1 0 Days. 9 Nights. Destinations KUMANO KODO PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE

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1 Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Experience - Samurai Tours 1 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Experience - Samurai Tours KUMANO KODO PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE 1 0 Days 9 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Takijiri Oji, Takahara, Chikatsuyu,

2 Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Experience - Samurai Tours KUMANO KODO PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE 1 0 Days 9 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Takijiri Oji, Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Tsugizakura, Hosshinmon Oji, Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen, Hyakkengura, Koguchi, Kii-Katsuura Onsen, Nachi Taisha, Nachi Waterfall, Shingu 2 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

3 Tour Overview Kumano has long been considered the heart and soul of Japanese spirituality, and has been blessed with a rich and cultural and natural heritage, friendly locals, soothing hot springs and delicious cuisine. It is the perfect destination for those people searching for an active, off-the-beaten-path, culturally immersive Japanese experience. For more than 1000 years people from all levels of society have made the pilgrimage along the Kumano Kodo. The walk itself was an integral part of the pilgrimage process as they undertook rigorous religious rites of worship and purification along the way. The goal of the pilgrimage was simple: to visit and pay respects at the Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and the Nachi Taisha, also known as the Kumano Sanzan. As the origins of the Kumano Pilgrimage were a combination of Buddhism, Shinto, Shinto mythology and nature worship, the reasons for performing the pilgrimage were very complex. The foundations of the pilgrimage were established 1,000 years ago when retired emperors and aristocrats from Kyoto s Imperial Court started making the 600 mile (800 kilometer) journey in large numbers. Today, walking the ancient Kumano Kodo is an excellent way to experience the unique cultural landscape of Kumano s spiritual countryside. We will follow in the footsteps of those ancient pilgrims from Kyoto as we trace the history and heritage of the Kumano pilgrimage. Join us as we trek for 5 days (38.2 miles/61.8 km) along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage Trail through beautiful forests, rural villages, past ancient sites of religious worship and rituals and enjoy some of the best hospitality and food from the small minshuku and ryokan along the Nakahechi, as well as some of Japan s best onsens. What This Tour Is and Is Not This tour is a trekking tour. The tour will start at the Takijiri Oji and finish at the Nachi Taisha along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage route through the center of the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama Prefecture. This will be done in 5 days of walking ranging from about 2 1/2 miles (4 km) to 11 miles (16 km). There are numerous mountain passes, but none of them are very high (they are all less than 3,000 feet or 1000 meters). Please Note: Your main luggage will be sent ahead each day allowing you to walk with only what you will need for that day s walk. Because this tour uses smaller minshuku and ryokan, some of the accommodations do not have attached, en-suite bathroom facilities. Here is a breakdown of the number of nights with private and shared bathroom facilities: 4 nights Private attached bath and toilet 3 nights Private attached toilet and shared bath 2 nights Shared bath and toilet 3 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

4 Tour Rating: Tour Factors Cultural Immersion Low High Pace Low High Physical Activity Low High 4 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

5 Tour Highlights Kyoto Takijiri Oji Takahara Takahara Jinja Chikatsuyu Chikatsuyu Oji Tsugizakura Tsugizakura Oji Nonaka-no-Shimizu Hosshinmon Oji Hongu Taisha Oyunohara Yunomine Onsen Hyakkengura Koguchi Kii-Katsuura Onsen Nachi Taisha Nachi Waterfall Shingu Kamikura Shrine Hayatama Taisha 5 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

