Would like to get some advice from people
who have done Kumano Kodo Nakahechi.
Background: 2 travellers, late 20s, active hikers. In Japan for 16 days in Mid May, of which ~8 days are Tokyo / Kyoto, 3 Days Japan Alps and 5 days Kii Peninsula.
I will only focus on Kumano Kodo and Koyasan, as that is the area where I am looking for advice. The reason we’re doing part of Kumano Kodo – we want to experience some of the nature / rural / countryside parts of Japan in a more authentic way than car / bus, and having hiked a lot over the years, thought walking in Kumano Kodo could give us that experience. Contrary to our typical backcountry hiking experience, we do want to see villages, shrines, country life along the way, which is why we chose this area.
We have 2 main issues / limitations: 1) we want to see Nachi Taisha; 2) time – we have 4 full days available for this part of the trip and need to ensure that we are able to return to Osaka on day 4 (so we need to finish at Nachi Falls at 4-4:30pm to catch the final bus to Nachi train station.).
Current plan for the section of the trip:
Day 1: Train from Kyoto to Koyasan, doing a section of Choishi-michi that we feel up to. Overnight in Koyasan
Thereafter I see the following 2 options:
Option 1: hike Nakahechi from Takijiri-Oji to Hongu; this would be Koyasan to Takijiri-Oji on Day 2 via public transport, hike halfway, overnight halfway, day 3 arrive in hongu, overnight in hongu or yunomine onsen, Day 4 take public transport to nachi falls area and leave for osaka
Option 2: join Nakahechi BETWEEN takijiri-oji, hike the whole way to Nachi Taisha. Day 2 – koyasan to nakahechi via public transport, hike to hongu / overnight hongu or yunomine, day 3 hike to koguchi / overnight in koguchi, day 4 hike to nachi and catch transport to osaka.
Questions:
1. If option 2, which part of Nakahechi is best to join on Day 2? We could walk about 12-15km on that day, inclusive of trip between koyasan and trailhead
2. Which option offers a more varied experience in your view?
3. If option 1, are there any other parts we should consider adding to visit on day 4