The tour is 6 days and 5 nights and the cost is $US1,290 per person. For Australian customers the final $AU price will be converted based on the mid rate on https://www.xe.com, two months before departure date. For example, if the mid rate on https://www.xe.com shows as $AU1 = $US0.68, the the final $AU price will be $AU1,897.

Included

•  All accommodation
• 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners
• luggage transfers while hiking
• Train and boat fares
• A guide for the six days

Not included

• Airfares
• 5 lunches and 1 dinners
• Public bus fares on the Kii Peninsula
• Passport, visa (if applicable) and travel insurance

Day 1

• Arrive at Osaka KIX airport. Flight arrival time should be no later than 12.30pm, Japanese time.
• Train from Osaka KIX to Kii Tanabe departs around 2.00pm (Japanese time), or make your own way to Kii Tanabe.
• Accommodation at Kii Tanabe. Arrive around 4.30pm. Briefing will be held at 5.30pm
• There are over 70 restaurants and bars in Kii Tanabe, for dinner

Day 2

• Bus (40mins) to Takajiri trail head
• Walk 13.5km to Chikatsuyu. Total ascent is 900m. Rated Moderate to Hard. Note: The start of this walk is quite steep with 500m ascent over 4km. It is hard for inexperienced hikers but we take it nice and slow. There are two opportunities to leave the trail if you find it too difficult. The first is after 6km, and the second after 12km.
• Traditional Japanese accommodation, including dinner and breakfast, at Chikatsuyu

Day 3

• Bus to Hosshinmon Oji
• Walk 7.5km to Kumano Hongu Taisha. Explore the shrines and surrounding area and architecture
• Lunch at Hongu
• Walk 3km to Yunomine Onsen. Rating for day 3 is Easy to Moderate
• Accommodation including dinner and breakfast at Kawayu Onsen

Day 4

• Walk 14.6km to Koguchi. Great scenic views today! Rated Moderate
• Traditional Japanese accommodation, including dinner and breakfast, at Takada or Koguchi

Day 5

• After breakfast we take a 2 hour jet boat ride along the Kumanogawa River
• Lunch at Shingu – Explore the Hayatama and Kamikura shrines and the Castle ruins at Shingu. Total walking about 5km, rated Easy
• Local train to our accommodation at Kii Katsuura. Dinner & breakfast provided.

Day 6

• Visit the early morning Tuna market (if open)
• After breakfast take the bus to Kumano Nachi Taisha
• Spend time exploring the beautiful Kumano Nachi Taisha area. It has the tallest waterfall in Japan, glorious paths and gardens and amazing architecture. Total walking about 5km, rated Easy
• After lunch we take the train to Osaka KIX Airport. The train journey takes 3.5 hours, and follows the coast of the Kii Peninsula
• Arrive at Osaka KIX airport at 5.00pm for our flights (6.30pm onwards), or continue your holiday in Japan.

Bookings can be made online or manually. Click the ‘Book online’ button for online bookings. A deposit of $300 per person will secure your booking.

For manual bookings the bank details for the deposit are:
Home Comforts Hiking
BSB 932000
Account 500196069

If we cancel the trip due to lack of numbers or Covid 19 travel restrictions, we will refund your deposit in full.

If you cancel more than 6 months prior to the trip start date we will refund 75% of your deposit. There are no refunds of the deposit(s) if you cancel less than 6 months from the trip start date.

The balance is due 2 months prior to the trip start date. If the trip is cancelled by us due to Covid 19 travel restrictions, then we will refund your payment in full, or provide you with a credit to use on our other hikes.

There are no refunds, due to cancellation by you, unless a replacement hiker is introduced by you (the person cancelling), to replace you. If a replacement is introduced in this manner, we will refund 75% of the total paid by you.

As we stay in small villages during the hike, and we only require one night’s accommodation at each village, the options available are very limited. The pricing is based on 2 people sharing a room. If you are single, you will be paired with someone of the same sex. Single supplement may not be available each night, but upon request the following may be able to be arranged:

• Night 1 at Kii Tanabe – If you book single, you will get your own room. There is an extra charge of $AU60 (US$40) for single accommodation at Kii Tanabe.
• Nights 2, 3,4 and 5 at a village on the hike – We stay at Minshukus, which are traditional Japanese, family run guesthouses. The rooms are predominately traditional Japanese with tatami mats and futons. Breakfast and dinner are included each day. The rooms are all twin share, and the number of rooms are limited. If the Guesthouse has enough rooms (most of the time they do not), a single room may be available for a surcharge of $AU60 ($US40).

Note that bedding linen and towels are provided at every accommodation we stay at. Also, the pillows provided are sometimes quite hard, so you may want to bring your own pillow.

Most accommodations have onsite onsens and some also have fantastic public onsens nearby, which are worth visiting for the experience. If you need help with how to use the onsens, ask the guide.

Most meals are included in the cost of the trip:

• On day 1 at Kii Tanabe, dinner is not included. There are over 70 restaurants in Kii Tanabe. Dinner is included all other nights, and the meals are of a very high Japanese standard. The meals are a highlight of the trip.
• Breakfast is included each morning. Usually it is Japanese, but sometimes a western option is available.
• Lunch and snacks are not included. There are shops or cafes each day where you can purchase your own lunch and snacks

Luggage transfer is included for all Kumano Kodo Hikes. Each guest is allowed one bag up to 20kg. Bags are left at reception each morning by about 8.30am, then picked up and taken to our next accommodation. You only need to carry a day pack while hiking.

NOTE: Only 1 bag per person is allowed!

• Small backpack with waterproof cover
• One bag for luggage transfer
• Shirts, pants, shorts, underwear, socks
• Hiking shoes (slippers are available at accommodation)
• Hiking Pole(s)
• Rainproof jacket
• Swimsuit
• Your own pillow if you don’t like hard pillows
• Money and/or Debit/Credit Card
• Passport, Visa (if applicable), Travel Insurance docs
• Phone and/or tablet, camera and chargers
• Toiletries and medication

We meet just outside the JR West (Japan Rail West) ticket office at Osaka Kansai International Airport. Follow the signs to the trains after you clear customs. The JR West ticket office is located opposite the train station entry. We meet at 1.30 to 1.45pm on the first day of the trip. Please advise us whether you will be meeting the guide at the airport, or making your own way to Kii Tanabe. Note that the check in time for the hotel is after 4.00pm.

Alternatively, you may arrive earlier or after our meeting time. In this case you need to buy your own train ticket to Kii Tanabe station. (Note that it is Kii Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture, not to be confused with Tanabe in Osaka). Your goal should be to arrive at our accommodation (most likely Hotel Hanaya, 400m from the station) by 5.00pm, as the trip briefing will be held at 5.30pm. If you use this option, you can claim the KIX to Kii Tanabe cost of your ticket from the guide once you arrive. If you arrive after the briefing, the guide will give you a separate briefing before the hiking commences.

Please contact Marcus Ludriks. Contact details are:

E: homecomfortshiking@gmail.com
M: 0490 454220
WhatsApp: +61 490 454220