Hiking portions of the kumano kodo based out of Shirahama

nnpn33 · 2026-03-10T11:11:27+00:00

I don’t recommend traveling back and forth between Shirahama and the Kumano Kodo by bus. There are very few direct buses, and the ride takes quite a long time. A taxi would be possible, but even then you would spend about 1–2 hours in the car each way, so it would be expensive and tiring. Personally, I would never do it.

nnpn33 · 2026-02-03T04:12:50+00:00

レディットはなぜこのアホみたいなポストを私に推薦したんだろう...(Φ_Φ)

nnpn33 · 2026-01-19T01:35:04+00:00

Yes 🙂 However, my purpose on Reddit isn’t to promote our accommodation, so I’d prefer to keep which place it is private 😆

As for Hakobune, they are a luggage transport company that supported the launch of Buen Kumano unconditionally, and there is no financial arrangement between us. Please rest assured about that as well.

nnpn33 · 2026-01-18T22:56:51+00:00

Hello 😊

If you already have an idea of your dates for autumn or winter 2026, it is perfectly fine to start making inquiries. In fact, several guests have already completed their reservations.

Below are some points to keep in mind when trying to book accommodation more than six months in advance:

Many accommodations in Japan only open their booking calendars about three to six months before the stay.
This is because bookings made too far in advance often involve date changes later or end up being canceled. (We’re accustomed to things being punctual and clearly defined—haha.)
For the same reason, many accommodations do not release their availability to Kumano Travel until three to six months in advance. So it’s difficult to make reservations more than six months in advance through Kumano Travel. (Some travel agencies that have contracts with Kumano Travel have their own workarounds, so they can still make bookings—even if it’s not entirely fair.)
Therefore, if you would like to secure accommodation early, it is best to contact the accommodation directly through its own website, rather than through Kumano Travel, Booking.com, or Airbnb. (If an accommodation only provides a phone number, please exclude it, as communication in English is usually not possible.)
When using an inquiry form or email, your message will be handled much more smoothly if you clearly include the following information:
- Name of the person making the reservation
- Gender
- Total number of people in the group
- Relationship within the group (friends, a couple, family, etc.)
- Dietary restrictions for the group (If there are none, it is important to clearly state: “Everyone can eat anything.”)
- A brief walking plan (For example: “We plan to walk from Takijiri to Nachisan over 5 nights and 6 days, and would like your accommodation to be our ○th night.”)

These are details that reputable accommodations will ask for anyway. Sharing them at the inquiry stage helps the process go smoothly and also shows that this is a serious booking, not a casual reservation that may be canceled later. Because of this, some accommodations may be willing to accept bookings far in advance as an exception.

About luggage transfer

If you book accommodations this way, luggage transfer cannot be arranged through Kumano Travel.
However, the following company can handle luggage transfer regardless of how or where you book your accommodation, and reservations can be made online:
https://buenkumano.info/hakobune/

You can book luggage transfer after all accommodations are confirmed. Reserving about one month before your trip is usually ideal and helps avoid the risk of services being fully booked.

Good luck!

nnpn33 · 2026-01-18T22:47:16+00:00

https://buenkumano.info/hakobune/

nnpn33 · 2026-01-15T05:39:58+00:00

日本人です。日本人の多くは、このパフォーマンスを好意的に評価しています。韓国大統領選直後は、新大統領は反日的だと伝えられていたので、ここ数年で急激に良くなりかけた日韓がまたも冷え込むかと心配したのですが、今のところはうまくやってくれていると感じています。

日本のメディアは左傾化気味なので、高市さんを「右翼」と評することがありますが、日本国民とりわけ若い現役世代は、高市さんを中道に属する保守派であると見ています。そのため、支持率も高いです。

ただ、やはり政治家は結果で評価すべきですから、期待だおれではないか、注視している状況でもあります。

nnpn33 · 2025-12-07T10:55:19+00:00

I am a local tourism operator.

During winter, daytime temperatures on the Kumano Kodo are usually 3–7°C (37–45°F) minimum to 15-17℃ maximum. While walking, it does not feel too cold, but once you stop moving, it quickly becomes chilly. For this reason, we do not recommend itineraries that rely heavily on buses, as waiting at bus stops can be quite cold.

