カテゴリー: Kumano Kodo A question and answer

Q.We will be hiking the Kohechi route in early November. I have a few questions:

1. What is the temperature like on Kohechi?

2. Do we need to reserve train/bus tickets? Specifically the train/cable/bus from Osaka to Koyasan. And the bus from Hongu to various places?

3. Are we able to get the credential packs in Koyasan?

4. What is the snake and Yellowjacket situation on the trail in early November?

A.

1. The average temperature in November at Koyasan, which would be the starting point, is a maximum of 12.2°C and a minimum of 3°C.
   On day 2, Nosekogawa Village has a maximum temperature of 17.4°C and a minimum temperature of 8.6°C
   On the 3rd and 4th day, Totsukawa Village has a maximum temperature of 15.9°C and a minimum temperature of 6.3°C.
   On the second, third, and fourth days, you will cross 1,000-meter-high mountains.
   The temperature drops 0.6°C for every 1 m rise in elevation, so the temperature will be about 6°C lower than in the plains.
   Please be sure to take adequate cold-weather protection.
2. Reservations are not required.
3. A dual pilgrim stampbook for the Kumano Kodo and Santiago de Compostela can be obtained from the Koyasan Shukubo Association. It is free of charge. However, I am not sure what “credential packs” refers to. Stamps for the Kohechi pilgrimage are basically available at the lodges. Please note that there are no stamps on the trail except on the first and last day.
4. Please be very careful, because although they are probably no longer in the cooler areas near the summit, they are still active in other parts of the mountain. Please note that hornets and Yellowjackets, in particular, become more aggressive from September to November.

Q.Recommendations for anything fun to do in shingū? Restaurants, bike rides, etc. We hope to visit the ocean.

A.There are many places to visit in Shingu. If you want to explore the city, it is more efficient to go around by bicycle.
Bicycles can be rented at the tourist center in front of Shingu Station.
World Heritage Cityside Cycling 

There is Asuka Shrine, Nishimura Isaku Memorial Museum, Chapman Residence, Shingu Castle Ruins, Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, Kamikura Shrine, and Ukijima-no-mori Island.

If you continue on to the coastline, you can see Ojigahama Beach and reach the entrance of Kumano Kodo Koyazaka (2 km).
At Koyazaka, you can also go down to the beach.
When you finish walking, there is a bus stop near the exit from which you can get off at “Hirotsuno” to pick up your bicycle.

There are also many restaurants.
Shingu City Tourist Association

Q. Can someone point or recommend for a car rental place which allow renting cars from Tanabe or shingu area, and return it in Tokyo?

We will be 10 people, so we will need few cars…

A. Toyota Rent-A-Car has branches in Kii-Tanabe and Shingu Stations, so I think you can rent a car there.
It may be possible to return the car in Tokyo, but if you are traveling a long distance, I recommend taking the train.
It should be safer and more comfortable.

Q.
Does anyone here have rakuten as their mobile provider? I’m expecting not to get the best cell service but does it work for most part of the trail? Or should I consider changing mobile provider? Thank you!

A.
As you say, Rakuten does not offer the best cell service.

I use Rakuten Mobile, but I often get no signal in Kumano Kodo, and I do not recommend it.
I would recommend you to use other providers if possible.

Rakuten Mobile states that it has “97% population coverage,” but while calls can be made in the villages along the Kumano Kodo, there are no people in the mountains, so calls cannot be made very often.

Among Japanese mobile carriers, docomo has the best area coverage.

Q.
楽天を携帯のプロバイダーにしている人はいますか？最高の携帯電話サービスは得られないと思っていますが、トレイルの大部分では使えますか？それともプロバイダーの変更を検討すべきでしょうか？

A.
仰る通り、楽天は最高のサービスは得られません。

私は楽天モバイルを使用していますが、熊野古道では結構圏外になることが多く、あまりお勧めはできません。
できれば他のプロバイダーにされることをお勧めいたします。

楽天モバイルは、「人口カバー率97％」と謳っていますが、熊野古道沿いの集落はともかく、山中では人がいませんので、これは適用されません。

日本のキャリアの中で、一番エリアをカバーしているのはdocomoです。

I will answer some simple questions that come up when walking the Kumano Kodo, based on my experience.

Q:
I’m doing the KK mid October and wondering if it’s easy enough to buy energy bars in Kyoto prior or should I bring that sort of thing from Australia. Hate them super sweet and thought local ones might be.

A:
I don’t know what Australian energy bars are like, but I think Japanese ones are pretty sweet too.
There are also energy bars at the 7-Eleven in Kii-Tanabe station, but they are few in number and variety, so we recommend that you buy them in Kyoto in advance.
In Kyoto, it is available at convenience stores and drugstores.
On the Kumano Kodo trail, it is difficult to find energy bars because there are very few stores, but you may be able to find them at A-COOP (grocery store) in Chikatsuyu, although they are not as plentiful.
There are also small convenience stores in the Hongu area.
The first is near the torii gate of the Hongu Taisha shrine and the second is near the Ukegawa bus stop which is close to the trailhead of Kogumotorigoe.
Both are called “Yamazaki Y Shop”.
They are closed on Wednesdays, but please note that they may be closed on other days as well.

A・COOP in Chikatsuyu
Yamazaki Y Shop