Kumano Kodo self-guided walking 4 days

The quintessential Kumano Kodo experience on the classic Nakahechi route.

A condensed version of the wonderful Nakahechi route, introducing you to the highlights of the Kumano Kodō. With 3 hikes of 2-7 hours, this tour offers more challenging options on day 3 for avid hikers and is eligible for Dual Pilgrim certification.

Kumano Kodo self-guided walking 4 days

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June 2024
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Tour details

Kumano Kodo self-guided walking 4 days
x1 traveller
USD 0
Single room additional charge
USD 330
TOTAL
USD 0

If you would like to do multiple tours in one trip or have a question about any of our tours, do not hesitate to contact us with the button below.

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  • Duration: 4 days
  • Trip level:
    Active
    Level
  • Availability: All year (snow falls occasionally from December to March)
  • Type:Self-guided
    Level
  • Price: USD 1,210(Price per person, based on 2 travellers sharing a room)
Highlights
  • Visit the atmospheric Hongū Grand Shrine and Hayatama Grand Shrine
  • Enjoy enchanting sections of the Kumano Kodō for travellers with a more limited schedule
  • Taste excellent Japanese cuisine freshly-prepared with local ingredients
  • Sleep on futons laid out on tatami-mat flooring in traditional Japanese inns – an authentic Japanese ryokan experience!
  • Bathe in the thermal waters at a hot spring ryokan
  • Earn credentials to receive Dual Pilgrim status

South of Japan’s ancient capital of Kyōto and bustling Ōsaka lies the Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula on Japan’s main island of Honshū. The history of this region goes back more than 1,000 years as a spiritual centre, with pilgrims ranging from emperors to common folk walking the trails that made up the Kumano Kodō. The Kumano Kodō (Kumano Ancient Trail) is made of five specific routes: the Nakahechi, Kohechi, Iseji, Kiiji, and Ōhechi.

Our 4-day Kumano Kodō tour is our shortest on this ancient pilgrimage, and introduces you to the classic Nakahechi route, weaving through forested mountains and small villages towards Hongū Grand Shrine.

After visiting ridgetop villages and peaceful countryside settlements, arrive in Hongū to visit the Grand Shrine here. Afterwards, arrive in Shingū, home of Hayatama Grand Shrine and Kamikura Shrine, a sacred place where it is believed the gods first descended before being enshrined.

You’re supported by our team in Kyōto, our local Chikatsuyu office, and by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and topographical maps to guide you on your way, created by our team of hikers for you.

If you’re looking for a condensed version of the Kumano Kodō experience, our 4-day self-guided tour will introduce you to many of its highlights, as you enjoy delicious local meals at your traditional Japanese inns and refresh yourself in onsen baths between your hikes.

Have you walked the Camino de Santiago? You can obtain Dual Pilgrim status on our tour, or earn your credentials and obtain the status on your future Camino de Santiago trip. 

Daily luggage transfer is also available along the Kumano Kodō trail as an optional extra service.

Download PDF Itinerary

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What is included
3 nights at Japanese inns along the Kumano Kodō Trail
3 breakfasts and 3 dinners
Round-trip train tickets from Kyōto or Ōsaka
Detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking directions
Detailed maps
Local support by telephone and at our Kumano Kodō branch
Our Preparing for Your Trip and Travelling in Japan guidebooks
What is not included
Flights
Airport transfers
Drinks and meals not included in itinerary
Local bus journeys which must be paid directly to the bus driver
Single room supplement(s) for solo occupancy
Daily luggage transfer
Itinerary

Tour itineraries are subject to change. We will inform you of any amendments as soon as we become aware of them.

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