OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Kumano’s sacred mountains have been a major pilgrimage destination for the imperial and aristocratic families since 794AD. The 1200-year-old Kumano Kodo walk traverses mountains and forests, through villages and to fabulous ancient temples and waterfalls. A pilgrimage to purify mind, soul and spirit and in its current format, is bound to leave you with a real sense of improved well-being.
Walk the Kumano Kodo, one of two UNESCO’s world heritage listed walks, and then soak in an onsen at night while staying in traditional Japanese accommodation, savouring elaborate traditional Japanese multi-course dinners and breakfasts. This walk is the same as the 7 day offer, but without the rest day.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- An ancient hike through Buddhist and Shinto history together with an immersive backcountry Japanese cultural experience away from the ultra-hyper modern city
- Walk toward becoming a dual pilgrim by walking the Kumano Kodo (the other world heritage listed walk is the Camino de Santiago)
- Each day enjoy authentic Japanese meals served in elegant tatami mat settings, staying in small traditional Japanese Ryokans or Minshukus, plus walkers lunches
- Walk pack free on well-graded trails, with wondrous views, through old forest and bathe in onsens each day. We can vary the lengths of walks on the Kumano Kodo most days
- See the Grand Shrines at Hongu and Nachi-san, along with the Nachi-taki waterfall
AT A GLANCE
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate
to Challenging PRICE FROM
$ 1360
per person twin/double shareSINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 260
per personITINERARY
DAY one
Kii-Tanabe
Travel by train to the small coastal village of Kii-Tanabe, the gateway to the Kumano Kodo via the picturesque coastline from Osaka or Kyoto. Please ask us for our transport information summary document if you need it.
Kii Tanabe is a small Japanese town that is not populated by tourists. The town is on the ocean and serves the local area. There is an opportunity to explore the town, its many small shrines, the beach and ample time to ready yourself for the upcoming walk, including a briefing session with our local Kumano Kodo expert.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Tanabe
Meals: None
DAY two
Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu
The walk on the Nakahechi route begins with a significant climb passing through Takahara, a small village perched on the side of a mountain. The Nakahechi is the imperial route once used by Japanese royalty, walked for generations back to the 8th century. There are beautiful views as you skirt across the face of the mountain before the trail winds its’ way back into the forest. This is the first real sense of walking through the distinctive Japanese forest canopy on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Chikatsuyu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Moderate /14 km / 5 to 6.5 hrs
Elevation: +630 / -610
DAY three
Chikatsuyu to Hongu Taisha
It’s an early start today, for this is the biggest day of the pilgrimage. We hike ancient mountain trails to Hongu Taisha, one of the three main shrines of the Kumano Kodo. This 24km hike can be modified to 16km or 8km, depending on how you’re feeling. You’ll hike the sacred Kii Mountains, said to be the entrance to the land of Yomi, in mythological terms the Shinto underworld. Pass through small villages, thick green forest and aside cascading streams. Pass shrine after shrine, eventually arriving at Hongu Taisha, where you can explore the massive temple. Before dinner, take a dip in either your accommodation’s onsen or one of the many ancient public onsens that dot the area. Dress in your Yukata (best described as a formal Japanese bathrobe ) that’s provided at each of the accommodations and enjoy a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in either Kawayu, Wataze or Yunomine Onsens
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Challenging / 24 km (or 16 km or 8 km) / 8.5-9.5 hrs
Elevation: +1130 / -980
DAY four
Ukegawa to Koguchi
The Nakahechi continues on the Kogumotori-goe path, one of the best walks the region has to offer. Starting alongside the Kumano River, the walk ventures up the mountain through forest and back down again to the small village of Koguchi. Highlights include views from Nyatten -gura over the 3600 peaks of Kumano. Today’s walk is the shortest of the itinerary, allowing time for a lazy day by the river, more onsen bathing or further exploration of the area.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Koguchi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Easy to moderate / 12.8 km / 4.5-5.5 hrs
Elevation: +670 / -690m
DAY five
Koguchi to Nachi-san
