Where to stay on the Kumano Kodo: accommodation along the pilgrimage

Ask any of the pilgrims who’ve walked the Kumano Kodo and they will tell you it’s much more than a walking trail: it’s a cultural and spiritual journey through ancient Japan. The accommodation along the way reflects this richness, offering travellers the chance to experience local hospitality, traditional living, and serene surroundings. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you about the accommodation on the Kumano Kodo, what to consider when planning your trip, and how booking through RAW Travel saves you the headache of trying to organise accommodation through Japanese reservation systems and guarantees you a spot along the trail.

Where and what is Kumano Kodo?

The Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pilgrimage trails in the Kii Peninsula, south of Kyoto and Osaka, in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture. These UNESCO World Heritage-listed routes connect sacred sites such as Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha, offering hikers a chance to experience Japan’s spiritual heritage while traversing stunning landscapes of forests, mountains, and rivers.

Also read: How difficult is the Kumano Kodo?

Types of accommodation on the Kumano Kodo

At RAW Travel, we use a variety of accommodations on our Kumano Kodo trips, from centrally located hotels in bigger cities to more traditional accommodation in rural areas like Takahara, Chikatsuyu, and Hongu.

Ryokan and minshuku

The majority of accommodations along the trail are ryokans and minshukus (traditional Japanese-style inns and guest houses) that offer a great chance to meet local people and enjoy a truly authentic Japanese cultural atmosphere. 

Ryokans and minshukus are basic in style with shared toilet and bathroom facilities, but have great character and friendly hosts. Most guest rooms are Japanese-style, with straw tatami mats used for flooring. Guests sleep on futons (thin mattresses that are spread on tatami mats at night and stored folded in a closet during the day).

Please note that heating/air-conditioning is still coin-operated in some of the traditional inns.

Relax in an onsen after a day of hiking

Most accommodations along the trail offer an onsen (hot spring bath) which is a soothing part of your Japanese experience. Bathing is communal, though segregated by gender, and people undress and bathe before entering the onsen bath. Bathing in an onsen is a great way to rejuvenate tired muscles after a long day of trekking and leaves you feeling refreshed and clean.

Hotel accommodation in cities

In cities, we use centrally located hotels with ensuite bathrooms. Hotel rooms in Japan are often smaller than what you may have found in western style hotels. In more remote places, hotel standards may not be quite as high as in major centres, but RAW Travel always endeavours to use the most suitable accommodation available in each destination.

It is also worth noting that smoking in hotel rooms is not unusual or culturally frowned upon in Japan. We will always aim to book non-smoking rooms, but even then previous clients may have chosen to smoke in the room and thus on occasion there may be a slight aroma of smoke in your room or other areas of the accommodation.

All accommodation details will be sent to you separately with your pre-departure pack, as the properties used will depend on your preferred dates and availability.

Japanese Style Rooms

Also read: Do’s and don’ts of a successful Kumano Kodo pilgrimage

Leave the booking for us: RAW Travel can help with your Kumano Kodo itinerary

Booking accommodation along the Kumano Kodo can be complex. Availability is often tight, especially in popular areas like Hongu or on stretches of the Nakahechi route, and many lodgings rely on a reservation system that may not cater to English-speaking travellers.

At RAW Travel, we handle the logistics for you, ensuring your itinerary is seamless so you can focus on enjoying your pilgrimage. We offer Kumano Kodo options for every traveller, from a 7-day trail to The Highlights Trip and seasonal hikes like The Spring Trip and The Autumn Trip.

Get in touch with our team today to start planning your walking adventure.