KUMANO KODO – Yunomine Onsen to Koguchi

The bus arrived promptly and 15 minutes later we were at Ukegawa ready to start today’s section of the KUMANO KODO. A 13 km hike through the forest and over the mountain to Koguchi

The trail was clearly marked and indeed where there was some possibility for confusion that was clearly marked too

There were numbered markers every 500m – ours today started at 53 and finished at 29.

We were walking mainly on forest paths and could see mostly trees but occasionally a clearing appeared and we were treated to some fantastic views.

We had been given a packed lunch before we left the ryoken – it was a bit different from your normal packed lunch!

So all was going well. We were enjoying it and making good progress when we heard the rumbling of thunder in the distance. As we only had a couple of kilometres to go we pressed on and within minutes were caught in the most ferocious thunderstorm. There was nothing to be done but get wet. By the time we had finished the hike we were soaked to the skin. Literally.

Lots of different groups of people hike the various sections of the KUMANO KODO and we crossed paths with a few of them. Everyone is very friendly and today a group of us went for coffee in Kojuchi as we all tried to dry off. Unfortunately we started to get cold sitting in our wet clothes. So we called our accommodation and asked to be picked up

We were taken to a very small ryoken out in the countryside. As it turned out we are the only people staying here so it is incredibly peaceful.

So we were relaxing with a beer when the news of Mo Salah’s contract extension came through! Made us even more cheerful

I had what is now becoming a daily ritual, a hot bath. Not communal this time though as the place is too small

Dinner was some sort of venison hotpot with noodles- really good and just what you need after a day hiking and getting rained on!

We were both early to bed.

Tomorrow’s hike is the last but is also the toughest so we will be up early again and on our way. We finish at the coast and will be staying the night at a ryoken on an island just off the coast there. So next update from the Pacific!