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My son and I completed our first Camino in September and he’s been nudging me towards the Kodo. This guide is an answered prayer! Thank you so much for posting.My wife and I recently walked the Nakahechi trail of the Kumano Kodo. When we returned, I put together a Getting Started / How to / Logistics guide. My intent was not to describe the Kumano Kodo in any detail, but to answer the questions most people (i.e. me) would have in advance, and to introduce others to the resources most helpful for detailed planning. The chapter heads are as follows:
-- Extremely Brief Introduction: What Is the Kumano Kodo and Why This Guide?
-- Resource numero uno – Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau
--Resource numero due: Google Knows Everything
--Which Route Should I Travel / Stages?
--Getting to the Nakahechi
--Accommodations & Food (Plus Futons, Onsens and Yukatas)
--Stopping Places on the Trail
--Arranging Your Kumano Kodo
--Cost
--Navigating the Kumano Kodo: Signage and GPS
--Getting Your Merit Badge: The Dual Pilgrim Certificate
--Shipping Your Extra Crap
--When To Go
--Phones and Electronics
--Money in Japan
--Travel to Japan
--Travel within Japan
--Travel on the Kumano Kodo
The guide s attached. I'm also posting it in the Resources section
I think that the local authorities who promote the Kumano Kodo are treading a very fine line. They are quite deliberately not going down the path which the Caminos have taken of encouraging ever increasing large numbers of low-budget walkers. No "pile it high and sell it cheap" approach. The background infrastructure for publishing information and processing bookings is quite modest and low-tech. Often accommodation is fully booked months in advance. So the route probably doesn't need very active promotion!That's great. I'm from Japan, but having lived in UK for a long time, I felt it was much easier to find the info. about Camino de Santiago.
My wife and I recently walked the Nakahechi trail of the Kumano Kodo. When we returned, I put together a Getting Started / How to / Logistics guide. My intent was not to describe the Kumano Kodo in any detail, but to answer the questions most people (i.e. me) would have in advance, and to introduce others to the resources most helpful for detailed planning.
Thanks … for the video and the memoriesFWIW: The video provides some Kumano Kodo's trail surface and elevation information.
According to my recent research, the Japan Rail Pass price increased 70% in October 2023 and people are saying it is not worth purchasing.If you are travelling around Japan, you can get Japan Rail Pass. With it, you can take any trains incl Shinkansen -bullet trains- and reserve it for free, except 2 commuter trains, Nozomi and Mizuho. But there are plenty of others running. I don't know about other countries but in the UK, there are more than one agents selling it online and there are differences in prices. It's a big bargain, otherwise, you have to pay separate fees for taking any express trains and seat reservations.
That's a pity. It used to be a real bargain if you wanted to fit in a lot of sightseeing in a limited period. And experience the superb Japanese rail network. Mark Smith discusses the pros and cons of the pass these days on his excellent international rail website "seat61".According to my recent research, the Japan Rail Pass price increased 70% in October 2023 and people are saying it is not worth purchasing.
The Kumano Kodo is mostly centred around Shinto shrines. But being Japan the dividing lines are a bit fuzzy and there is a Buddhist temple slap in the middle of the Nachi shrine complex! And of course the Kohechi Kumano Kodo starts at Koyasan which is the HQ for Shingon Buddhism in Japan....Hmm, Buddhist pilgrimage, I wonder if that means lots of shojin ryori food ..
Oh that would be a pity as @Bradypus says. On the Japan Rail pass site (? I think) there was a tool that allowed us to work out whether it was worthwhile financially given our main travel within Japan. It certainly was. We took a 14 day pass which we activated on leaving Tokyo for Kanazawa. Even with 5 of the 14 days not using the JR Pass while on the KK, it was still good value. And convenient. Might be worth checking if you have a rough idea of your itinerary.According to my recent research, the Japan Rail Pass price increased 70% in October 2023 and people are saying it is not worth purchasing.
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