The start of today’s walk is as challenging as you can get, but it’s our favourite on the Nakahechi, so you’re in for a real treat. There’s a fair bit of elevation and walking up, but the views out over the Pacific and the glimpses of mountains as you traverse through the forest make it all worth the effort. The highlight though is the walk into Nachi-San Taisha over the ancient Ogumotori-goe path travelled by thousands of pilgrims and then walking into the magnificent shrine. The panoramic scene of the superb orange Seiganto-ji Temple against the backdrop of the sacred Nachi waterfall, the biggest in Japan, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spectacles in all of Japan.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Nachi-san or Nachi-Katsuura
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Moderate to challenging / 14.2 km / 5.5-7 hrs
Elevation: +1260 / -930m
DAY six
Onward to your next destination
After your last traditional Japanese breakfast, farewell the walk by exploring the temple complex further and or make your way onwards to Osaka, Kyoto or a destination of your choice. There are many options to further explore in Wakayama. Stay in a beautiful seaside village like Shirahama along the Shihara coast. The Doro-kyo Gorge boat trip from Shingu is much heralded, or visit Koyasan, the spiritual capital of Japan. If you want even more of a laid-back experience, then the Yuasa or Hidaka areas haven’t changed much for hundreds of years and are a good place to head.
Meals: Breakfast
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Walk the entire Kumano Kodo Nakahechi from end to end via magnificent shrines ending at the glorious Nachi waterfall and temple complex
- Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
- 5 night stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese lodgings with in-house onsens
- Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day on the walk. Plus 4 walkers lunches
- Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days – see the 7 day walk
- Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s authored comprehensive track notes and maps
- On the ground support from local representatives
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
Each night you will be staying in a lovely Ryokan or Minshuku.
Ryokans are Japanese guesthouses that come in various styles, from traditional wooden structures to more of a modern hybrid hotel.
Ryokans have Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats, shoji sliding doors, and futons for sleeping on. Few Ryokan Hotels have rooms with actual beds. The rooms may or may not have ensuites, but be prepared for a little luxury when it comes to the heated toilet seats. The bathing area is often the pride of the Ryokan, especially when they’re located in an onsen area. These are usually communal and separated by the two genders.
Meals are elaborate affairs from a Western point of view served in a traditional dining area. A traditional Kaiseki set meal is what is usually offered. Sometimes there is the option of a buffet at the larger Ryokans.
A Minshuku is a family-run accommodation that are often found in rural Japan. There is a fine line between a Minshuku and some smaller Ryokans, making it hard to distinguish between the two. Most minshukus are very small, with only a few Japanese-style rooms, a bit like a Bed and Breakfast Japanese style. Staying at a Minshuku has its’ advantages, as it is a good chance to meet the local people and get right up close to the Japanese culture. The atmosphere is often like that of a home with traditional meals served much like at a Ryokan but with even more intimacy. Be prepared, as baths and toilets are often shared.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
GENERAL INFO
HIGH SEASON TIMES
In Japan, there are some periods when locals travel en masse as they are on holiday. These times are best avoided as the accommodation costs escalate considerably (more than double). It would make a lot of sense if you could avoid these times. Otherwise, see below for high-season periods. This could lead to the cost of the trip increasing by 30% or more.
NEW YEAR PERIOD – 30TH DECEMBER TO 4TH OF JANUARY
GOLDEN WEEK – GENERALLY BETWEEN 29TH APRIL TO 5TH MAY
OBON PERIOD – MID-AUGUST ( BETWEEN THE 10TH TO 20TH OF AUGUST)
Please speak to the office to get a quote for the above times
AVAILABILITY
This walk is available all year round, but you may encounter some snow from December to February. Many people prefer to walk in spring to see the cherry blossoms and in autumn because of the change of seasons and the good weather.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
On this walk, you will have to catch at least 3 buses; most of the rides are very short. These cannot be pre-booked and are by far the best way to get around the mountains. These bus fares are at your own cost.
