I've made a draft itinerary for the Kumano Kodo for late November, would love to hear any feedback. Accommodations have been booked for the first two nights but can be changed. We are two reasonably fit hikers, we want to see the highlights of the route, hence combining bus and walking.
Day1 : Osaka train to Tanabe (3hr), bus to Takijiri, walk or bus to Chikatsuyu, stay in Chikatsuyu. (We want to walk at least for a bit in this first segment, but unsure which part might be best? Full route from Takijiri–Chikatsuyu is too long for the time we have)
Day2 : Chikatsuyu bus to Doyuukawa bashi (10min), walk to Kumano Hongu Taisha (17Km ~8-9 Hrs), bus to Kawayu onsen
Day3: Bus to Koguchi, Walk from Koguchi to Nachi Taisha (14km), see the shrine, bus to Kii-Katsuura: any recs for specific accommodations in town?
Day4: Catch early morning bus back to Nachisan to see the shrine in daylight, bus back to town, train back to Osaka/Kyoto.
If anyone has recommendations for other places in the Kii pennisula we should not miss, I'd appreciate them too. Already been to Koya-san. Right now our plan is to go back to Osaka/Kyoto after the hike and spend time there (we'll have 9 days of the trip left in Japan).
by MarzipanBeanie