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Kumano Kodo Hongu Loop and Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine
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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, Kyoto, Osaka and other places as I was 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.
If you need a good guide in the Tokyo area, I have a friend on GoWithGuide I can recommend you!
Reviews
Planet V.
“Great experience”
Hiro was a great guide for our group. He is very knowledgeable about Mt. Koya, he shared many interesting details and information and answered all of our questions. His English is also very good. During the booking process he was also very accommodating and helpful. Overall, it was a great experience!
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Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for your kind message. It was really nice meeting you and your group. It was a little hustle but I hope that you enjoy the Koyasan tour. I also hope that you enjoy Nara, Kyoto and other places in Japan. I will be looking forward to seeing you again in April. Hiro
Joann T.
“A great tour of Osaka”
For this tour, we visited Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle, and Shitennoji temple as per my request. Hiroyuki-san speaks very good English and ran the tour in a professional and friendly manner. He knows his way around Osaka well and is able to navigate the city subway system and streets very efficiently. He was articulate and knowledgeable, giving good background and historical explanations for all of the locations we visited. He also pointed out the best places to take photos and found several good options for lunch. I appreciated him adapting the tour to accommodate for my sore knee that day. There was a lot of walking, but the tour kept a comfortable pace. It was an enjoyable day. Osaka is a big city where you could easily get lost, so I highly recommend a tour like this. Thank-you Hiroyuki-san!
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for kind message. I hope that you liked both Wakayama tour and Osaka tour. I am sorry that I made you walk a lot. Are your knees good now? I also hope that you keep in touch with your relatives in Japan. Hiro
Joann T.
“This was a unique and very memorable tour.”
This tour was just amazing and I highly recommend Hiroyuki-san as a guide. Based on what information I had, Hiroyuki-san was able to track down my relatives. He then contacted them in a tactful and professional manner to see if they were interested in meeting me. They were, so he arranged for us to meet, handling numerous back-and-forth messages between me and the relatives beforehand. On the tour day he went with me to countryside, where my relatives are located. I had the opportunity to do a cemetery visit, and then spent some time chatting with my newfound family members. Hiroyuki-san patiently served as translator as my relatives and I learned about each other. He also helped to draw out a family tree for me. It was a very pleasant meeting. I never thought I would have the opportunity to meet any of my relatives in Japan, so it was an incredible experience that I will remember forever. Thank you so much, Hiroyuki-san!
Hiroyuki T.
You were happy. The T family was happy. I-san was happy. Obasan was happy. Your ancestors at the graves were happy Everybody was happy. I did a good job, I am happy!
$382/ per group
More tours by Hiroyuki T.
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Zen temples with beautiful gardens, Fushimi Inari and Bamboo Forest
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One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
Mt. Koya is a very important part of the World Heritage site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountains”. Mt. Koya is in Wakayama Prefecture and I used to work 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 mountain very well.
One day tour to Mt. Koya from Osaka. Be enchanted.
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Historic Monuments of Ancient Capital of Nara - from Osaka
In Nara, eight Buddhism temples and Shintoism Shrines are included in the World Heritage as “Historic Monuments in Ancient Capital of Nara” as those represent close cultural exchanges between Japan and China, and even Hellenism culture in the 8th century. On this tour we will visit three of them in a day from Osaka.
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Other Popular Nature & Outdoor Tours in Kumano
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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 Entance Course, NYTimes Must Travel Experience
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Kumano Kodo Daimon-zaka and Nachi Waterfalls - from Wakayama
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.
Kumano Kodo Daimon-zaka and Nachi Waterfalls - from Wakayama
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