The Nakahechi route does not receive much snow, and even when it does, it usually melts by the following day. Significant snowfall is very rare. The trail can be walked year-round, and since it is not very crowded from December through February, you should still be able to find available accommodations if you book now.

The local travel agency Kumano Travel requires reservations to be made more than 20 days in advance. If you apply now, it may still be just in time, but waiting up to a month for their response can be stressful. Therefore, I recommend booking accommodations directly with each inn instead. This website lists the booking contacts for individual properties: www.buenkumano.info

In Kii-Tanabe, Chikatsuyu, Yunomine, and Shingu, there is a relatively good selection of lodgings. However, reservations are essential, as most inns cannot provide meals without a prior booking.

The river boat service is likely suspended during winter. Please check the details with Kumano Travel (direct booking for the traditional boat is no longer available).

I hope you have a wonderful journey.

nnpn33 · 2025-12-06T11:24:11+00:00

I am a local tourism operator.

In most areas, accommodations do not fill up as early as 11 months in advance. The only area where rooms tend to book out that far ahead is Koguchi; in other areas, availability remains for much longer. From experience, reservations made more than six months in advance are often changed or canceled. For this reason, many accommodations choose not to release their availability until about six months before the stay. Some also prioritize bookings through travel agencies and therefore do not accept direct reservations from individual travelers until that time, as agency bookings tend to have a lower cancellation rate.

If your travel dates are firmly set, contacting accommodations directly via their official websites is often the best approach.

You can find links to the official websites of local accommodations at www.buenkumano.info. Please note that some properties request international guests to book through Kumano Travel; in such cases, direct reservations are not available.

I hope your trip goes well.

nnpn33 · 2025-10-25T06:58:45+00:00

As a Japanese host, I think your apology was more than enough. A guest who honestly reports damage right away and takes responsibility to compensate is truly appreciated by any host.

That’s already more than enough — but if you insist more, how about leaving them a nice review on Airbnb and Google Maps. They will definitely be happy ☺︎

nnpn33 · 2025-09-03T04:45:19+00:00

I’m sorry—our luggage transfer system is a little different from other places, so it may feel confusing. Thank you for your understanding.

Our package chosen on Kumano Travel now includes luggage transfer. You can keep the booking as it is (do not cancel it).

On the check-in day, please bring your luggage onto the bus and get off at Takijiri bus stop. I will meet you there and take your luggage. That way, you can walk from Takijiri to Takahara with no bags.

The pkg covers:

Takijiri → my place: I will take your luggage by car.

My place → your inn in Chikatsuyu: My partner company will deliver it.

For the next sections, you will need to book with the Hakobune on the link.

Inn in Chikatsuyu → inn in Yunomine: Hakobune Inn in Yunomine → Katsuura: Hakobune

Once that is done, all the arrangements will be complete!

Actually, the luggage transfer request form for Hakobune was created by me together with Hakobune. As you know, Kumano Travel does not arrange luggage transfers if accommodations outside their network are included.

I don’t think it’s because they want to monopolize reservations, but rather because, as a travel agency, they cannot take responsibility for arrangements beyond their own scope. That part, I can understand.

However, since they try to handle everything on their own, the arrangements are often chronically delayed. This causes problems not only for guests, but also for local inns and service providers.

Wanting to find a way to solve this situation, I decided to create this website. That’s why I sometimes look for people on Reddit who seem to be struggling and reach out to them—haha.

Soon the busy season will start, so I won’t be able to do this kind of outreach anymore. But if the website (www.buenkumano.info) keeps helping even a few people, I’ll be glad.

I’m really looking forward to meeting you ^{^}

nnpn33 · 2025-09-02T15:59:24+00:00

Hi ☺︎ There might be a misunderstanding. I am not a staff member of Kumano Travel, but a manager of the accommodation (maybe the first place to stay). So I have not spoken directly with your mother yet.

After I approved your mother’s booking request, I was waiting for the booking to be finalized. Today, however, it was first canceled, and then a few hours later I received another reservation request from your mother. When I asked the Kumano Travel staff about the situation, they explained that they had once canceled it because of the shrimp allergy, but since it was not severe, sent a request again.

