[2025 Nachikatsuura Attraction] Travel Guide for Kumano Kodo - Nakahechi Daimon-saka Pilgrim Route (Updated Mar)

. ✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼ It's a 600m long slope with a 100m difference in elevation that leads to the sacred Mount Nachi via the Kumano Kodo, one of Japan's three great ancient roads☺️ The stone steps are lined with cedar trees over 500 years old, including the 800-year-old Meoto Sugi (Couple Cedars) at the foot of the slope, and just walking up them makes you feel at peace❤️ At the tea shop halfway up the slope, you can rent costumes from the Heian period😊 It was a pretty hard slope for me, who doesn't get enough exercise, but it was worth the climb❤️I want to go again! The stone paving is uneven, so be careful where you step to avoid sprains♪ ✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼ 《Route we walked》 Daimonzaka Parking Lot → Daimonzaka → Kumano Nachi Taisha → Nachisan Seiganto-ji Temple → Nachi Falls → Even closer to the falls On the way back, we took a bus to the parking lot ✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼••┈┈••✼ A little #mountain climbing #hiking #Kumano Kodo #Daimonzaka #Kumano Kodo Nakahechi #Wakayama Tourism #Wakayama #World Heritage Site #Wakayama Trip #Date Spot #Photogenic Spot #Amazing View #Couple Trip

Kumano Kodo is one of only two world-class pilgrimage routes in the world. The entire route is about 40–70 km, with the most beautiful section being 7–8 km. Along the way, you can enjoy magnificent natural scenery, rich cultural experiences, and local customs. You can arrange a 1, 2, or 3-day hiking route according to your itinerary and needs, making it very suitable for hikers with different needs.❗️ 🔷🔷🔷My Kumano Kodo One-Day Tour Guide: 🚗Transportation: Take the Kuroshio train from Osaka for 4 hours to Kii-Katsuura Station 🏨Accommodation: Hotel Urashima, an independent island hotel, provides turtle boats or shuttle buses to Kii-Katsuura Station 📅Kumano Kodo One-Day Tour Itinerary: ⏰Morning: Daimonzaka - Nachi Taisha - Seiganto-ji Temple 🕐Afternoon: Three-Story Pagoda - Nachi Falls 🗺️Take a bus from Kii-Katsuura Station to Daimonzaka Station, then walk for 40 minutes to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area 💎Attraction Features: 📍Daimonzaka: Kumano Kodo, with huge cedar trees on both sides of the stone steps, all of which are centuries-old trees. Although the 40-minute journey is relatively difficult, it is very beautiful and worth it. 📍Nachi Taisha: It has the most beautiful scenery of the three Kumano mountains. You can see "Yatagarasu" paintings everywhere in the courtyard, and there is an 850-year-old camphor tree as a sacred tree. 📍Seiganto-ji Temple: The inspiration for the oil house in Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" comes from here. It has a symbiotic bond with Nachi Taisha and is also the first Buddhist holy place in Kansai. 📍Three-Story Pagoda: The red building and the waterfall are beautifully combined to form its unique features. It is also one of the best viewing spots for the waterfall. 📍Nachi Falls: As the source of natural beliefs, it is the highest and largest waterfall in Japan, with a drop of 133 meters. 📌Tips: 1️⃣The Kuroshio train is a reserved seat train. Book your seat online in advance. Choose the last row so you can put your luggage behind you. 2️⃣The 40-minute journey from Daimonzaka to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area is all steps and is very tiring. It is especially slippery when it rains, so you can do it according to your ability. If you can't walk, you can take a bus directly to Nachi Mountain Scenic Area. 3️⃣When I went to the Three-Story Pagoda, it was under maintenance, so I only saw a 2D picture, which was a bit regrettable. Check the temple website in advance.

#tripdomestictravel At Daimonzaka Chaya on the Kumano Kodo, you can rent Heian aristocrat costumes✨ You can choose your favorite costume from a wide selection🥰 I recommend it because you can take photos as if you're traveling to the Heian period wearing a nice costume🙌The shop staff are also very kind and gentle❤ If you're going to the Kumano Kodo, be sure to try on a Tsuboshozoku☺️💓 📍 Shop information━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Shop name: Daimonzaka ChayaAddress: 392 Nachiyama, Nachikatsuura-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama Prefecture Daimonzaka ChayaBudget: From 3,000 yen #KumanoKodo #domestictravel