HOW TO GET START AND FROM END OF WALK
Travelling to the Start of the walk
This walk starts in Tanabe and ends in Nachi-san or Nachi-Katsuura. You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk (i.e. you will need to organise your travel to the start of the walk in Tanabe and then onwards from your last accommodation). To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: The best option is to fly into Osaka and take the train from there. You can take the train direct from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kii-Tanabe (train station). Take a local train from Osaka city for a few stops and then hop on the Kii Peninsula JR West train. The train station is at the airport, and there are English-speaking staff at the ticket office. You might consider spending some time in Osaka. Osaka is a very interesting city and has many beautiful temples and of course Osaka Castle. In spring, it is particularly beautiful. It also has a sophisticated restaurant culture and markets that seem to go on for kilometres, literally.
By rail: Japan has one of the best train systems in the world, so it’s very easy to catch a train to any destination in the country. An express train is the fastest way to travel to the area. Travelling in Japan on trains is a seamless experience, and it is not necessary to always pre-purchase tickets. There’s plenty of Rail staff that speak English well enough to direct you the right way and to converse with you about how to buy your ticket. We can provide more information if you wish, so please ask one of our destination consultants.
Hyperdia is a great website resource to figure out when and where your train departs. It might be best to buy your train ticket on the JR train network when you first arrive in Japan so you can relax. However, the trains run often and are so efficient that you shouldn’t have any trouble just arriving 20 minutes beforehand and buying a ticket. JR passes can be a convenient and reasonable way to get around the area. There are two regional JR passes that cover the Kii Peninsula: Kansai WIDE Area Pass and Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass.
The journey from Osaka to Tanabe takes about 1 – 2 hours. You can take the train direct from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kii-Tanabe (train station). Take a local train to Hineno station then hop on the Kii Peninsula JR West train. The train station is at the airport, and there are English-speaking staff at the ticket office.
If you stay in Osaka, then you’ll need to catch the Subway (Osaka Metro Midosuji) to Tennoji station. The tickets can be purchased locally. From Tennoji, it’s a JR train service to Kii-Tanabe bound for Shirahama.
Travelling from the end of the walk
By rail: The train from Katsuura (Kii- Katsuura train station is a short distance from Nachisan) back to Osaka takes about 4 hours. You can also choose to go to Tokyo or anywhere else for that matter, in Japan. However, you most likely will need to travel through a major city to get there.
By Air: See above
WALKING
This 61km walk is moderate to challenging, with some long days if you wish. Full-day walks average about 17 km with 5 –9 hours of walking each day; however, they can be as long as 24 km (you can shorten most days). The walking is over well-maintained paths, but expect each day to start with moderate elevation gains. All good, though, as the tracks do flatten out.
This historic route has stacks of small temples (Oji) and statues to admire along the way. For much of the time, you are walking under a forest canopy which makes for mild conditions other than the height of summer.
Please refer to Gear Advice in our FAQ section for what to bring.
WEATHER
From the end of March, the temperature begins to increase. In summer, it’s quite warm and humid but still good for walking, particularly if you enjoy warmer temperatures and taking a dip in a stream.
The walk is offered in winter, but bring some warm clothes and good rain gear. The area is just as beautiful if not more and is not busy at all. Soaking in an outside onsen in the cool of the night is one of those authentic Japanese experiences you can look forward to after a big day on the track.
As walkers, we believe any time is good for walking, but spring and autumn are the most popular as the weather is ‘perfect’ for walking.
See the weather information about Osaka’s average weather at different times of the year.
INSURANCE
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips requiring international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
INFORMATION PACK
For nearly 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know that you’ll have many more questions even with that in mind. You will receive a detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks from departure outlining all the fine details and much more.
CONTACT
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants, or if you have specific track-related questions, ask Magnus, Brett or Tash, who have all walked the Kumano Kodo. You can contact us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.