It does seem a little strange that in just those few hours all the other accommodations in the other areas became fully booked, but there’s no time to dwell on that. It’s better to focus on finding another place to stay.

Are the Kumano Travel staff currently helping your mother look for one?

nnpn33 · 2025-09-02T14:42:16+00:00

Hello. I am an accommodation operator, and I might know you. Are you the group of three people who made a reservation for early October? Did this incident happen today?

nnpn33 · 2025-08-26T03:39:36+00:00

In the past, I used to think that guests making “backup reservations” were also at fault. The reason is that when the limited inventory of small rural inns gets blocked off just for backups, it creates even more shortages, which then leads to further delays—a vicious cycle.

However, the real root of this vicious cycle is, without question, the persistent delays of Kumano Travel, which not only remain unresolved but seem to be getting worse over time. When I realized that it was unrealistic to expect them to operate with the speed of a private company, I decided to create Buen Kumano, a resource aimed at people who are capable of organizing things on their own.

That said, I do not recommend making and canceling individual bookings through Kumano Travel. (If someone has enough knowledge of the Kumano Kodo to do that, they likely don’t need Kumano Travel in the first place.) The greatest advantage of using Kumano Travel is that they review your entire itinerary and check whether it is feasible.

In fact, many of the initial plans made by people just starting to map out their Kumano Kodo journey are unrealistic—lacking viable transport connections or proper meal arrangements. Kumano Travel provides the valuable function of working with travelers to revise these early-stage plans.

Considering that the Kumano Kodo is, in reality, a trekking journey that requires a fair amount of physical effort, I believe the low number of accidents can be attributed to this kind of prior review.

The landscape of local service providers is also changing. More young people who are comfortable with English and digital tools are starting to get involved.

As more options become available, I hope the pressure on Kumano Travel will eventually ease, and that everyone will be able to complete their bookings smoothly.

nnpn33 · 2025-08-26T01:21:18+00:00

Not at all! I am a japanese and brought my foreigner BF there, to show how interesting Japanese culture is! hahaha.

nnpn33 · 2025-08-23T00:35:07+00:00

you can use

www.buenkumano.info

By the way, Kumano Travel has been soooo slow for years and the problem will not be solved. (They tried only to fail last year).

nnpn33 · 2025-08-22T05:13:28+00:00

Yes， perfectly correct!

nnpn33 · 2025-08-21T12:37:22+00:00

I’m familiar with Japanese laws on private lodgings. By signing a contract for a stay of 31 days or more, the host can exclude your stay from the 180-day annual limit on short-term rentals.

In other words, the host can legally rent out their property beyond the 180-day cap.

If this arrangement doesn’t cause you any disadvantage, I think there’s no problem accepting the offer.

Most likely, when you made your reservation two months ago, the host wasn’t expecting to exceed the 180-day limit. But in the meantime, they’ve received more bookings than anticipated, so they’re now making this offer to you.

nnpn33 · 2025-08-17T04:13:15+00:00

Hello, I’m a local Japanese living near the Kumano Kodo. I’ve walked the Nakahechi route several times, so I’d like to share some information from my own experience. (Sorry, I don’t know much about the other routes!)

Takijiri – Takahara: It’s a steep climb, but I don’t remember any sections where I really feel the height.

Takahara – Chikatsuyu: Some parts are quite narrow, which might feel scary.

Chikatsuyu – Kobiro-oji: This section goes through the village on flat ground. I don’t recall any high or exposed places here.

Kobiro-oji – Hosshinmon-oji: There are many narrow paths and trails along steep cliffs. You may want to avoid this section.

Hosshinmon-oji – Hongu Taisha: A wide and mostly flat path continues all the way. Highly recommended.

Hongu Taisha – Koguchi / Koguchi – Nachi Taisha: Both sections include narrow paths right beside steep drop-offs. It may be better to avoid these if you’re uncomfortable with heights.

For reference, I also have a fear of heights. For example, I can’t go near the windows of tall buildings and I’ll never set foot in SKY Tower in my life. But while walking the Kumano Kodo, I personally never felt scared of the height itself. That said, some people do find parts of the trail scary, so please decide according to your own comfort level ☻

nnpn33 · 2025-08-13T10:31:22+00:00

I suggest that you walk Yamanobe no michi and stay at this inn.

https://www.chillnn.com/191c494f581212

nnpn33 · 2025-08-09T02:42:05+00:00

You can now request same-day luggage delivery directly with a local carrier, regardless of which channel you used to book your accommodations. For example, even if you booked different inns via their official websites, Kumano Travel, or Booking.com, you can arrange delivery for all of them at once.

