Kumano Day 2

 Day 2 Takjiri to Chikatsuya (6 hours)


9.45am We left Organic Hotel Kirinosato of Takahara (est 300m elevation) after a good breakfast on a misty morning.




Then we followed Kumano Kodo signs, and walked steep uphill between houses and farms



When we entered the forest, it was steep uphill.



10.00am Ishidatami stone paving, steep uphill


10.05am We passed an A-frame building and ichiri-zuka milestone


Then we continued steep uphill


10.20am Takahara-Ike Pond


10.30am Sign for 'Daimon-oji 0.1km'

10.35am Daimon-oji (est 550m elevation)

We climbed past 600m, then descended again to 550m, then climbed again to Jujo-oji




11.25 - 11.50am Rest area with toilet, just before Jujo-oji (est 600m elevation). 


We stopped for our lunch break here. Every day, the guest houses would pack us little lunch boxes, usually with rice or onigiri.




The route to Uwadajaya Teahouse goes steep up and steep down several times



12.30pm Another ichiri-zuka milestone, followed by marker 17

Uwadajaya Teahouse remains are at the top (est 700m elevation), followed by marker 18

The path is steep down from here



1.20pm Site of 'Three-fold moon'

The path goes steep down again...and goes steep up again


2.05pm Osakamoto-oji (est 400m elevation)


2.40 - 3.20pm Michi-no-eki rest area with toilets (est 300m elevation). The kitchen for hot food is open for lunch only until 2.30pm. Since we arrived past 2.30pm, we could only buy snacks and use the vending machines


Then we had to climb uphill again.


3.40pm Gyuba-doji (est 350m elevation).



The path from here is steep downhill


3.55pm View of Chikatsuya 


4.05pm Bridge crossing to Chikatsuya

4.10pm Chikatsuya-oji (est 250m elevation)

Next to Chikatsuya-oji is the public footbath


We walked onwards to the Minshuku Chikatsuya, where we were staying. 




It's situated by the riverside at the foot of the hills - very picturesque.



After putting our things down, we walked out to the Chikatsuya A-Coop (small supermarket, 900m walk from Minshuku Chikatsuya) and bought snacks for the next few days.


Excellent dinner at Minshuku Chikatsuya



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