length
7 Days
difficulty
Challenging - Strenuous
trip cost
From $2250 pp

Highlights
Get Ready For
- Walk the full length of the Nakahechi trail
- Soak in an onsen to soothe your muscles (and spirit!)
- Delicious handmade Japanese food with fresh local ingredients
- Traditional guesthouses with lots of character and friendly hosts
- Gain insights into life in rural Japan and the spiritual history of this path and region
Itinerary
The 7 Day Trail
ARRIVE IN KII-TANABE
The best way to reach Kii-Tanabe is by train (tickets not included and purchased locally). There are frequent trains from Kansai Airport, Osaka and Kyoto travelling southwards to Kii-Tanabe. Here the railway line parallels the coast and avoids the steep mountainous interior. The nearest major International Airport is Kansai (Osaka), from where you can take a 2 hour train journey to Kii-Tanabe. Train travel from Osaka to Kii-Tanabe takes just over 2 hours and from Kyoto approximately 2.5-3 hours.
Kii-Tanabe is the gateway town to the Imperial Route of the Kumano Kodo and a city surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and mountains on the other. The town is also home to the Tanabe Tourist Information Center – your tour orientation will be scheduled with the staff here. This evening is free for you to explore the town – enjoy great atmosphere at the Ajikoji Restaurant and Entertainment District, and perhaps stroll down to the Ogigahama Beach for sunset views.
WALK TAKIJIRI-OJI TO TSUGIZAKURA-OJI (17KM)
It is an early morning start today and after checking out and picking up your lunch box, you will take a 40-minute bus ride to Takijiri (paid locally), start of the walk. The first section of today’s walk will be a climb up from Takijiri-oji to Takahara, a rural hamlet on a ridge, noted for its ancient shrine surrounded by giant kusu-noki, or camphor trees, and a spectacular view over the surrounding Hatenashi mountain ranges. Reminders of the past, including Buddhist statues and oji shrines, line the route along the ancient highway as you climb upwards.
Leaving Takahara behind, you head further into the mountains along the old trail, past bamboo forest and then into the pencil pine. You continue to pass by reminders of the old highway, including an ichirizuka distance marker and the sites of old former tea houses, which provided rest and shelter to pilgrims up until the early 20th century. Continuing on you crest the Hashiori-Toge pass after a short climb. The trail then descends past the Three-Fold Moon viewing area, from where it is a short climb to the small but famous Gyuba-doji statue. This ancient statue shows Kazan, one of the first abdicated emperors to pilgrimage to Kumano, sitting astride both a horse and a cow. Your descent takes you along a cobbled path and staircase to Chikatsuyu, a small village and one of the few places where you can get limited supplies or drinks.
Your final stretch of the day takes you on a climb to Tsugizakura-oji and your accommodation for the evening. Nearby is a grove of giant cedar trees, some of which are reputed to be 800 years old! Accommodation tonight is in a small local minshuku guesthouse. If Tsugizakura accommodation is full on your chosen dates or if you are travelling with a larger group, you may stay in Chikatsuyu instead on this night.
6-8 hours walking
Meals: L D
WALK TSUGIZAKURA-OJI TO KUMANO HONGU TAISHA (21.5KM)
Today’s walk will bring you along many forest paths and eventually some mountain top villages before descending to Hongu. The walks starts with climbs over a number of passes and there is a permanent detour in place due to landslides on the main path. There are few facilities on the first part of today’s route which is through the forest before eventually leading you to the shrine at Hosshinmon-oji. At this point you also have the option to take a local bus (paid locally) as the road intersects here, or carry on down into the valley to Hongu. You will continue through small settlements and get your first glimpse of the great Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine and the giant torii gate called Oyunohara in the valley below.
Kumano Hongu Taisha is the main shrine in the area, to which all roads in the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage lead. A long stone staircase leads to the sacred grounds of the shrine, located on a ridge and surrounded by giant cedar and cypress trees. After looking around the impressive shrine you will jump on a local bus (paid locally) to our evening destination at nearby Yunomine Onsen or Kawayu Onsen, charming little hot spring villages.
Arriving at your overnight location is a treat for tired walkers as the steam billows from the thermal rivers and there is the promise of a relaxing onsen after your exertions. The onsen thermal hot spring baths are an important part of the Kumano Kodo traditions with pilgrims performing hot water purification rituals in preparation for visiting the shrine. For us it will be more a preparation for a delicious Japanese meal in your accommodation.