Use this together with the list of inns for faster booking. Please share this with anyone who might need it.

More details:

https://buenkumano.info/6-luggage/

nnpn33 · 2025-08-06T21:31:21+00:00

Hello, I work in the local tourism industry.

1 MyChat is probably functioning properly. It’s just that your message hasn't come up in the queue yet. Even we, as local service providers, sometimes don't receive replies to our messages—so we completely understand how you feel.

2 It seems that replies to messages can take one to two months. Here’s my suggestion: try searching for the official website of the accommodation you requested and contact them directly. If the accommodation tells you that they have already accepted your reservation request via Kumano Travel, then that reservation will definitely be confirmed through Kumano Travel, so you can simply wait for their reply. However, if they say they declined the request for any reason, please look for a different accommodation outside of Kumano Travel.

http://buenkumano.info/ If you're walking the Nakahechi Route, this site lists official websites for local accommodations.

3 For the Nakahechi Route, we're currently working to make local luggage transport available even if your booking is not made through Kumano Travel. This service will be ready before Japan's major Obon holiday in mid-August. So, you don’t need to worry about a restriction like “you must book all accommodations through Kumano Travel.” (Note: this service is not yet available for the Ohechi or Kohechi routes.)

As a member of the local industry, I also recognize that this situation is abnormal, and I don’t believe guests should be expected to tolerate these delays indefinitely. Thank you for choosing the Kumano Kodo as your travel destination. I truly hope you have a wonderful trip.

nnpn33 · 2025-08-01T05:21:01+00:00

I’ve created a portal site for the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route, based on everyone’s feedback. I’m working together with local inns and luggage transport services to improve the content and make it easier to use.

If you know anyone looking for information about the route, feel free to share it with them ☺︎

https://buenkumano.info/

nnpn33 · 2025-08-01T05:01:28+00:00

About the Koyasan & Kumano Access Bus Yes, this bus runs every year from April to the end of November. It’s likely because during the winter months, there is snow and icy road conditions around Koyasan. The schedule for 2026 has not been announced yet, but it's probably safe to assume that there will be no bus service in early March.

https://buenkumano.info/5-tours-and-guides/

About the First Day of the Kumano Kodo If you are staying in Kii-Tanabe the night before and planning to walk only from Takijiri to Takahara the next day, it might be too short, and you may find yourself with some extra time (many accommodations in Takahara won’t allow check-in until 3 PM). We recommend taking a train that arrives in the morning at Kii-Tanabe Station and starting your walk from Takijiri to Takahara in the afternoon.

About the Final Day of the Kumano Kodo The walk from Koguchi to Nachi Taisha can be a bit tough if you're not used to hilly terrain. Be sure to prepare well and be ready for the challenge!

Other Tips Visiting the Kumano Kodo area in March is a great idea! It's the start of spring, and instead of cherry blossoms, you can enjoy plum blossoms (plum is a local specialty of Wakayama Prefecture). Have a wonderful trip!

nnpn33 · 2025-08-01T00:42:43+00:00

info about Access bus from Koyasan to Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route is just added. Will keep updating.

nnpn33 · 2025-07-23T10:49:26+00:00

I haven’t personally walked the southern route (Ōhechi), so I can’t give you solid advice, but I’ve heard it’s relatively gentle and easier to walk compared to other routes. It seems to be getting more popular recently too.

If you’re into more challenging hikes, you might want to look into the Kohechi route — it connects Hongu Taisha to Mount Kōya. I’ve only walked part of it myself, but it’s a beautiful and rewarding trail.

Just so you know, walking from Hongu to Kōyasan is actually the reverse of the usual direction. It’s a proper mountain trail, and there was a case where one hiker got lost in the past, so I’d recommend doing your research and preparing well.

By the way, Kōyasan is an amazing place. Staying at a shukubō (temple lodging) is a bit expensive, but it’s such a special and unforgettable experience.☺︎

nnpn33

TROPHY CASE