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undefined Itinerary
Last updated: 2024 Jun 14Morning
Begin your day with a hearty breakfast of miso soup and rice at your hotel before heading to the trailhead at Koyasan Station. Take the Nankai Koya Line train from Namba in Osaka to Hashimoto Station, then transfer to the Koya Line to Koyasan Station. From there, take the cable car to the top of Mount Koya and start your hiking adventure.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon hiking the Choishi Michi, a 7.2-kilometer trail that connects Koyasan to the Danjo Garan temple complex. The trail is well-maintained and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and forests. Along the way, you'll pass by stone markers called choishi that were used by pilgrims to track their progress. Make a stop at the famous Kongobuji temple, the head temple of Shingon Buddhism, and take in the tranquil beauty of the surrounding gardens.
Evening
Stay overnight at one of the shukubo (temple lodgings) on Mount Koya, where you can experience the unique lifestyle of Buddhist monks. Enjoy a vegetarian dinner of shojin ryori, a traditional Japanese cuisine that is entirely plant-based and made with seasonal ingredients.
Morning
Start your day with a visit to the Okunoin cemetery, one of the most sacred places in Japan. This cemetery is the final resting place of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, and is considered a place of power and healing. Take a leisurely stroll through the forested cemetery and admire the thousands of statues and lanterns that line the paths.
Afternoon
After your visit to the cemetery, continue your hike on the Koyasan Choishi Michi trail. This trail connects the Okunoin cemetery to the sacred Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The trail is relatively easy and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Along the way, you'll see stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests, as well as several small temples and shrines.
Evening
Spend the evening at one of the ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) in Kawayu Onsen, a hot spring town located at the southern end of the Koyasan Choishi Michi trail. Soak in the natural hot springs and enjoy a delicious dinner featuring local specialties like freshwater trout and wild boar.
Morning
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your ryokan before taking the bus to Yunomine Onsen, another hot spring town located on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. From there, take a short hike to the nearby Akigawa Valley, a beautiful and secluded spot that is perfect for a picnic lunch.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon hiking the Kumano Kodo trail, one of the most famous pilgrimage routes in Japan. This trail has been used for over 1,000 years by pilgrims seeking spiritual enlightenment, and it is lined with numerous temples, shrines, and other sacred sites. Take the Dainichi-goe section of the trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Morning
Start your day with a visit to the Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the three grand shrines of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. This shrine is dedicated to the deities of Kumano and is considered a place of spiritual power. Take a walk through the torii gates and admire the intricate carvings on the wooden buildings.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon hiking the Kogumotori-goe section of the Kumano Kodo trail, which offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. This trail is relatively challenging and takes about 5-6 hours to complete, but the views are well worth the effort. Along the way, you'll pass by several small temples and shrines, as well as beautiful waterfalls and streams.
Morning
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your inn before taking the bus to Nachi Station. From there, take a short hike to the Nachi Taisha, another grand shrine of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. This shrine is dedicated to the deities of Kumano and is famous for its stunning waterfall, the Nachi no Taki, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in Japan.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon hiking the Daimon-zaka section of the Kumano Kodo trail, which is lined with hundreds of cedar trees that are several hundred years old. This trail leads to the Seiganto-ji temple complex, which offers stunning views of the Nachi no Taki waterfall and the surrounding mountains and forests.
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