Kumano Kodo Kohechi Route (Koyasan to Omata)

The first stage of the Kohechi route begins near the Daimon Gate in Koyasan, Ito District, Wakayama, reached via the Nankai Koya Line to Gokurakubashi Station, the Koyasan cable car, and a short bus ride into town; no permit is needed, though hikers should register their itinerary with lodging or local tourist offices given the route's remoteness. This roughly 17 km first stage climbs from Koyasan's 800 m plateau over the Mizugamine Pass at about 1,000 m before descending to the hamlet of Omata just across the Nara border, taking 6-7 hours. The path alternates between forest dirt trail, root-covered slopes, and short rocky scrambles near the pass, with sustained, repeated elevation change rather than a single climb; there is no continuous exposure to cliffs, but the terrain is uneven and physically demanding. Dense cedar and cypress forest provides shade for most of the route, broken by occasional ridge clearings. Key landmarks include the Daimon Gate departure point, the Mizugamine Pass summit, and the small settlement of Omata, which marks the recommended overnight stop and turn-around point for day hikers. Mobile phone signal is unreliable or absent for long stretches, and there are no huts or formal shelters between Koyasan and Omata; the handful of mountain lodges in Omata are the first reliable shelter and water resupply point after leaving Koyasan. Hikers should carry all the water and food needed for the full stage, as no shops or vending machines exist along the way.