紀伊田辺駅

関西国際空港から天王寺行きの普通電車で一駅
＜日野根＞で特急くろしおに乗り換えて1時間半。
紀伊田辺駅に着いた時は陽もすっかり暮れていた。
駅前から入り込んだ商店街は昭和の雰囲気を漂わせ
さらに奥まった路地裏には酒場のネオンが軒を連ねていた。
10分ほど歩くと今日の宿泊ホテル＜花屋＞さんがあった。
明日は早い、近くのお食事処で遅い夕飯を済ませ早々に就寝。

早朝、駅前発＜熊野本宮大社＞直行バスは紀伊山地を山深く奥行っていた。

Kii Tanabe Station
From Kansai International Airport, I took a local train bound for Tennoji and changed to the limited express Kuroshio at Hinone, one stop away, for an hour and a half. When we arrived at Kii-Tanabe Station, the sun had already set. A 10-minute walk brought us to today's hotel, Hanaya. Tomorrow was early, so we had a late supper at a nearby restaurant and went to bed early.

Early in the morning, the bus departing from the station directly to "Kumano Hongu Taisha" was going deep into the mountains in the Kii mountain range.

発心門王子から中辺路7km

１時間40分程バス移動で、熊野本宮大社前のロータリーに到着。
目の前が目指す熊野本宮大社への階段だが、ここで本宮大社に
詣ってしまうと熊野古道を一歩も歩いてないことになる。

本宮大社を横目で見ながらコインロッカーにザックを預けて
神の領域の始まりと言われている＜発心門王子＞までバスで戻る。
発心門王子〜水呑王子〜伏拝王子（ふしおがみ）〜祓殿王子（はらいど）
山深い自然の美しさを堪能しながら熊野古道を歩く。２時間ほどで
（再び）熊野本宮大社へ到着、お詣りする。
昼食は大社境内のお食事処で名物の＜めはり寿司＞をいただく。

After 1 hour and 40 minutes on the bus, we arrived at the roundabout in front of Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine. In front of us are the stairs to Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, but if we pay a visit to Hongu Taisha Shrine here, we will not have taken a single step along the Kumano Kodo. We left our bags in the coin locker while looking at the Hongu Taisha shrine from the side, and returned by bus to Hatsushinmon-oji, which is said to be the beginning of the domain of the gods. After two hours, we arrived (again) at the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine and paid our respects. We had lunch at a restaurant on the grounds of the Kumano Grand Shrine, where we had the famous "mehari-zushi" (rice ball sushi).

大斎原から湯の峰温泉へ大日越

コインロッカーからザックを取り出し
かつて熊野本宮大社があった＜大斎原＞へ向かう
河原の中洲に降り大鳥居を抜けるとパワースポット大斎原の森が
広がっていた。丸い河石の上をしばらく歩き再び車道に戻る。

大斎原のバス停から宿泊旅館のある、湯の峰温泉までは
バスで15分程だが、私たちは熊野古道＜大日越＞2km標高300mの
大日越えの山道を歩く。
7kgのザックを背負って修行のトレッキング。
1時間30分程歩くと硫黄の匂いが漂ってきた。日本最古の温泉＜つぼ湯＞
今日の宿泊旅館＜伊せや＞さんに到着。歴史ある木造建築の宿。
お風呂は湯の花が浮かぶとても泉質いい温泉。
通常は宿泊客は外国人（西洋人）が90%とのこと。コロナ規制で
宿泊客は私たち４人だけ。山里の静かな宿でゆっくり旅の疲れを癒しました。

Dainichicho from Osaibara to Yunomine Onsen
Take out your sack from the coin locker
We headed for <Osaibara> where the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine used to be located.
When we got off at the sandbank of the riverbank and passed through the Otorii gate, the forest of Osaibara, a power spot, was spread out.
The forest of Osaibara, a power spot, was spread out.
After walking for a while on the round river stones, we returned to the road.
From the bus stop in Osaibara, there is a bus to Yunomine Onsen
The bus from the bus stop in Osaibara to Yunomine Onsen, where we were staying, took about 15 minutes. (The trip takes 15 minutes).
We walked along the Kumano Kodo <Dainichigoe>, a 2-km mountain trail at an elevation of 300 meters.
It was a training trek with a 7 kg pack on our backs.
After walking for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, the smell of sulfur wafted through the air. Japan's oldest hot spring <Tsuboyu>.
We arrived at today's lodging Ryokan <Iseya>. The inn is a historic wooden structure.
The bath is a very good hot spring with hot spring flowers floating in it.
Usually, 90% of the guests are foreigners (Westerners). Due to the Corona regulation, we were the only four guests.
We were the only four guests. We relaxed in the quiet inn in the mountain village.