Kumano Kodo - Day 2

After a good rest, I departed for Hosshimon-oji. The hotel provided free transit to the Hongu area, so I saved some time waiting for the bus. The plan for the day was a 7 km walk from Hosshimon-oji to Oyunohara. Since my next lodging was in the Yunomine Onsen area, I decided to add an extra walk from Oyunohara to Yunomine Onsen, which was about 2.2 km.

At Hosshimon-oji, the trail is essentially a connecting route to the Takijiri trail. The previous stamping station was about 800 meters from Hosshimon-oji, so I made a detour to Inohana-oji. That detour added approximately 1.6 km to my journey, taking about 30 minutes or more.

From Hosshimon-oji (after detouring via Inohana-oji), I started walking toward Hongu Taisha, which was about a 2.5-hour walk. Along the way, I stopped to rest and take photos. It was quite a leisurely walk. Part of the trail is paved, while the rest consists of forest paths lined with cypress trees (I guess). By the time I reached the town around Hongu Taisha, it was noon. I had my packed lunch at the heritage center, then continued on to Oyunohara, where the largest torii gate in the country is located.

From Oyunohara, I proceeded to Yunomine Onsen. This turned out to be quite a hike. I initially thought it would be a moderate hill climb, but it turned out to be a continuous ascent for the first half of the trail, followed by a continuous descent for the second half. Overall, the trail took me to an elevation gain of over 200 meters—I was essentially crossing a small hill.

Initially, I had booked my stay at Ryokan Adumaya (one of the more expensive accommodations on my itinerary). However, perhaps because I was traveling solo and occupying an entire room, it may not have been profitable for them. Instead, I was offered an alternative at Minshuku Yunosato, about a 15-minute walk from Yunomine Onsen. It turned out to be the best experience of my trip. The minshuku had a private onsen spa and served delicious dinner and breakfast. I would definitely return if I have the opportunity in the future. That marked the end of Day 2.