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.
At your hotel in Osaka
I will meet you at your hotel in Osaka (I can start the tour at Kii-katsuura, ask for detail) to take the 7:40 train from Osaka to Kumano.
In this tour, we will visit the most popular Kumano Kodo Daimonzaka Pilgrimage Route Daimon-zaka, Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine, Nachi Waterfalls, Kumano Hongu Shrine and Kumano Hayatama Shrine ( and Kamikura Shrine if time allows) .
Please be noted that we will hire a TAXI after arriving at Kumano.
We will visit Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route Daimonzaka, Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine and Nachi Waterfalls, after a quick lunch.
We will visit Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine and its former site Oyunohara.
We will visit Kumano Grand Hayatama Shrine (and Kamikura Shrine if time allows).
This tour will be finished at JR Shingu station.
You can explore Kumano more or you can go back to Osaka by the 17:55 train which arrives at Osaka at 22:02pm.
At JR Shingu station
guide fee
Insurance
TAXI and JR fare
Food and beverages
I am based in Wakayama and Osaka, but I will guide you around the country upon your requests. However, I will have to ask you to bear my transportation (and accommodation cost, if necessary).
Please be NOTED that we will use a TAXI (taxis) after arriving at Kumano and that the price does NOT include TAXI FARE and JRtransportation cost for both clients and GUIDE.
TAXI FARE will be approx. JPY37,000 per car (1-4 passeangers including guide) or JPY48,000 (1-9 passengers including guide). JR transportation fare; approx JPY15,000; JPY13,200 FOR GUIDE
Tours are NOT covered by insurance. Make sure to be covered by your own insurance.
Lunch and dinner are also NOT included in the guiding fee.
Direct payment will be occurred in CASH on the spot on the day of the tour.
As this is a walking tour, comfortable shores are recommended. In this tour we will make a pilgrimage to Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine for 1.3km for 1 hour. The Daimon-zaka is a short (600m long and 267 steps) but scenic cobblestone staircase that runs from the valley bottom to the Nachisan Shrine-Temple complex. And we will walk on another 467 steps approach to Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine.
Alex V.
Had a great day with Hiroyuki bringing us around Osaka. Visiting the castle and hearing about the history of it were definitely highlights!
Thank you very much for spending time with me in Osaka today. It was very nice meeting such a nice couple like you. I hope you enjoyed Osaka Castle and Okonomiyaki today. Enjoy Osaka tomorrow and have a safe travel back home.
Gayatri roy .
Fantastic tours. Mr Hirosaki was a fantastic tour guide who is very knowledgeable. He gave us lots of historical and cultural information and was more than happy to answer questions. He was very patient and considerate and thus we enjoyed stops to look at the local produce which allowed us to warm up a bit during the cold autumn. He also offered recommendations of other things to do/ see and places to eat during the tour. He was also very accommodating and helped us get our JR passes and advised on routes even after his work our hours. Amazing person to be with
Thank you very much for such wonderful words. It was very nice meeting you and your family. I enjoy the tour myself. As I have wonderful memories in India, it's always nice to be with Indian people. I hope you have splendid time in Japan. Thank you very much for everything.
Grant G.
Hiroyuki was able to show us the markets and Osaka castle and let us know lots of info about each one! We appreciate Hiroyuki navigating the transport system, and giving us information about history and current events. Hiroyuki is easy to be around and a great guide!
It was very nice being with you in Osaka. I hope that your children liked my history lesson, or may be a little bit confusing. I also hope that your family liked food culture in Osaka. As I explained Osakan spend a lot of money on food, it is a very important part of its culture.
Grant G.
Hiroyuki was a great guide thru Kyoto and Osaka for us. We got to see and learn more than we would have if we had done it ourselves. He was able to navigate the transportation smoothly. The tour went at a great pace, never rushed nor slow. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Thank you Hiroyuki!
Thank you very much for such a kind message. It was very nice meeting with you and your family. I hope you liked Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market, Eikando and Nanzenji. It was really beautiful, wasn't it? I hope everything went well with you in Japan.