Kumano Kodo Hongu Loop and Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine
Joined 2019
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.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At JR Kii-Tanabe station (or at your hotel in Osaka, JR Osaka station, JR Tennoji station or JR Wakayama Station, ask for details)
JR Kii-Tanabe Station
I will meet you at JR Kii-Tanabe station ( I can meet you at your hotel in Osaka, JR Tennoji station, JR Osaka station or JR Wakayama station early in the morning. Ask for detail).
Kumano is a sacred site for both Japanese indigenous religion Shintoism and Buddhism. Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes connect ancient capital Kyoto and Kumano. People make a pilgrimage to Kumano from all over Japan. In this tour, we will walk on Kumano Kodo to make a pilgrimage to Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine from Hossinmon Oji.
Why is Kumano so sacred? Why Kumano is a sacred site for two different religions? How had it become so? I will answer to these interesting questions on the spot.
Hossin-mon Oji on Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route
Hossinmon Oji marks the entrance to the most sacred area of Kumano.
Pilgrims who walked through Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route renewed their spirit here and continued their pilgrimage to Kumano. We also walk on the pilgrimage route for 4 km from here to Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine.
On the way, you will be able to have a distant view of the former site of Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine from Fushiogami Oji.
Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine
After following the same route as the ancient pilgrims, we will arrive at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine which is one of the Three Shrines In Kumano (Kumano Sanzan). It was once simply called the Deity of Kumano. It is said that it enshrines the spirit of the sun, water, or trees. Legend has it that it was founded 2,000 years ago, and it had been strongly influenced by Buddhism after the 7th century.
Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine former site Oyunohara
Kumano Hongu Taisha was on the sandbank of a river until the shrine was washed out by a flood in 1889. After the flood, the survived four shrines buildings were relocated to the current location. Remaining here are the foundation of the shrine buildings which has a dignified atmosphere. Also, standing at the entrance to this place is the highest torii gate in Japan.
Ending Point
At the starting ponit
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guiding fee
Insurance
Bus ride 5,000JPY round trip plus the same amount for guide
Food and drinks
Tour Important Information
As we will walk for about three hours, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tours are NOT covered by insurance. Make sure to be covered by your own insurance.
Transportation fare, entrance fees and lunch are NOT included in the guide fee.
Direct payment will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
Bus ride Kii-Tanabe-Kumano (round trip) 5,000JPY per person plus same amount for guide.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2019
About Tour Guide 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.
Reviews
Stephanie W.
“Tour of Nara”
Hiro was a wonderful guide, very friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable. Thank you for our day in Nara !
Hiroyuki T.
Stephany san, Thank you very much for your kind message. It is very good to know that you liked the tour. It was fun to feed deer there, wasn't it? Hiro
Tien N.
“An excellent excursion with Hiroyuki san”
Many thanks to Hiroyuki San for a very informative excursion with a delicious Zen vegetarian meals for lunch. My family was raving about the tour and I was so glad of my decision to book this Kyoto tour with Hiroyuki San .
Hiroyuki T.
Tien san, It was really nice to meet you and the group in Kyoto. I am glad to know you liked the tour. It was also nice that you liked the Zen Tofu Lunch. It was delicious, wasn't it? Thank you Tien san and the group.
Melinda A.
“Hiroyuki is the Zen master of tours”
We had so much fun with Hiroyuki. He was flexible and made sure we didn't see anything we already saw. But more importantly, he made the temples and shrines so much more than what we would have experienced if we toured them by ourselves. He taught us the complex history, politics, and social practices involved with everything we saw. I'm very curious and had many specific questions. He knows so much that he was able to answer and explain everything in detail and in such a way that we were able to understand the development of Japan and how it relates to the temples and shrines we saw. Thanks Hiroyuki! You made our visit so meaningful, educational, and fun!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. I am glad to know that you liked the Zen tour. Our sense of beauty in Japan is based on Zen, now you all understand it. If you have a chance to come back to Japan, I will show you more.
$420/ per group
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