6 Tour Itinerary D A Y 1 Meet and overnight in Kyoto You will travel on your own to Kyoto, where you will be staying overnight. No meals included. Travel: TBD; Walking: TBD D A Y 2 Travel to Takijiri Oji, Walk to Takahara Before breakfast, you will need to prepare what you will need to walk from Takajiri to Takahara in a day pack. (This is only about a 2 to 3 hour walk.) You will take everything with you when you leave Kyoto. Your main luggage will be picked up in Takajiri and taken to Takahara. You will walk from Takajiri to Takahara with your day pack only. You will start the day with a Welcome/Orientation meeting. The group will meet in the morning in the lobby of the hotel to begin our journey tracing the footsteps of pilgrims from Kyoto 1,000 years ago. We will be taking more modern and safer modes of transportation to Takijiri Oji, where we will begin our walk along the Nakahechi Pilgrimage Trail. There were numerous Oji along the route between Kyoto and Hongu Taisha, and Takijiri Oji was one of the five most important of these Oji. These Oji were subsidiary shrines of the Kumano Sanzan (Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha, and Nachi Taisha), and were sites of religious rituals and also rest stops along the pilgrimage route. We will be staying overnight in Takahara. Located on a high ridge, Takahara is also known as Kiri no sato, or the village of fog. As Takahara and the surrounding mountains are often shrouded in fog, it is easy to understand how it received that name. Breakfast at the hotel and kaiseki style dinner at the minshuku are included. Total Elevation Gain: 1,300 feet (400 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 300 feet (100 meters) Net Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet (300 meters) Total Distance: 2 1/4 miles (3.7 kilometers) Travel: 4 Hours; Walking: Medium D A Y 3 Walk to Tsugizakura Today we will be walking to Tsugizakura. Before leaving for the day you need to prepare what you need for the day in your day pack. Your suitcase will be moved to Tsugizakura. The day will begin with a long, steady climb to the location of the Uwadawaja Chaya (tea house). At one time, there were numerous chaya (tea houses) along the Nakahechi. These tea houses served as rest stops, restaurants and inns for pilgrims. We will continue on towards Chikatsuyu village, passing a number of Oji along the way as well as the Gyuubadouji statue. This statue shows a young boy riding on the back of a horse and a cow. It is thought this statue depicts Kazan as a boy (Kazan was a retired emperor who made the pilgrimage many times during the Heian Period in the 11th and 12th centuries). Just before the village, we will cross the Hiki River. It is said that pilgrims would stop here to perform misogi (Shinto water purification ritual). From the village, it is an easy climb on paved roads to Tsugizakura, another small village along the Nakahechi where we will be spending the night. Here we will find the Tsugizakura Oji. On the Oji grounds we will find many huge cedar trees that are thought to be 800 years old. The branches of these cedar all point south toward Nachi Waterfall and the southern Pure Land paradise. Breakfast and kaiseki-style dinner at the minshukus. 6 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

7 Total Elevation Gain: 1,650 feet (500 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 1,300 feet (400 meters) Net Elevation Gain: 350 feet (100 meters) Total Distance: 8 1/4 miles (13.2 kilomters) Travel: TBD; Walking: Heavy D A Y 4 Bus to Kobiro, Walk to Hongu Taisha, Bus to Yunomine Onsen Before leaving for the day you need to prepare what you need for the day in your day pack. Your suitcase will be moved to Yunomine Onsen. Today will be the longest walk of the entire trek, but most of the trail is downhill. We will take a bus to the Kobiro bus stop in order to shorten the walk for the day and bypass a long paved section of the Nakahechi trail. There are several up and down sections before arriving at the Iwagami Oji, the highest point of the day. From here it is generally downhill to the Hosshinmon Oji. Reaching this Oji was an important milestone during the pilgrimage. Hosshinmon Oji was the gateway to the sacred area surrounding Hongu Taisha. From here, the trail is a pleasant mix of forest and village to the Hongu Taisha, the main goal of the Kumano Kodo pilgrims. We will take a bus to Yunomine Onsen where we will be staying for the night. Breakfast and dinner at the minshukus. Total Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet (700 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) Net Elevation Loss: 1,000 feet (300 meters) Total Distance: 10 3/4 miles (17.4 kilometers) Travel: 1/2 Hours; Walking: Heavy D A Y 5 Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara, Yunomine Onsen Today will be a day to rest. We will take a bus back to Hongu Taisha, where we will tour the shrine grounds. We will also visit Oyunohara, the former location of the Hongu Taisha. It was moved to its present location after the shrine was destroyed in a major flood in We will also stop at the Kumano Hongu Heritage Center where we can learn more about the pilgrimage before returning to Yunomine Onsen by bus (Or if you would prefer, you can walk the short but steep 2 1/4 km trail to Yunomine Onsen.). There you can bathe in the Tsuboyu Onsen. This bath is more than 1,000 years old, and many pilgrims would purify themselves in this bath before visiting Hongu Taisha, and it is the only bath registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Breakfast and kaiseki-style dinner at the minshukus. Travel: 1/2 Hours; Walking: Light D A Y 6 Bus to Ukegawa, Walk to Koguchi, Overnight in Koguchi Before leaving for the day you need to prepare what you need for the day in your day pack. Your suitcase will be moved to Koguchi. We will take a short bus ride to the Ukegawa bus stop where we will begin today s walk. We will begin with a long and steady climb to the Hyakken-gura, the highest point of today s walk. From here, you will get a panoramic view of the rolling mountains of the Kumano area. There a number of short up and down sections before a 7 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

