Kumano Private Tours & Local Tour Guides
Discover Things to Do and Plan a Trip to Kumano, Japan with a Local Guide
Popular Kumano Tour Guides
Keiji H.
I have traveled to more than 40 countries. I always have spent happy time with local people. To return their favor, I have become a Kumano Kodo guide to help tourists enjoy Kodos. I am a government certified guide and have guided over 50 international clients in 6 years. I can help you with Kumano expertise, risk management, and hospitality skills I am a plum farmer and make umeboshi now. So I would tell you stories of as well as Japanese farming and food. Only local guides help you finding spots to rest in today's weather, locating a clean public restroom, and choosing the best sashimi for the season. Most importantly, you can acquire useful information without having to glance at tiny screens, not with phones but with local guides.
Hiroyuki T.
Hi! I had been working for Wakayama Prefectural Government for 38 years, mainly in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am a national certificated English guide and I have a lot of knowledge and experience in the field of cultural heritage management and international relations. I am very good at cultural heritages. And Koyasan and Kumano in Wakayama Prefecture are inscribed in the World Heritage List as parts of “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range". I was a project manager of "the Koyasan and Kumano World Heritage Inscription Project” at Wakayama Prefectural Government. I know inside and out of Koyasan, Kumano, Wakayama and other places in the Kansai area. I have a lot of experience of guiding as I was also in charge of international relations for a long time at the government. I will be able to provide interpretive guiding service for you around Koyasan, Wakayama, Osaka and other places in the Kansai area as I am a cultural heritage management and international relations professional. I am sure you will be able to get deeper understandings on Japanese culture and that your trip with me will be memorable one.
Kiyoko H.
Hello, my name is Kiyoko. I am an English guide of Kumano Kodo. I live in Kushimoto, which is the most southern tip of Honshu (main island). I got my regional guide license in 2016. Since then, I have been practicing guiding Kumano Kodo in English. You will learn about ancient pilgrimage, shrines, temples, asceticism. You will be impressed by beautiful nature. You will also feel rejuvenated after walking Kumano Kodo. I want to share my experience with you.
Yasuo H.
I was born and grew up in Wakayama prefecture. Since I was very young, I walked and run by motorcycle and car in the mountain region of Kii peninsula (Wakayama). I learned the nature of Wakayama well it’s tenderness and danger. I wish to make the only one trip for my customers. There are many natural and historical sites in Wakayama because of its unique geographical nature and the longest history in Japan. You can enjoy various type of trip as ancient road walk, spectacular landscapes of the coastlines, suspension bridges, mountains and hot springs.
Popular Kumano Private Tours
Kumano Kodo Entance Course, NYTimes Must Travel Experience
Since the Kumano Kodo was registered as a World Heritage site, people from all over the world have come. You will feel like you have time-traveled back in time and enjoy beautiful mountain paths in Japan. The walking guide includes; - Explanation of historical highlights - Q&A about Japanese culture and society that you want to know - Walk time management and crisis management (where possible) - First aid and ambulance arrangements in case of emergency - Having fun with me !
Kumano Kodo Daimon-zaka and Nachi Waterfalls - from Osaka
Kumano is an important part of the World Heritage site “the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Kumano is in Wakayama Prefecture and I worked for Wakayama Prefectural Government as a general manager of Cultural Heritage Division and I was also in charge of the World Heritage Project. I know this sacred site very well.
Daimonzaka, Nachi Taisha, Seigantoji, Nachi Waterfall
In this course, we will Walk Daimonzaka, visit Nachi Taisha, Seigantoji and Nachi Waterfall. You will learn about the history of Kumano Kodo and the ancient pilgrimage to Kumano Sanzan while walking. These spots are also great photo shooting points. You can try Tainai Kuguri, visit Pagoda by paying extra fees.
Three days tour in Kumano
This tour is visiting Kumano sanzan area including Kumano Kodo walking, Kumano river cruise, visiting scenic sites and cultural and historical sites and experience for Tuna.
New Kumano Private Tours
Kumano Kodo Takijiri Oji - Takahara Jinja
You will hear the highlights of Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and Kumano Sanzan. Then you will walk the pilgrimage route after praying at Takijiri Oji toward Takahara Jinja Shrine. It will be a good initiation for your pilgrimage walk.