DEPARTURE DATES
AT A GLANCE
6 DAYS
Moderate
to Challenging
$ 1360
per person twin/double share
$ 260
per person
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate
to Challenging PRICE FROM
$ 1360
per person twin/double shareSINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 260
per person
Overview
Kumano’s sacred mountains have been a major pilgrimage destination for the imperial and aristocratic families since 794AD. The 1200-year-old Kumano Kodo walk traverses mountains and forests, through villages and to fabulous ancient temples and waterfalls. A pilgrimage to purify mind, soul and spirit and in its current format, is bound to leave you with a real sense of improved well-being.
Walk the Kumano Kodo, one of two UNESCO’s world heritage listed walks, and then soak in an onsen at night while staying in traditional Japanese accommodation, savouring elaborate traditional Japanese multi-course dinners and breakfasts. This walk is the same as the 7 day offer, but without the rest day.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- An ancient hike through Buddhist and Shinto history together with an immersive backcountry Japanese cultural experience away from the ultra-hyper modern city
- Walk toward becoming a dual pilgrim by walking the Kumano Kodo (the other world heritage listed walk is the Camino de Santiago)
- Each day enjoy authentic Japanese meals served in elegant tatami mat settings, staying in small traditional Japanese Ryokans or Minshukus, plus walkers lunches
- Walk pack free on well-graded trails, with wondrous views, through old forest and bathe in onsens each day. We can vary the lengths of walks on the Kumano Kodo most days
- See the Grand Shrines at Hongu and Nachi-san, along with the Nachi-taki waterfall
Itinerary
DAY one
Kii-Tanabe
Travel by train to the small coastal village of Kii-Tanabe, the gateway to the Kumano Kodo via the picturesque coastline from Osaka or Kyoto. Please ask us for our transport information summary document if you need it.
Kii Tanabe is a small Japanese town that is not populated by tourists. The town is on the ocean and serves the local area. There is an opportunity to explore the town, its many small shrines, the beach and ample time to ready yourself for the upcoming walk, including a briefing session with our local Kumano Kodo expert.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Tanabe
Meals: None
DAY two
Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu
The walk on the Nakahechi route begins with a significant climb passing through Takahara, a small village perched on the side of a mountain. The Nakahechi is the imperial route once used by Japanese royalty, walked for generations back to the 8th century. There are beautiful views as you skirt across the face of the mountain before the trail winds its’ way back into the forest. This is the first real sense of walking through the distinctive Japanese forest canopy on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Chikatsuyu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Moderate /14 km / 5 to 6.5 hrs
Elevation: +630 / -610
DAY three
Chikatsuyu to Hongu Taisha
It’s an early start today, for this is the biggest day of the pilgrimage. We hike ancient mountain trails to Hongu Taisha, one of the three main shrines of the Kumano Kodo. This 24km hike can be modified to 16km or 8km, depending on how you’re feeling. You’ll hike the sacred Kii Mountains, said to be the entrance to the land of Yomi, in mythological terms the Shinto underworld. Pass through small villages, thick green forest and aside cascading streams. Pass shrine after shrine, eventually arriving at Hongu Taisha, where you can explore the massive temple. Before dinner, take a dip in either your accommodation’s onsen or one of the many ancient public onsens that dot the area. Dress in your Yukata (best described as a formal Japanese bathrobe ) that’s provided at each of the accommodations and enjoy a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in either Kawayu, Wataze or Yunomine Onsens
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Challenging / 24 km (or 16 km or 8 km) / 8.5-9.5 hrs
Elevation: +1130 / -980
DAY four
Ukegawa to Koguchi
The Nakahechi continues on the Kogumotori-goe path, one of the best walks the region has to offer. Starting alongside the Kumano River, the walk ventures up the mountain through forest and back down again to the small village of Koguchi. Highlights include views from Nyatten -gura over the 3600 peaks of Kumano. Today’s walk is the shortest of the itinerary, allowing time for a lazy day by the river, more onsen bathing or further exploration of the area.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Koguchi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Easy to moderate / 12.8 km / 4.5-5.5 hrs
Elevation: +670 / -690m
DAY five
Koguchi to Nachi-san
The start of today’s walk is as challenging as you can get, but it’s our favourite on the Nakahechi, so you’re in for a real treat. There’s a fair bit of elevation and walking up, but the views out over the Pacific and the glimpses of mountains as you traverse through the forest make it all worth the effort. The highlight though is the walk into Nachi-San Taisha over the ancient Ogumotori-goe path travelled by thousands of pilgrims and then walking into the magnificent shrine. The panoramic scene of the superb orange Seiganto-ji Temple against the backdrop of the sacred Nachi waterfall, the biggest in Japan, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spectacles in all of Japan.
