Nakahechi – Day 1 – Takijiri to Chikatsuyu

· by · in Kumano Kodo. ·

  • Nakahechi route

  • Day 1 – Takijiri Oji to Chikatsuyu, 13km

  • Accommodation: Minshuku Nakano, ¥9000 including dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch

I flew from London to Tokyo and took a few trains south to eventually arrive in Tanabe in Wakayama prefecture yesterday to begin my adventure on the Kumano Kodo. I booked my first night at Miyoshiya Ryokan in Tanabe and was greeted by Ken, the very friendly and English speaking ryokan owner. The ryokan is only a three minute walk from the station and they can hold your luggage while you’re off hiking so it was perfect as I’d brought an extra bag that I was hoping to leave behind (then fill with Japanese chocolate and other goodies before flying home!)

I popped into the Tanabe City Kumano Tourist Bureau yesterday after getting off the train as it’s right next to the station and I picked up some maps, the Dual Pilgrim stamp list and bus and train timetables that will probably come in handy over the coming 6 weeks. It was nice to put a face to the names and voices I’d spoken to on the phone when making some last-minute accommodation reservations for the trip.

Selfie at the start in Takijiri

So, day 1! The first bus leaves Tanabe station at 6.35am for the 36 minute bus ride to Takijiri, but I missed this (blame the jet-lag), and instead caught the 6.50am bus which arrived at 7.28am. There were French, American and Japanese people on the bus all kitted out in hiking gear, some with tiny daypacks and some with oversized backpacks. There’s a luggage courier along the Nakahechi which I was wishing at many points today I’d taken advantage of!

When you get off the bus at Takijiri there’s the Kumano Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Centre across the bridge on the right (open from 9am) and on the left there’s a souvenir shop/accom with some convenient drink vending machines outside so I downed a nice cold coffee, took the obligatory selfie in front of the Unesco sign, visited the first of many Oji (Takijiri-oji), got my first stamp in my dual pilgrim credential and started up the picturesque steep, rocky and tree-root trail. The first 4km to Takahara were quite the baptism of fire but this was the hardest part of the day.

A Haiku poem at Takijiri Oji
Stone lantern at Takijiri Oji
Tree-root trail!
Nezu-oji
These numbered wooden markers are placed 500 metres apart along the Nakahechi trail
Wooden steps and tree roots
Viewpoint
Old stone marker

Takahara is a quaint village with lovely mountain views and crazy steep roads. I stopped at the viewpoint carpark (with wc and vending machines) and thought if I was walking this again then I would love to stay the night here and relax even though it’s only 4km from Takijiri! I also thought that I might’ve missed the cherry blossoms but they’re still blooming here in the mountains.

Flowers in Takahara
Takahara
Takahara Kumano-jinja
Cherry blossom in Takahara
The view from Kiri no Sato Takahara Organic Hotel
Takahara
A pony and a stunning view from the garden of Coffee Keyaki Cafe, Takahara
Oranges for sale outside a house in Takahara
Takahara

From Takahara to Chikatsuyu I continued collecting stamps and marvelled at how stunning and varied the trail was… moss-covered stones, tree roots, steep ascents and descents, streams, wildflowers and with the constant background sound of woodpeckers and nightingales. I met two Aussies and a group of French people and everyone agreed, the trail is beautiful.

Moss-covered stone path along the Nakahechi
Takijiri to Chikatsuyu
Japanese Cobra Lily
Takijiri to Chikatsuyu
Water is always close by on the Nakahechi
Gyuba-doji
Japanese five-lined skink
Dragonfly
Fringed Iris
Blossoms by the Hiki-gawa river in Chikatsuyu
Monotropa uniflora, otherwise known as Indian
Takijiri to Chikatsuyu

I arrived in Chikatsuyu around 3pm and found my way to my home for the night at Minshuku Nakano, about a 7 minute walk from Chikatsuyu-oji.  I’ve just had a delicious feast of a dinner and although it’s only 8pm, it’s dark and I’m ready to hit the sack ahead of a long day tomorrow.

Minshuku Nakano
Amago fish for dinner at Minshuku Nakano, Chikatsuyu
Dinner at Minshuku Nakano, Chikatsuyu

26 responses to “Nakahechi – Day 1 – Takijiri to Chikatsuyu”

  2. Kat……..this looks so beautiful! Weather seems nice also. I know its only the first day but i would be interested to know how it compares to Shikoku. Seems more relaxed!
    Look forward to your reports.
    thanks and Buen Camino dual Pilgrim☺
    Aidan

    Liked by 1 person

    • I think I might’ve given you the wrong impression 😉 Think of Shikoku’s mountain paths and that’s the entire Nakahechi, quite the henro korogashi path but stunningly beautiful!