Overnight trip to Kumano Kodo and Kumano Hongu Taisha
On this tour, we will visit Kumano Hongu to walk the Kumano Kodo and to pray at Kumano Hongu Taisha. On the first day, we will visit Kumano Hongu Taisha which is one of the Three Shrines in Kumano and its former site Oyunohara. We will stay overnight at a peaceful hot spring resort which is just next to a beautiful river. This hotel’s main feature is the hot spring on the river bed. On the second day, we will walk to final part of the Kumano Kodo for 3 hours to Kumano Hongu Taisha.
Mt. Koya, Kumano and Kumano Kodo Three Days
Mt. Koya is a sacred site for Buddhism which was founded in India and brought to Japan in the 6th Century. Kumano is a sacred site for Shintoism which is rooted in the nature worship in Japan. And Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes connect these sacred sites. On this tour, we will visit Mt. Koya(Danjo Garan, Honzan, Okuno-in) and Kumano (Hongu, Hayatama and Nachi Grand Shrines, and Nachi Waterfalls), and we will walk on Kumano Kodo Daimon-zaka Pilgrimage Route.
Kumano Kodo Hongu Loop and Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine
Kumano is an important part of the World Heritage site “the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Kumano is in Wakayama Prefecture and I worked for Wakayama Prefectural Government as a general manager of Cultural Heritage Division and I was also in charge of the World Heritage Project. I know this sacred site very well.
Day Trips from Kumano
Kumano Tour Reviews
Rowena S.
Kumano Kodo Daimon-zaka and Nachi Waterfalls - from Osaka
“Excellent Tour Guide”
Thank you Hiroyuki san for always taking care of our guests and for being flexible with our request. Always a smooth transaction with you.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was a sunny and warm day yesterday and it was a long trip. I hope that your client liked Kumano Kodo and Nachi Waterfall. Always, Hiro
“Pilgrims' Routes: Mt. Koya and Kumano”
Hiroyuki took my husband and I to visit several Japanese shrines and temples. We learned much from his well-organized presentations. He wrote and even illustrated the names, places and concepts related to Shinto and Buddhist traditions. He was always polite and on time, as well as flexible to meet our interests. When he learned that we could not take the normal river boat to the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine because the boats were being used in a traditional competition he arranged an alternative boat ride through a portion of the magnificent Dorokyo Gorge. He then drove us to the Hayatama Shrine; at the end of the day he brought us to the Kumano riverbank where we witnessed the end of the boat race -- its most exciting part! This was an unexpected bonus, one that attests to his many years of being a responsive, experienced guide. I also wish to acknowledge GoWithGuide for its process of selecting and listing guides. Hiroyuki was one of three GoWithGuide persons who took us around different part of Japan. All the guides were excellent.
Hiroyuki T.
It was really nice spending three days in Wakayama with you. Koyasan and Kumano are special places for me. I worked for the Koyasan -Kumano UNESCO world heritage project some 20 years ago at the government. Now, it's a great pleasure for me to share my knowledge about Koyasan and Kumano with international tourists as a professional guide. Thank you very much once again. Take care of yourself and I hope that our lines cross again sometime in the future.
Alban D.
Kumano Kodo, Aug13-14, for Alban-san's group
Customized
“Kumano Kodo with Keiji-san”
We have a great time with Keiji-san in Kumano Kodo who guided us over 2 days in this spectacular environment. He took care of all logistic, was alway on spot with timing and managed to get us to see and enjoy all major sites. Keiji-san is fundamentally a kind person and took great care of us. He highly recommend Keiji-san as a guide and will look forward to seeing again in few years for a repeat.
Keiji H.
Thank you for giving me a great opportunity to enjoy 2 days in Kumano Kodo. Even though it was extremely hot and humid, every one finished all itineraries and listened to my explanation carefully. The parents of this group did a great job leading their children kindly, and the children understood Japanese costumes and behaved in good manners at temples and shrines. While eating and resting, we talked about not only Kumano Kodo things but also French/Japanse culture things, which made me more interested in France. Alban, leader of the group, and I contacted me February of 2024 and started planning this Kumano Kodo trip(the trip was held August of 2024). Our communication via Internets was smooth and comfortable, therefore, I could suggest him walking courses and sightseeing spots, which were suitable for the group. I look forward to seeing them again, preferably, in spring/autumn, when we can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms and autumn mountain leaves.
Kumano Private Tour Guide
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