- Explore deep Nara and Kumano,
Wakayama by private vehicle - Mt.Koya/Nara/Kumano, Wakayama
- Price
- from JPY 260,000
- Period
- 5nights 6days
- Date
- March to November
Highlights
- Private vehicle for whole the trip with English speaking driver.
- Spend the Night at a Traditional Koyasan Temple.
- Explore spiritual Kumano region and enjoy hiking through pilgrimage trail of exquisity natural beauty and historical significance - a World Heritage Site.
- Visiting the deepest part of Nara and Wakayama including Totsukawa and Kumano where old landscapes of Japan still remain.
Cherry blossom season: Beginning to mid of April
Fresh greenery season: May to July
Autumn leaves season: November
**Season may shift depending on the weather patterns in particular year and global climate change.
Spend the Night at a Traditional Koyasan Temple
A temple stay at Koyasan sacred grounds (and World Heritage site) is one of the most special experiences you can have in Japan. Temple lodgings offer an excellent chance to get a taste of the simple, traditional lifestyle of Japanese Buddhist monks. Rise early in the morning by joining the resident monks for a prayer ceremony, a ritual commonplace for esoteric schools of buddhism Koyasan belongs to, or a quiet walk to Okuno-in cemetery after traditional breakfast.
Explore spiritual Kumano region and enjoy hiking through pilgrimage trail from Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Kumano region, located around the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, is far from big noisy cities, and has been a sacred area since ancient times. Three most revered shrines of Kumano, Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha, collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan, are registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004 as "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. Make a pilgrimage to all these three shrines, hiking some the most ancient and picture pilgrimage trails.
Visiting the deepest part of Nara and Wakayama including Totsukawa and Kumano where old landscapes of Japan still remain
The deepest part of Nara and Wakayama is surrounded by steep mountains, and the river carves a deep path along the valley. The only public transportation available is local buses, making it a very difficult area to explore on your own. Totsukawa Village, one of Nara Prefecture's most scenic spots, is famous for its spectacular Tanise suspension bridge rising 54 meters over the Totsukawa River. Dorokyo Gorge and Kitayama river is a magnificent stretch of natural landscape that is part of the vast Yoshino-Kumano National Park, straddling the border between Nara, Mie, and Wakayama Prefectures. Powerful erosion throughout the centuries has sculpted this otherworldly natural corridor into the place of natural beauty it is today. This region is the home of traditional rafting men and you can try thrilling experience of traditional log rafting of Kitayama river from July to September.
Itinerary
| City | Summary | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka or Kyoto Mt.Koya | Meet with English speaking driver at JR Shin-Osaka shinkansen station at 10:00. You will head to Mt.Koya by private vehicle. Arrive at Mt.Koya, sacred site for the esoteric Shingon school of Buddhism, located at the summit of a forested mountain. Explore a few sites on your own before check-in, such as Konpon Daito Pagoda or Okuno-in. Next experience your temple stay called “shukubo” (temple lodge). It is a great way to get to know the lifestyle of Japanese buddhist monks - from traditional temple meals called shojin-ryori (served to you by monks) to Buddhist practices open to visitors early in the morning. *At the mountain temple please do not expect any 'hotel service' - service is very basic. Overnight in Mt.Koya: Akamatsuin shukubo or similar | Meals included : Dinner |
| 2 | Mt.Koya Totsukawa village |
After breakfast and (time permitting) morning walk, the driver takes everyone to Totsukawa village, the deepest part of Nara sounded by steep mountains and gorges. En route visit Seno waterfalls with clear blue water basin, cross a spectacular suspension bridge of Tanise rising 54 meters over the Totsukawa River as well as sacred mountain shrine located at the spiritual Mt. Tamaoki. The shrine grounds are home to a cluster of giant cedar trees designated as natural monuments, including a 3,000-year-old Jindai cedar. You will stay at traditional inn in Totsukawa Hot Spring. Relax in a 100% natural hot spring and enjoy traditional local cuisine that uses lots of freshly harvested wild vegetables and river products. Overnight in Totsukawa village: Totsukawa Onsen Subaru or similar | Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 3 | Totsukawa village Kumano Kodo hike Iruka Onsen |
After breakfast, visiting beautiful remote village of Hatenashi. This village is listed on the best 100 villages in Japan and also called ”Village near the sky” as it is located in the top of the hill. Then you will enter Wakayama prefecture and head to Hosshinmon-oji, which is known as the “gate of awakening of the aspiration to enlightenment” and marks the outermost entrance to sacred precincts of Kumano Hongu Grand Shrine. From here you will enjoy self-guided hike along Kumano Kodo called Nakahechi pilgrimage trail to Kumano Hongu Taisha. Its popular and relatively easy trail takes around 3 hours. Your driver will be waiting at Kumano Hongu Taisha. After visiting to a shrine of Hongu Taisha, you will head to Iruka Hot Spring remote village in the mountains.
Overnight in Iruka Onsen: Seiryuso or similar | Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 4 | Iruka Onsen Dorokyo Gorge |
In the morning, enjoy scenic boat cruise of Dorokyo Gorge located at the conjunction point of three prefectures of Kii peninsula, Wakayama, Nara and Mie. From July to September, you will be able to join traditional log rafting of Kitayama river instead of Dorokyo boat cruise. This white-water rafting is led by the local men called “Ikada-shi” in Japanese – they will guide you through rough waters (**Extra cost JPY7,000 per/person). In the afternoon visit Maruyama rice terrace field.
Overnight in Iruka Onsen: Seiryuso or shimilar | Meal included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 5 | Iruka Onsen Shingu Nachi Kushimoto |
You will head to Shingu city and visit Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the grand shrines of three Kumano Sanzan. Also visit a picturesque and deeply revered Kamikura Shrine, which is related to the Hayatama Taisha and can be found on top of a hill of 538 stone steps. This shrine is thought to be the first place where the Kumano deities descended to earth. Then continue to Kumano Nachi Waterfall shrine, the brilliant orange and white shrine dedicated to the 12 deities of Kumano and the deity of Nachi Falls. Finally arrive in Kushimoto.
Overnight in Kushimoto : Daiwa Royal hotel or similar | Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner |
| 6 | Kushimoto Osaka |
You will head back to Osaka and tour will end at Kansai airport or JR Shin-Osaka station in the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast |
Price
| Departure | Price per person |
|---|---|
| March to November 5nights 6days |
from JPY390,000 2 participants from JPY320,000 3 participants from JPY280,000 4-5 participants from JPY260,000 6-8 participants Single room supplement：JPY35,000 |
**The above rates are in Japanese Yen and can be paid either by credit card or bank transfer.
**Price will vary depending on the actual travel dates, hotels to be used. Please contact us for an actual quote.
Above mentioned prices are inclusive of :
5 Nights of Accommodation | English Speaking Driver| Private Vehicle mentioned in itinerary | Boat cruise fee of Dorokyo george | Meals (5 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 5 dinners)Above mentioned prices are exclusive of :
Transportation to/from Japan | Travel & Medical Insurance | Meals not included in the itinerary | Any entrance fee | Optional Traditional log rafting of Kitayama river JPY 7,000 per/person | Personal Expenses (Souvenirs and Beverages, etc.)About Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation in this region mostly provide only Japanese-style room with futon bedding. Some hotels have only shared bathroom and shared hot spring facilities. Breakfast and dinner only Japanese meals will be served (western style meal is not available in remote areas of this region).About Sightseeing
All the visits are self-guided and entrance fee is not included. Please pay on spot by yourself.
Contact us about this tour
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda, jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607