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  3. Hi Katrina,
    Such amazing scenery and wildlife. You can understand why this became a way for reflection and contemplation. It looks simply serene. Good that you caught the cherry blossom at this elevation. When I think of Japan I think of cherry blossom. Looking forward to your next blog. Jxx

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  4. It’s just great to see on the trail again – your blogs I will be following with great interest. I am still getting over my southern France walk a year ago – the up and down mountains has given me some ware and tear on the knees.
    Stay well and enjoy
    Iain in Melbourne

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Glad to see you walking again. Thanks for inviting me along. The image “fungus maybe” I know as Indian pipes, it is also called ghost plant and corpse plant according to Wikipedia. Love the mountain views. take care of that ankle.
    Kudos on the Bushwalker article.
    Isabelle

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I’m delighted to follow you on another trek. Thank you for sharing. We head out in a few weeks to Mont Blanc, we will be walking the tour de Mont Blanc. Next year again from Le Puy to St Jean Pied de Port. I would love to bump the needle off Europe and walk in Asia. Buen Camino!

    Sent from my iPad

    >

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  7. Interested to follow as thinking of doing december this year & January …. How many days and kms is the whole pilgrimage? You said you were taking 6 weeks I think??? enjoy

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    • Hi Sandy, the Nakahechi route typically takes two days from Tanabe to Hongu Shrine and two days from Hongu to Nachi Shrine with other day walks and loop walks in the area. If you had a weekend or a week you could fill both comfortably.

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    • Hi Fiona,
      For the Nakahechi route it’s advisable to book accom in advance as its quite popular (depending on the season). Some places are available on booking.com or you could use the Tanabe booking office. Have a great time!

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    • Hi Lily,
      This stage takes around 5-6 hours but can take longer depending on fitness / rest breaks. Most people get one of the first busses from Tanabe in the morning and allow a full day to walk here or a little further on to Tsugizakura Oji. I hope this helps, have a great trip!
      Kat

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  12. Hi! I am planning to do this route with 2 friends. We want to camp because we have all the camping gear. There are a few problems. First, we found some campsites that have websites but you can only reserve by phone. I tried calling but the calls failed. Do you have any information on camping along the Nakahechi trail? Can we show up to campsites and spots will be open? Is there free camping? I’m fine to pay for campsites, just want to make sure there’s space for our tent! Any advice you have on this would be wonderful. We will be there in July. Thank you!

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    • Hi Colleen,
      Apologies for the delay, I’ve been off-grid hiking. If you haven’t left yet… Camping is only permitted at official campsites and there are campsites at Chikatsuyu, Wataze Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. Your best bet would be to speak to one of the tourist offices (Tanabe / Hongu / Shingu / Nachi-Katsuura) and maybe ask them to try calling for you. The camping isn’t free and from what I saw it was mainly geared to car-camping and quite expensive for few facilities. I hope this gets to you in time,
      Kat

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  13. Hi Kat, Hope you are well. We ended up walking the Shikuko Pilgrimage 2 years ago and used your blog extensively! (It was challenging I must say – but we go through it in June/July 2018) Thank you.
    We are wanting to do the KK – wondering if you can help with some questions:
    • Many hornets and snakes? We came across quite a few on Shikuko but was ok (just scary lol).
    • We are looking to bring our 18 month son along and carry him in a baby carrier (backpack) – what’s the terrain and environment like? Would it be doable?
    • Is there transport between the accomodations? Assume there no need for camping on this trek?

    Thank you so much for your help!

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    • Hi RC,
      I think it will depend on which route of the Kumano Kodo you want to hike. With an 18 month son I would recommend the Nakahechi trail. There’s bus transport along this trail if you needed to use it but you will you need to book the accommodation in advance. There’s not so many hornets but you may see a snake or two depending on the time of year.

      The terrain is very mixed from forest paths, to slippery rocks with some short steep climbs so good ankle support and hiking poles is recommended. Some sections are somewhat similar to the henro korogashi (fall down) paths on the Shikoku pilgrimage. If you think back to the Shikoku pilgrimage and feel you could carry your son on those hiking paths then you should be ok on the Kumano Kodo.
      I hope this helps 🙂

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Comments or questions? Go for it!