Kumano Kodo

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.

Excellent 1 day trip to Kumano Kodo. Great way to experience from Osaka on a 13 hour trip, out of which there is 8 hours of driving from and back Osaka. No problem at all as the driving was safe and comfortable. The trip is fulfilling and well planned with sufficient time to visit but don't take your own sweet time taking photos. Yan Lei is an excellent guide and a great driver. Good communication on timing and plans. Made it back on time to Osaka despite it being the Mountain day and Obon week. Highly recommended. Good for solo, couples and family. Suitable for all with a wide coverage of languages.

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!

This Kumano Kodo day trip was a perfect experience, and I must highly recommend our guide, Yan! The guide is Chinese, so there was absolutely no language barrier throughout the entire trip. They served as both driver and guide, meticulously arranging everything, making the trip incredibly hassle-free. Before arriving at each attraction, the guide would provide detailed explanations of its history and key highlights. They thoughtfully advised us on how to best experience each site, what specific sights to focus on, and clearly communicated the duration of free time and the meeting time for our return. This meant we didn't have to worry about planning ourselves, and the pace of the trip was just right. The entire itinerary, from the service area, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Otorii, and collecting stamps at Oyu no Hara, to Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple, Hiro Shrine, Daimonzaka, and Hayatama Taisha, concluding with a visit to the Totsukawa Onsen footbath, featured detailed and easy-to-understand explanations at every stop. The guide eloquently shared the cultural stories behind the Kumano Sanzan, allowing us to grasp the profound heritage behind these World Heritage sites, even without prior research. The guide's service attitude was gentle and attentive, and their driving was smooth and safe. They never took detours or rushed the itinerary. There was no pressure throughout the trip, allowing ample time for photos, leisurely strolls, and worship. At the end, there was even plenty of time to soak our feet in the footbath to relieve travel fatigue. I was initially concerned about the inconveniences of traveling alone in a foreign country, but thankfully, this Chinese-speaking guide provided meticulous care throughout the journey. The itinerary was both enriching and relaxed, allowing for a deep appreciation of the sacred Kumano landscape. The overall value for money was excellent. For anyone planning a day trip to Kumano, I strongly recommend Guide Yan!

Jeg hadde en fantastisk tid med guiden min, Kimi! Kimi var utrolig kunnskapsrik og hyggelig under turen, og var ekstremt engasjerende med vennen min og meg (vi tok en privat tur for 2). Vi dro på turen med svært lite kunnskap om den kulturelle betydningen, bortsett fra det vi hadde lest på nettet, og avsluttet turen med en nyvunnet forståelse for Nachisan-området. Det er en underdrivelse hvor mye jeg koste meg på denne turen, og jeg anbefaler på det sterkeste alle å bestille denne turen hvis de skal se Nachi-fallene! Bortsett fra den fantastiske guiden, var turselskapet også veldig responsivt, og ga e-postoppdateringer om hvem man skulle kontakte og hvor man skulle møtes, noe som gjorde det veldig enkelt å finne guiden vår på selve dagen.

Så snart vi gikk om bord i bussen, ga sjåførene (to stykker, et tegn på stor oppmerksomhet på passasjerenes sikkerhet) oss en veldig fin penn. Guiden Saki var veldig snill mot oss, tok bilder av oss og tok spesielt godt vare på oss fordi vi var de eneste ikke-japanerne som deltok på turen. Stoppene underveis var passende, og vi ble tilbudt en veldig rikholdig og god bento. Turen var svært vellykket med mer enn tilstrekkelig tid til sightseeing, og under et av stoppene ble vi tilbudt te og mochi i en lokal butikk. Anbefales for å koble av fra kaoset i Osaka og fordype seg i en magisk verden.