Kumano Walk and Wakayama

Kumano Walk (photos only)

Day 1 (Day 4 of Japan Trip) - Train Osaka - Kii-Tanabe (Bus) - Kawayu Onsen

We took the early train from Osaka to Koi-Tanabe, visibly quite excited with our Kumano Walk <<Although it would only be a 3D2N easy-level highlight walk>> 😊

As instructed, we left our luggage at the Tanabe Visitor Centre for their transfer to our hotel. We had a quick lunch at the nearest local restaurant before boarding the bus for Kawayu Onsen.

Along the way, the bus stopped at a rest stop for toilet break.

Kawayu Onsen

Kawayu onsen is a geological thermal river, with hot spring water bubbled to the surface of the Oto River. Hotels, ryokans and other lodgings are on the north side of the river, while forested mountainside are on the left.

There were groups of family and visitors swimming and playing by the river. The landscape though seemingly ordinary was picture-perfect beautiful.

We checked into Fujiya hotel, located along the Ota River, and overlooking the Kawayu Onsen Spring. It is a traditional ryokan with indoor and outdoor onsen, and our package included both dinner and breakfast.

After checking in, we headed for the river and the forested mountains <<we were supposed to do our own walks if we liked to>>. We clambered up the trails for a short while, and decided almost unanimously that we should go to the river onsen instead.

We could dig our own onsen from a specific stretch of the river, or bathe in a prepared one (From December to February, a giant bath is created from the river called Sennin-buro). The spring water is about 70 degree celsius and the river water cooled the bath to about 40 degree. We waded around the river to feel the different water temperature. It was a memorable first time to do a hot-bath in a river.

I had another nice hot bath in the hotel, followed by a multi-course dinner.

Evening walk

After our scumptious multi-courses dinner, we did a walk along the river as the sennin-buro would be lit up with candles.

The candle light reflected into the river, and the light from the building lit up the walkway beside the river. It was cold and people sat by the river, soaking their feet into the river. With the steam rising from the river, the landscape was mystical and rather magical.

Day 2 Start : Kawayu Onsen - Kit Katsuura (end)

Kumano Walk : Hosshinmon-oji - Kumano Hongu Taisha [Bus - Shingu - Kii-Katsuura]

Our guide met us at the hotel. Instead of taking the bus (as in the itinerary) to the starting point, the hotel's van drove us there.

Hosshinmon-Oji

It marks the outermost entrance to the Kumano Hongu Taisha's scared precincts, and is known as the "gate of awakening of the aspiration to enlightenment".