8 steep descent into the small town of Koguchi. Breakfast and kaiseki-style dinner at the minshukus. Total Elevation Gain: 1,975 feet (600 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 1,900 feet (575 meters) Net Elevation Gain: 75 feet (25 meters) Total Distance: 8 miles (13 kilometers) Travel: 15 Hours; Walking: Heavy D A Y 7 Walk to Nachi Taisha, Bus to Kii-Katsuura, Overnight at Kii-Katsuura Onsen Before leaving for the day you need to prepare what you need for the day in your day pack. Your suitcase will be moved to Kii-Katsuura. The walk today may not be the longest, but it is the most difficult day of the trek. We will begin the morning with a long, steep climb. For hundreds of years, pilgrims have labored up this seemingly endless slope to the Echizen Pass (At 2,850 feet (870 meters) above sea level, it was the highest point along the Nakahechi.). In the year 1201, the poet Fujiwara Teika wrote in his pilgrim diary This route is very rough and difficult. It is impossible to describe precisely how tough it is. This pass is immediately followed by another 2,700 foot pass (825 meters), followed by several more up and down sections, before finally beginning our long descent to Nachi Taisha. Along this descent, we will get numerous views of the Pacific Ocean. We will take a bus to the Kii-Katsuura station and walk to the boat dock where we will take a short boat ride to our onsen where we will be staying for the night. We will pick up our luggage, and you can soothe your tired muscles in the unique baths in seaside caves. Breakfast at the minshuku and buffet dinner at the ryokan are included. Total Elevation Gain: 3,800 Feet (1,150 meters) Total Elevation Loss: 2,950 Feet (900 meters) Net Elevation Gain: 850 Feet (250 meters) Total Distance: 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) Travel: 1/2 Hours; Walking: Heavy D A Y 8 Bus to Nachi, Daimonzaka, Nachi Taisha and Waterfall Before leaving for the day you will need to prepare your luggage for transfer to Kyoto. You will need to pack an overnight bag for 2 days and 1 night. After breakfast, we will take a bus to the base of the Diamonzaka, a 2 km (1 mile) cobblestoned staircase. The Daimonzaka winds its way through huge cedar trees that are 800 years old from the valley bottom to the Nachi Taisha Shrine. The Nachi Taisha Shrine is perhaps the most dramatic shrine in Japan. It is located high on a hillside, with impressive views of the 133 meter (about 435 feet) tall Nachi-no-Otaki waterfall, Japan s tallest waterfall. This waterfall was the original religious focus of the area, and was venerated by the earliest Japanese people. Even today, it is hard not to be impressed by the power and the beauty of the falls. We will return to our ryokan at the Kii-Katsuura onsen where you can once again rest in the seaside baths. Buffet breakfast and dinner at the ryokan. Travel: 1 Hours; Walking: Light 8 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

9 D A Y 9 Bus to Shingu, Kamikura Shrine and Hayatama Taisha, Return to Kyoto We will start the day by taking a bus or train to the nearby city of Shingu, where the Hayatama Taisha is located to complete our visit to the Kumano Sanzan. While the shrine s current buildings are relatively new, the shrine has been located at its current location since at least the 12th century. Excavations in the area have unearthed religious artifacts from the 3rd century, indicating the area has been a site of worship even longer. The 800-year old tree located on the grounds highlights the area s tradition of nature worship. We will also visit the nearby Gotobiki-iwa, a gigantic rock located halfway up the slope of Gongen Mountain. Kamikura Jinja, a small shrine located at the base of this monolith is a truly unique experience. It is said that the gods descended to earth by stepping on this large stone. After finishing our tour of Shingu, we will travel by express train to Kyoto where we will check into our hotel, pick up your main luggage and enjoy our Sayonara dinner. Buffet breakfast at the ryokan and dinner at a local restaurant. Travel: 5-1/2 Hours; Walking: Light DAY 10 Sayonara It is time to say Sayonara. You will continue on your trip to Japan on your own. Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Travel: TBD; Walking: TBD 9 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

