This is an overnight trip to Kumano from Wakayama. On the first day, we will walk Kumano Kodo Daimonzaka which is the final and most beautiful part of Kumano Kodo for two hours to visit Kumano Nachi Shrine, Nachisan Seigantoji temple and the Nachi waterfalls. We will stay at Katsuura Hot Spring Resort to enjoy natural hot springs.
On the second day, we will visit Kumano Hayatama Shrine and Kamikura shrine to explore Kumano more.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Wakayama station
- AT ticket office
Day 1 Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage; Daimonzaka,Kumano Nachi Shrine, Seigan-toji Temple, Nachi Waterfalls
We will visit Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route Daimonzaka, Kumano Nachi Shrine and Nachi Waterfalls, after a quick lunch.
Please be noted this include pilgrimage walk of uphill and downhill stairs for two hours to Kumano Nachi Shrine and the Nachi Waterfalls. This is the final and the most beautiful part of Kumano Kodo.
Kutsuura Hot Spring Resort
We will stay overnight at Kutsuura Hot Spring Resort which is one of the most famous one in Japan. My recommendation is Hotel Urashima which is very well known for its hot spring in a sea cave.
Day 2 Kumano Hayatama Shrine
We will visit Kumano Hayatama Shrine which is one of the Three Shines in Kumano and enshrines the spirit of water.
Kamikura Shrine
The deity of Kumano Hayatama shrine had been here before he moved to its present location. This shrine enshrines a huge volcanic rock and convey the ancient nature worship before it was developed into Shintoism.
Ending Point
JR Wakayama station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
guide fee
Insurance
Transportation cost for guests and guide
Accomodation for guest and guide
Lunch for guests and guide
Ask for details before you book.
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.
Also, we will have to walk on irregular stone stairs to go up to Kamikura Shrine.
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!
Joel G.
“Excellent Guide”
Hiroyuki-san was a patient and thoughtful guide to Kyoto.
Arlene N.
“Osaka Hidden Gem”
This was another memorable day tour with Hiroyuki, and my sister and I had a great time exploring different parts of Osaka. In keeping with his story-telling style, Mr Hiro shared his knowledge of the city, its architecture and its history, adding to the richness of the tour experience. My sister walks with a cane and Mr Hiro took extra care with her while we were navigating through subways and train stations, and along garden paths and old city streets. Thank you for your kindness and patience. We can’t wait to return for more tours with Hiroyuki.
Hiroyuki T.
Yes, same here! I cannot wait to see you again. See you again next year! Hiro
Chris R.
“If you're looking for a deeper, more meaningful way to experience Kyoto, this tour is it.”
To start, Hiroyuki helped us navigate the complexities of Kyoto’s public transit system and translated at ticket counters and restaurants, allowing us to use our time more efficiently and focus less on logistics and more on appreciating Kyoto’s rich culture and beauty. That alone would have made the tour worth it. But what Hiroyuki offered went far beyond that. In just one day, we learned almost as much about Japanese spirituality, culture, and religious history as we would in an introductory college course. He gave us an engaging, accessible introduction to the core philosophies of Shinto, as well as Zen Buddhism, Pureland Buddhism, and their influences from Hinduism. His explanations struck the perfect balance: clear and compelling, full of insight without ever feeling overwhelming or academic. (He even wove in humor and pop culture references that resonated with our teenagers!) Thanks to that, each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, and Zen garden we visited carried deeper meaning---we weren’t just seeing beautiful places; we were beginning to understand what they represent. Hiroyuki also went the extra mile, helping us choose restaurants based on our preferences and even adjusting the tour route to end near our evening shopping and dining plans. We left Kyoto with a deeper appreciation of it, thanks to Hiroyuki’s incredible gift for bringing Japan’s history, spirituality, and culture vividly to life.
Hiroyuki T.
Thank you very much for spending time with me in Kyoto. Kyoto is the place! It is always nice to see people from Utah. I have a lot of beautiful memories there. It is good to know that you liked the tour and I like people like you who pay a lot of respect to our cultural and religions. Thank you very much once again, hope to see you again in the future, if I live long.
$836/ per group