9 hours walking
Meals: B L D
REST DAY IN HONGU AREA
Today you can either completely relax and take in the local onsens or perhaps return to Hongu village for further explorations. If you wish to stretch your legs a little then walk back to Hongu on the Dainichi-goe route from Yunomine Onsen – this is a steep but delightful walk, passing some remarkable old carved statues at Hanakake Jizo, overgrown by tree roots.
Hongu village is home to the Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of the Kumano Sanzan, three grand shrines of Kumano, and head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan. Kumano was said to be the entrance gateway to the land of Yomi, the ‘other world’, which spirits travelled to in Japanese mythology. Across the Kumano Hongu Shrine is the Kumano Hongu Heritage Centre, featuring a diversity of exhibitions on the Kumano Kodo – all permanent exhibitions and videos include English translations. Just nearby the centre you will find Oyunohara, the largest torii shrine gate in the world at 34 meters tall, signifying the division of the secular and the spiritual worlds.
Be sure to also visit the tiny Tsuboyu onsen in a wooden cabin at the centre of town in Yunomine Onsen, which is the only UNESCO world heritage listed spa and the oldest in Japan at 1200 years old! The bath can be booked for a 30-minute private bathing and works on a first come first serve basis.
Meals: B D
WALK HONGU AREA TO KOGUCHI (13KM)
This morning you will take a short bus ride (paid locally) to Ukegawa to begin your walk. The Kogumotori-goe section is a fairly gentle trek with a climb and descent over a pass, and is mostly in the forested mountains with some nice ridge-walking sections.
The highlight of today’s walk is the Hyakken-gura pass, where a beautifully positioned Buddhist statue on a hilltop has a backdrop of the most spectacular views of the trip. The impressive Hyakken-gura look out surprises walkers with a lovely panoramic view of the 3600 peaks of Kumano. Take a moment to enjoy this stunning view, as pilgrims have been doing for over 1000 years.
The trail continues to rise and fall, sometimes gradual and the off time steeper when you continue towards the Sakura-jaya teahouse remains. The views from the Sakura-jaya teahouse remains down to the valley and across the mountains are impressive. It is said that when the owners of teahouses saw pilgrims approaching from far off in the distance, they would start to cook mochi rice cakes and boil water for tea, to have things ready to serve just as the pilgrims would arrive at the teahouse. From here the trail continues on a forest track and eventually descends into Koguchi, a small and isolated village surrounded by mountains and rivers.
6 hours walking
Meals: B L D
WALK KOGUCHI TO KUMANO NACHI TAISHA (14KM)
The Ogumotori-goe is the second day of a two-day trek from the Hongu area to Kumano Nachi Taisha. It is one of the toughest sections of the Nakahechi trail and a big day’s walk so we recommend an early start as you begin with a 2.5-hour uphill climb up the Dogiri-zaka slope. Dogiri-zaka can be directly translated as “Body Breaking Slope”, and is an appropriate name for this 5km uphill section that rises 800 metres to the Echizen-toge Pass.
Afterwards, you pass the Jizo-jaya teahouse remains to the Moja-no-Deai, ‘Abode of the Dead’. It is believed that the souls of the dead gravitate to these higher mountains, where spirits inhabit this section of the trail. The walk continues through forest and along ridges, the path ascending and descending, until at Funami Toge pass the Pacific Ocean spreads out before you.
From here the trail descends to the Nachisan sanctuary and the brightly colored Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine, another of the three grand shrines of Kumano. Also nearby is the wonderful wooden Seiganto-ji temple and the spectacular Nachi-no-Otaki waterfall, which is the highest in Japan and can be seen from far out on the Pacific Ocean. Tonight you will either overnight in Nachisan near the Kumano Nachi shrine or Kii Katsuura, a small fishing village approximately 20-minute bus ride from Nachisan. Relax and enjoy the completion of your extraordinary Kumano Kodo walk!
7 hours walking
Meals: B D
DEPART KII-KATSUURA
Today enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then transfer by train to your onwards destination. Train tickets are not included and can be purchased locally at the Kii-Katsuura train station.
Meals: B
Important Note: The Kumano Kodo is a popular walk at certain times of year and guesthouses/hotels sometimes get fully booked. This itinerary is a guide to a possible route. Details may change and the actual accommodations booked may vary from what is written here, dependent on client numbers, wishes and availability. This adjustment with accommodations may alter the exact distance walked in a day so the above itinerary should be used as an indication only to overnight stops/distances.