10 Inclusions Local, licensed, English-speaking, Japanese guides Travel Guard Gold Policy from Travel Guard, one of the world s largest travel insurance providers, will be provided to everyone from the United States. All others will receive a $100 per person credit and will be responsible for obtaining their own travel insurance in their own home country. (The insurance provided by Samurai Tours will cover the land portion only. Insurance to cover airfare and other additional expenses is the tour member s responsibility.) Click Here for More Coverage Information The provided insurance coverage includes: Trip Cancellation (up to trip cost) Trip Interruption (up to 150% of trip cost) Trip Delay (up to $750) Missed Connection (up to $250) Baggage and Personal Effects Loss (up to $1,500) Baggage Delay (up to $250) Medical Expense (up to $25,000) Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains (up to $250,000) Accidental Death or Dismemberment (up to $25,000) Coverage for financial default of tour operator Cancel for Work Reasons A waiver of any pre-existing medical conditions that could eventually cause you to interrupt your trip (entire trip, including airfare must be insured for pre-existing waiver to be valid. Contact travel guard for for information) Travel Insurance Surcharge: Depending on your age at the time the travel insurance is purchased, you may be subject to the following surcharge for your travel insurance. Travel insurance surcharges will be due at the same time as your tour deposits. (the surcharge itself is not insured) Up to 69 $ $ $ $ $400 Travel Insurance Opt-Out: If you would prefer to opt out of the travel insurance, please note this at the time of registration. You will receive a $100 credit per person, which will be reflected on your invoice. In the event that you would need to cancel your tour, cancellation penalties may apply. See the Terms and Conditions page for the Cancellation Fees Schedule. All transportation from Kyoto to Kyoto as described in the itinerary Accommodations each evening (Two nights in Western style Hotels, 5 nights in Japanese style Minshuku and 2 nights in Japanese style Ryokan) Breakfast every morning from Day 2 through Day 10 of the itinerary 10 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

11 Dinner from Day 2 through Day 9 of the itinerary All transportation costs when traveling with the group. (Transportation costs during scheduled free times are the tour member s responsibility.) Admission fees to the destinations and activities listed in the Tour Highlights column on the right. (Itinerary specifics subject to change) Sayonara dinner at the end of the tour Baggage Transfer Same day baggage transfer from Takajiri to Takahara Same day baggage transfer from Takahara to Tsugizakura (Nonaka) Same day baggage transfer from Tsugizakura (Nonaka) to Yunomine Onsen Same day baggage transfer from Yunomine Onsen to Koguchi Same day baggage transfer from Koguchi to Kii-Katsuura Each tour member receives an electronic copy of our tour handbook. This handbook is full of tips and suggestions taken from our Japan travel experiences that allow you to better plan and prepare for your trip, and therefore enjoy your trip even more. The tips and suggestions included cover everything from how to save while exchanging money, what to pack, some basic Japanese-language tips, general etiquette do s-and-don ts, ryokan customs, etc. Exclusions Airfare is NOT included. 11 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

12 Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and desserts are NOT included Transportation to Kyoto at the beginning of the tour Transportation from Kyoto at the end of the tour 12 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

13 2017 Dates & Prices 2017 Dates Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 10/28/ /06 $3,744 / $494 Closed 2018 Dates & Prices 2018 Dates Price (land only) / Single Supplement Status 05/13/ /22 $3,744 / $594 Available 10/28/ /06 $3,744 / $594 Available 13 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

14 Tour Map 14 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

15 Thank you for downloading this PDF version of our tour. Please visit our website at for the most current dates, prices and information. Contact Samurai Tours WEBSITE/ USA CONTACT INFO Toll-free: SAMURAI or Fax number: Samurai Tours 7900 East Union Ave, Suite 1100 Denver CO JAPAN CONTACT INFO Call us: Samurai Tours 307 Yodokizu Fushimi Kyoto Japan Kyoto-fu Chijitoroku Ryokogyo 3-576/ Japanese Travel Agency License: Kyoto Prefecture #3-576 MEMBERSHIPS/ASSOCIATIONS Better Business Bureau American Society of Travel Agents National Tour Association Japan National Tourist Organization JNTO-approved Japan Travel Specialist 15 of 15 10/2/17, 1:48 PM

7 Days. 6 Nights. Destinations KUMANO KODO HIGHLIGHTS

7 Days. 6 Nights. Destinations KUMANO KODO HIGHLIGHTS Kumano Kodo Highlights - Samurai Tours 1 of 12 11/9/17, 2:57 PM Kumano Kodo Highlights - Samurai Tours KUMANO KODO HIGHLIGHTS 7 Days 6 Nights Destinations Kyoto, Kawayu Onsen, Nakahechi Pilgrimage Route,