In the bustling life of Osaka, I decided to take a day off and ride the limited express train to Daimonzaka to experience its natural beauty and rich culture. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, like a golden ribbon, connecting me to this journey. Upon arriving at Daimonzaka, I eagerly walked along the gentle stone steps and stone-paved path, which felt like a river of time, slowly flowing and leading me into a paradise. Surrounded by beautiful cedar trees that are hundreds of years old, their trunks tall and majestic, like guardians silently watching over every passerby. The leaves swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, as if whispering ancient stories. Along the way, I reached the Furuze Bridge, which felt like a mysterious threshold separating the divine realm from the mundane world. Standing on the bridge, overlooking the clear stream below, the flowing water sounded like the heartbeat of nature, resonating with my soul. The tranquility here made me feel a sacred atmosphere, as if time had stopped, and all worries were swallowed by the embrace of nature. Continuing forward, I witnessed the 'Meoto Sugi,' a pair of ancient cedar trees about 800 years old. These trees leaned on each other like a couple, guarding each other and telling a story of love and protection. Standing before them, I couldn't help but marvel at the resilience and beauty of life, feeling a deep respect for the power and mystery of nature. They stood as witnesses of time, quietly watching over every passing soul. During this journey, I not only admired the magnificent natural scenery but also felt a deep connection with ancient culture. Every corner was filled with a tranquil power, allowing me to find moments of peace amidst the hustle and bustle of life, as if this cedar forest was a haven for the soul. As I left Daimonzaka, my heart was filled with gratitude. This journey not only allowed me to appreciate the beautiful cedar forest with centuries-old trees and the sacred boundary but also made me rediscover the charm of nature and the wisdom of coexisting with it. I look forward to embarking on this tranquil journey again in the future, to explore more natural mysteries and reunite with this ancient land.

#japantrip Last year, i explored the kumano kodo pilgrimage route. It has been designated as a UNESCO heritage site and is fairly famous. For those unaware, basically this is a network of pilgrimage routes spread to Yoshino, Omine, Kumano Sanzan, and Koyasan. These pilgrimage routes connect not only to each other, therby giving you plenty to explore along the way. However, they also connect you to the ancient capitals of Japan, Nara, and Kyoto. And among the five different routes that it offers, the Nakahechi Route is the most popular one with travellers. For that route the starting point is Tanabe City. If coming from osaka, direct train service takes around 2-3 hours. #japantrip #pilgrimage #hike #cherryblossom2024

| I fulfilled a wish! 1-Day Hiking Strategy for Kumano Kodo!. The thousand-year-old Kumano Kodo trail is really photogenic when hiking❗ Additionally, hiking sticks are free💰😂 Just remember to return them after use!!! - I only planned this ancient trail trip 2 months in advance, from confirming the route, hotels, buying train tickets, taking the bus🚌, everything was just right! A day trip back and forth to Kumano Kodo also counts as fulfilling a little wish. The original Kumano Kodo trail is over 1000 km long, and it takes at least 7 days to complete the entire trail. However, due to time constraints and limited equipment and physical strength, I only chose a one-day highlight section to experience it! 🏨Stay Ushima Hotel Ushima Hotel The hotel has point-to-point shuttle buses or turtle boats🚢 for transfer, and you can watch the sunrise and sunset from the hotel, which is a great experience. I will write a detailed hotel guide later, so I won't go into details here. 🚌Travel (2 hours) Hotel-Nankai Bus🚌-Daimonzaka Walking🚶🏻- Kumano Nachi Taisha - Nachisan Seiganto-ji (the prototype of the three-story pagoda from Spirited Away is nearby) - Nachi Falls 🚌 Return to Kii-Katsuura The bus🚌 is the Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus (you can buy tickets at the starting point, round trip is 1200 yen, or you can choose a one-way ticket for 480 yen) 📸Photography The entire ancient trail is very photogenic, with misty air like a secret realm. Along the way, there are different shrines where you can buy amulets (decide for yourself).

Kumano Trail The gate Kumino Trail has been hailed as the pilgrimage route of Japan. Since ancient times, believers from all over the country have walked thousands of kilometers to worship, even the royal family. On the way to the sacred shrine of Kumano Nachi Taisha, you need to walk through a stone step about 3 kilometers long, which is called "the big gate" in the local area. In the middle of the ramp, there are famous scenic spots such as Mirror Stone and Couple Cedar for tourists to take pictures. I personally feel that if you have time, you can try to change the local escort service. This road will feel quite a bit.