Things to do in Kumano Kodo

I had an amazing experience today! Our guide Hanazawa went out of his way to make sure everyone was well taken care of and did a fantastic job providing background and information at each location. Couldn’t have asked for a better tour!"

The price only includes transportation, it's pretty much self guided. I was the only English speaking person on the tour but the guide went out his way to ensure I understood. He was very kind and accommodating. Overall a very scenic tour, beautiful natural sights, gorgeous coastlines and the pagoda fits so well with the scenery. The waterfall is breathtakingly beautiful.

I highly recommend this trip for anyone who wants to experience the Kumano Kodo trail without getting too tired. This itinerary allows you to experience the essential routes, offering a rich blend of mountain and ocean views. The Kamesei Hotel, recommended by the travel agency, boasts incredible ocean views. I hadn't booked breakfast at the hotel, and our tour leader, Mr. Yan, even called the hotel on my behalf, which I greatly appreciate!

Although it was pouring rain when we left Osaka, to our gratitude, the weather cleared up completely and was sunny when we arrived at Awaji Island. Our driver and guide, Mr. Toshiyuki Hanazawa, is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Japanese. The entire itinerary was well-organized, allowing us to enjoy a delightful day of travel. The morning provided ample time for us to thoroughly appreciate Japanese master architect Tadao Ando's Awaji Yumebutai, where the beauty of the spatial design can only be fully appreciated by being there in person. At noon, we enjoyed a set meal of Awaji beef and fried oysters, and in the afternoon, we visited another of Ando Tadao's underwater masterpieces, the Honpuku-ji Water Temple. Finally, we savored delicious chocolate and banana pancakes at the A Happy Pancake cafe facing the Seto Inland Sea, bringing a perfect close to this journey. I sincerely recommend this off-the-beaten-path secret tour.

I had an amazing time with my guide, Kimi! Kimi was super knowledgeable and sweet during the tour, and was extremely engaging with my friend and I (we did a private tour for 2). We went to the tour knowing very little about the cultural significance aside from what we read online and finished a tour with a newfound appreciation for the Nachisan area. It is an understatement how much I enjoyed myself on this tour and I highly reccommend everyone to book this tour if they are going to see the nachi falls! Aside from the amazing guide, the tour company was also very responsive, providing email updates on who to contact and where to meet, making it very easy to find our guide on the day itself.

As soon as we boarded the bus, the drivers (two of them, indicating great attention to passenger safety) gave us a very nice pen. Our guide, Saki, was very kind to us, even taking photos for us, and she took special care of us because we were the only non-Japanese participants on the tour. The stops during the trip were well-timed, and we were offered a very generous and delicious bento box. The tour was very successful, with more than adequate visiting times, and during one of these stops, we were offered tea and mochi at a local shop. Highly recommended for a break from the chaos of Osaka and to immerse yourself in a magical world.