 min walk to Tsugizakura-oji from the bus stop): Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound).The same buses as above also stop at Kumano Hongu Taisha. Buses to/from Shingu stop at Hongu Taisha-mae: Bus Timetable #3 (Northbound), Bus Timetable #4 (Southbound)
Nearest bus stop: Nonaka-no-Ipposugi (Start), Hongu Taisha-mae (Finish)
Accommodations: There is a variety of lodgings available in Hongu, Yunomine Onsen,
and Kawayu Onsen. (Buses leave from Hongu Taisha-mae to the Onsen areas)
Restrooms: Tsugizakura-oji, slightly east of Kobiro-toge, Jagata Jizo, Mikoshi-toge, Akagi-goe junction, slightly east of Hosshinmon-oji, Mizunomi-oji, Fushiogami-oji and Kumano Hongu Taisha.
Maps: Hongu area, Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen
 Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha Map 1 |
 Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha Map 2 |
Elevation Chart:
Tsugizakura-oji is on the left and Kumano Hongu Taisha is to the right.
Tsugizakura-oji to Hosshinmon-oji
The Kumano Kodo follows the old highway from Tsugizakura-oji to Kobiro-toge Pass. Here the trail enters the forest, climbing and descending a series of passes, the first being Waraji-toge Pass. The trail descends the Me-zaka (“female slope”), passes by the remains of the Nakodo-jaya (“match-maker teahouse”), and climbs the O-zaka (“male slope”) to Iwagami-oji (elevation: ~650 meters), the highest point on this section of the route. The path continues down along a stream to a statue of Jagata Jizo, who protects travelers from evil fatigue-inducing spirits, then crosses over a small bridge to the remains of the Yukawa settlement before climbing up to Mikoshi-toge Pass. A long descent brings you to the junction with the Akagi-goe trail, which heads to Yunomine Onsen. It is another 25 minutes from here to Hosshinmon-oji.
 Hidehira-zakura Cherry Tree |
 Mountain Stream |
 Mikoshi-toge Pass Sunset |
Course Data
Distance: 14 km
Time: ~4 hrs 30 min ※
Difficult rating: 3
What is difficult rating?
Access: Buses run from Kii-Tanabe and Shirahama to Nonaka-no-Ipposugi bus stop (a 30-min walk to Tsugizakura-oji from the bus stop): Bus Timetable #1 (Eastbound), Bus Timetable #2 (Westbound).
Hosshinmon-oji is the last stop on this bus route, which starts in Tanabe and goes through Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen: Bus Timetable #6.
Nearest bus stop: Nonaka-no-Ipposugi (Start), Hosshinmon-oji (Finish)
Accommodations: There are no accommodations at Hosshinmon-oji. There is a variety of lodgings available in Hongu,Yunomine Onsen, and Kawayu Onsen.
Maps: Hongu area,Hongu,Yunomine Onsen,Kawayu Onsen
Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha Map 1 |
Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha Map 2 |
Elevation Chart:
Tsugizakura-oji is on the left and Hosshinmon-oji is to the right. They are joined by a red line.
Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
This section is an excellent half-day walk on the Kumano Kodo. There are many forest trails and isolated mountaintop villages. Panoramic viewpoints can be found along the way. Hosshinmon-oji is known as the "gate of awakening of the aspiration to enlightenment" and marks the outermost entrance to Kumano Hongu Taisha's sacred precincts. The route follows a road through Hosshinmon Village from here to Mizunomi-oji. Keep a look out for the folk-art word carvings along the way. The trail enters the forest at Mizunomi-oji, the site of an old school house, and exits at the west end of the Fushiogami settlement, with its numerous tea plantations and terraced fields.
 Hosshinmon-oji |
 Craft Shop |
 Fushiogami-oji |
Fushiogami-oji is where pilgrims fell to their knees and prayed after catching their first glimpse of the Grand Shrine in the distant valley below. There is a covered rest area here where locals serve handmade snacks and coffee made with hot spring water (days in operation may change). From here the trail descends through the forest past Sangen-jaya to the austere Kumano Hongu Taisha. Halfway between Sangen-jaya and Kumano Hongu Taisha is a short side trail to a lookout point that is not to be missed!
 Sangen-jaya |
 Kumano-gawa River |
 Kumano Hongu Taisha |
Course Data
Distance: 7 km
Time: ~2 hrs ※
Difficult rating: 2
What is difficult rating?
Access: There are buses to Hosshinmon-oji from Kii-Tanabe which also run through Nakahechi, Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, and Hongu. Bus Timetable #6. See also Bus Timetable #1. Bus Timetable #11 shows all the buses that run from Hongu to Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen.
Nearest bus stop: Hosshinmon-oji (Start), Hongu Taisha-mae (Finish)
Accommodations: There are no accommodations at Hosshinmon-oji. Lodgings are available in Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, and
Kawayu Onsen.
Maps: Hongu area, Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen
Tsugizakura-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Map 2
Elevation Chart:
Hosshinmon-oji is on the left and Kumano Hongu Taisha is to the right.
They are joined by a red line.
Nakahechi Route Guide List
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