Inclusions
What you get
- 1 night in Kii-Tanabe (twin share, shared bathroom)
- 5 nights in traditional Japanese guesthouses (twin share, shared bathroom)
- Daily meals included as listed in the itinerary
- Luggage transfers on the Kumano Kodo on all trekking days
- Briefing in Kii-Tanabe at the start of your walk
- Pre-departure pack including Kumano Kodo guidebook, detailed notes, luggage tags and RAW Travel buff (1 pack per 2 clients travelling together)
- Local bus tickets
- Train tickets to/from trail
- Flights to/from destination
- Travel insurance
- Single supplement
- Beverages other than water at meals
- Expenses and items of a personal nature
- Flights
- Tours
- Rail passes

Exclusive Guide
get inspired
Our destination guide is bursting with all you need to know about walking the sacred Nakahechi pilgrimage route, the most popular and accessible of all the routes. You’ll love the peacefulness and tranquillity of the trail, the food (so elegant and refined!), the onsens (a cherished Japanese ritual), and the traditional family run guesthouses, full of character and charm.
Kumano Kodo
The Autumn Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Stay in traditional guesthouses
- Beautiful, changing colours are a highlight for people on this trek
- Enjoy delicious handmade Japanese food with fresh local ingredients
- A great option for solo travellers or enjoy the company and support of others
$2,495.00
Kumano Kodo
The Dual Pilgrim Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Participate in a Purification ceremony
- Experience Kumano Hongu Taisha Spring Festival
- Annual festival held in Hongu to honour the Kumano Deities
- Receive a commemorative Dual Pilgrim shirt and Tenegui
$2,895.00
Kumano Kodo
The Extended Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Hike the full length of the Nakahechi route
- Enjoy a day on the challenging Kohechi route
- Journey along the Kumano-gawa river in a traditional boat
- Experience the life of a monk by staying in a Buddhist monastery
$3,495.00
Kumano Kodo
The Highlights Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Stay in traditional minshuku and ryokan accommodation
- Experience a traditional boat ride along the Kumano-gawa river
- Savour delicious Japanese food using fresh local ingredients
- Visit all 3 grand shrines; collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan
$1,995.00
Kumano Kodo
The Kyoto and Koyasan Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Explore Kyoto, the culture and historical heart of the country
- Visit temples, shrines and traditional gardens
- Stay at a Japanese Buddhist temple
- Learn about traditional daily rituals, join a spiritual ceremony
$3,995.00
Kumano Kodo
The Mike Rhodes Trip – Kumano Kodo
- Hike the full length of the Nakahechi route
- Enjoy a day on the more challenging Kohechi route
- Gain a great understanding of this ancient pilgrimage trail
- Be enlightened by the experience, enthusiasm and knowledge of your local guide Mike Rhodes
$5,695.00
Kumano Kodo
The Spring Trip – Kumano Kodo
- A great option for solo travellers
- Stay in traditional guesthouses
- Spring is a wonderful time to hike the Nakahechi Trail
- Enjoy delicious handmade Japanese food with fresh local ingredients
$2,495.00
Nakasendo Way
The Group Guided Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Fully guided walk with our qualified Japanese guide
- Dive into the colourful history of the Shogun/Samurai
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit 16 of the original post towns from the Nobi plain land to deep in the Kisoji valley
$3,995.00
Nakasendo Way
The Group, Self-Guided Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Trek in a group of like-minded travellers
- A journey through the heart of Japan
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
$3,375.00
Nakasendo Way
The Highlights Trip with Shimo-Suwa Onsen – Nakasendo Way
- Visit Shimosuwa, the only hot springs district
- Understand the feudal history with our local guide
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Walk on ishidatami (stone paving) dating back over 400 years
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso-Fukushima and Narai
$2,895.00
Nakasendo Way
The Highlights Trip with Togakushi – Nakasendo Way
- Walk the historical Nakasendo Way through the Kiso Valley
- Learn the feudal history of the Nakasendo Way with our local guide
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
- Togakushi, visit shrines, walk amongst giant cedar trees
- Nagano, home to Zenkoji Temple, one of Japan’s most important
$2,895.00
Nakasendo Way
The Kyoto and Tokyo Trip – Nakasendo Way
- Explore Kyoto, the cultural and historical heart of the country
- Discover old and new Tokyo with a private, guided tour
- Visit Nakatsugawa, Magome, Tsumago, Kiso Fukushima and Narai
$4,650.00
TRIP date selection
when would you like to travel?
Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed