-
Ohechi route
-
Day 4, Kushimoto to Nachi, 35km
-
Accommodation: Miyoshiya Ryokan in Tanabe, ¥3200
Sunrise is now at 4.50am but it was a cloudy morning and it took a while for the sun to peep out from the clouds. The below photos were taken an hour after sunrise at 5.50am and then I started walking today’s stage.
The first 3.5km to Koza station were partly along the highway and partly along small roads and the small town of Koza was quite scenic. However after leaving Koza, the path was along the highway with no footpath and tight curves and it became crazy scary with many busses and trucks passing. All I could think of was that tomorrow I need to travel back to Tokyo for my flight so I really need to get through this safely. It wasn’t safe at all, so I stuck my thumb out for a hitch and a truck driver stopped and picked me up. He agreed that it wasn’t safe to be walking along the highway and even offered to take me all the way to my destination today as that’s where he was on his way to for work, but after looking at the map I asked him to drop me off around Uragami station as it looked like the trail entered the forest again. I think it was about a 6km hitch and I don’t regret it at all!
From Uragami station the trail did indeed enter the forest and for almost the rest of the 15.5km to Nachi station it stayed in the forest or along small roads. I crossed Uragami-toge pass, Ichiya-toge, Niko-toge (a narrow path with a landslide and steep cliffs) and Suruda-toge pass before arriving at Nachi station. I was really glad to arrive and had mixed emotions thinking about this walk.
What a blast travelling with you through your blogs into this region. Without your passion, insight and assistance there is no way i would of booked my flights for the 10 th to follow in your muddy footsteps. The information through the travel agents is overly comprehensive and difficult to grasp with so many side trails. I can not thank you enough Kat, you’re a gem of a gal. Followed you into Portugal ( which is now like a second home to me) and now the intriguing Kumano Kodo.
These blogs are a prelude to a book, I certainly hope or a TV series?
Hugs and well wishes. Gregory
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Greg for following along and I hope you have a brilliant time walking the Kumano Kodo, it will be hard not to 🙂 Let me know how it goes, Kat
LikeLike
Great series of walks, Kat, and I really enjoyed following your progress with my tea each morning. I celebrated the completion of your walk with a meal at a Japanese restaurant. Best I can do this summer! Keep walking, and keep blogging!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Tim, kanpai! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful trails, Kat. Glad you made it and thank you so much for sharing. Had a blast, too!
Sent from my iPad
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!!
LikeLike
Congratulations Kat…….well done again!
thanks for all your daily reports
aidan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!!
LikeLike
I’m speechless with this «Camino», Kat! God bless you!!!!! It was so great to live this journey with you… thx
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLike
Hi Kat, you may follow the arrows but some of us Pilgrims follow you. I’ve commenced my Kumano Kodo and spent the night in Takahara. That first climb is sooo steep. Thank you for your assistance. G
LikeLike
That’s great to hear, have a terrific time and ‘ki o tsukete’ – take care 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Kat,
After my Kumino Kodo trek and 4 nights staying in Koyasan, I felt complete from a physical and spiritual connection. I have now convinced my wife to spend 3 nights staying in my lovely Buddhist temple Sekishoin at Koyasan on our Japanese tour in
LikeLike
I think this maybe got cut off but I’m really glad to hear that you had a great time. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Sekishoin, I’ll have to check it out!
LikeLike
Yes was cut off then I couldn’t delete the note, so no idea if it made any sense. Just wanted to thank you once more for your posts , they enabled me to have such an awesome experience in Japan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad, thanks for letting me know 🙂
LikeLike