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.

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. He served as both driver and guide, meticulously arranging everything, making the trip incredibly worry-free. Before arriving at each attraction, the guide would meticulously explain its history and key highlights, thoughtfully telling us how to check in, which sights to focus on, and clearly informing us of the free activity time and return meeting time. We didn't have to worry about planning ourselves, and the pace of the tour was just right. The entire route, from the service area, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Otorii, and collecting stamps at Oyunohara, to Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple, Hiro Shrine, Daimonzaka, Hayatama Taisha, and finally to the footbath at Totsukawa Onsen, each stop was explained in detail and easy to understand. He eloquently narrated the cultural stories of the Kumano Sanzan, allowing us to grasp the profound heritage behind the World Heritage site even without prior research. Our guide's service attitude was gentle and thoughtful, and his driving was smooth and safe. He never took detours or rushed the itinerary. There was no rushing throughout the trip, giving us ample time for photos, strolling, and worship. At the end, there was plenty of time to soak our feet in the hot spring to relieve travel fatigue. I was initially worried about many inconveniences traveling alone in a foreign country, but fortunately, this Chinese guide took meticulous care of us throughout the trip. The itinerary was fulfilling yet relaxed, allowing us to deeply experience the scenery of the sacred Kumano. The overall value for money is extremely high. For friends planning a day trip to Kumano, I strongly recommend Guide Yan!

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 recommend 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 got on the bus, the drivers (two of them, a sign of 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 particularly pampered 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 rich and delicious bento. 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. Recommended for a break from the chaos of Osaka and to immerse yourself in a magical world.