Kumano Kodo Walking Trail in Japan
The history of the Kumano Kodo Trail
To walk the Kumano Kodo Trail is to follow in the footsteps of pilgrims going back thousands of years. Pilgrims who have sought out not only the three magnificent Kumano shrines, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha, but also the spiritual influences of the mountains en route. Because these peaks and valleys of the Kii Mountains, straddling the Kii Peninsula south of Kyoto, have long been a focus of worship in themselves, as they are considered to have a sacred power, according to the doctrine known as sangaku shinko. This 258km walking route and the shrines that line it evolved during Japan’s Heian period (794-1185) when emperors and their entourage emanating from the ancient capital city of Kyoto sought spiritual solace in nature and mountains.
Pilgrims still follow this route to visit the main holy shrines but also many other temples and small Oji shrines that are perfectly poised among bamboo forests, with views overlooking the Pacific or mountain valleys. There are also small, traditional villages to visit en route and ethereal landscapes all around, whether you worship a deity or not.
Pilgrims still follow this route to visit the main holy shrines but also many other temples and small Oji shrines that are perfectly poised among bamboo forests, with views overlooking the Pacific or mountain valleys. There are also small, traditional villages to visit en route and ethereal landscapes all around, whether you worship a deity or not.
Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes
The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes can be categorised into three sub-routes: Kiji, Kohechi and Iseji. Most hikers coming from Kyoto only take on a section of it, and the most popular is on the Kiji sub section which runs down the west coast of the peninsula as far as Tanabe and then takes two forks. One fork, the Nakahechi section, goes inland into the mountains and the other fork, the Ohechi section, continues on down the coast. It is the mountainous Nakahechi section that most tourists seek out, taking four or five days to complete. Nakahechi also takes in Hongu Taisha and Hayatama Taisha, two of the three main shrines.
Our Japan walking Vacations
Nakasendo Trail walking tour, Japan
Village-to-village walking on the historic Nakasendo trail
From
US $4420
12 days
ex flights
Kumano Kodo trekking vacation, Japan
Village to village walking in the sacred Kii Peninsula
From
US $3395
9 days
ex flights
Honshu hiking vacation in Japan
A challenging walking and hiking vacation in Japan.
From
US $4538
17 days
ex flights
Japan self guided trekking vacation, Nakasendo Trail
Self-guided walking along Japan’s ancient Nakasendo trail
From
US $1040 to US $1845
5 days
ex flights
Kumano Kodo trail self guided trekking vacation, Japan
Self guided trekking on the Kumano Kodo Trail
From
US $1070 to US $1445
6 days
ex flights
Shikoku Pilgrimage self guided walking tour, Japan
Shikoku 88 Pilgimage route self-guided walking
From
US $1395 to US $2650
10 days
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Japan walking or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
The vacation
On the Nakahechi section you can spend four days walking over mountainous terrain, hiking from west to east and finishing in the coastal town of Katsuura. Choosing either a guided or self guided walking vacation, walkers usually start this section by taking the bullet train to Tanabe, near the gateway to UNESCO World Heritage sacred ground at Takijiri-oji, where they begin a 40km trail to the great shrine Hongu Taisha. You can break up this hike at traditional villages such as Takahara and Chikatsuyu, staying in ryokan or smaller minshuku inns with their own thermal spring baths or onsen. The most celebrated hot spring baths are Yunomine Onsen. Tsuboyu is a small cabin on the creek that runs through this isolated onsen village. Inside is a small rocky bath that is the only UNESCO World Heritage hot spring that you can bathe in, and one where pilgrims have ‘purified themselves’ before taking the final climb to Hongū Taisha.This section of the Kumano Kodo Trail also includes a boat ride from Hongu Taisha shrine, down the Kumano River to one of the other main shrines, Hayatama Taisha in the coastal town of Shingu, a unforgettable river pilgrimage that takes in 40km of the Kumano Kodo, and one that is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once you have completed this section of the trail, you are zipped back to Kyoto in no time from Katsuura by bullet train.
More about Japan walking
It has exquisite qualities all year round really, so when trying to work out the best time to go walking in Japan, there are two times to be wary of.
This walking vacations in Japan guide opens up a world of ancient long distance walking trails, summits seeking opportunities as well as city walking tours.
From the iconic Nakasendo and Kumano Kodo long distance walking trails to the top of Mount Fuji, and then back down to sea level on Shikoku Island’s pilgrimage trails, you can walk your bamboo socks off in Japan.
This was 500km of feudal forays through mountains and valley, along ridges and through ancient forests.
The epic Shikoku Pilgrimage trail loops around the smallest of Japan’s major islands, taking in dozens of temples and offering the faithful a path to enlightenment.
Walking vacations in Honshu are a fantastic way to delve deeper into the culture and traditions, especially in rural areas, of Japan’s largest island.
Walking vacations in Nikko and Yumoto Onsen explore some of Japan’s most attractive landscapes, north of Tokyo in a national park that is renowned for the seasonal colours of its foliage.
The biggest walking in Japan travel tip is to start reading all about it as soon as you can.