Accommodation: Small family-run Ryokan or Minshuku in Nachi-san or Nachi-Katsuura
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Walking: Moderate to challenging / 14.2 km / 5.5-7 hrs
Elevation: +1260 / -930m
DAY six
Onward to your next destination
After your last traditional Japanese breakfast, farewell the walk by exploring the temple complex further and or make your way onwards to Osaka, Kyoto or a destination of your choice. There are many options to further explore in Wakayama. Stay in a beautiful seaside village like Shirahama along the Shihara coast. The Doro-kyo Gorge boat trip from Shingu is much heralded, or visit Koyasan, the spiritual capital of Japan. If you want even more of a laid-back experience, then the Yuasa or Hidaka areas haven’t changed much for hundreds of years and are a good place to head.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
- Walk the entire Kumano Kodo Nakahechi from end to end via magnificent shrines ending at the glorious Nachi waterfall and temple complex
- Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
- 5 night stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese lodgings with in-house onsens
- Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day on the walk. Plus 4 walkers lunches
- Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days – see the 7 day walk
- Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s authored comprehensive track notes and maps
- On the ground support from local representatives
Accommodation & Dining
Each night you will be staying in a lovely Ryokan or Minshuku.
Ryokans are Japanese guesthouses that come in various styles, from traditional wooden structures to more of a modern hybrid hotel.
Ryokans have Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats, shoji sliding doors, and futons for sleeping on. Few Ryokan Hotels have rooms with actual beds. The rooms may or may not have ensuites, but be prepared for a little luxury when it comes to the heated toilet seats. The bathing area is often the pride of the Ryokan, especially when they’re located in an onsen area. These are usually communal and separated by the two genders.
Meals are elaborate affairs from a Western point of view served in a traditional dining area. A traditional Kaiseki set meal is what is usually offered. Sometimes there is the option of a buffet at the larger Ryokans.
A Minshuku is a family-run accommodation that are often found in rural Japan. There is a fine line between a Minshuku and some smaller Ryokans, making it hard to distinguish between the two. Most minshukus are very small, with only a few Japanese-style rooms, a bit like a Bed and Breakfast Japanese style. Staying at a Minshuku has its’ advantages, as it is a good chance to meet the local people and get right up close to the Japanese culture. The atmosphere is often like that of a home with traditional meals served much like at a Ryokan but with even more intimacy. Be prepared, as baths and toilets are often shared.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
General Info
HIGH SEASON TIMES
In Japan, there are some periods when locals travel en masse as they are on holiday. These times are best avoided as the accommodation costs escalate considerably (more than double). It would make a lot of sense if you could avoid these times. Otherwise, see below for high-season periods. This could lead to the cost of the trip increasing by 30% or more.
NEW YEAR PERIOD – 30TH DECEMBER TO 4TH OF JANUARY
GOLDEN WEEK – GENERALLY BETWEEN 29TH APRIL TO 5TH MAY
OBON PERIOD – MID-AUGUST ( BETWEEN THE 10TH TO 20TH OF AUGUST)
Please speak to the office to get a quote for the above times
AVAILABILITY
This walk is available all year round, but you may encounter some snow from December to February. Many people prefer to walk in spring to see the cherry blossoms and in autumn because of the change of seasons and the good weather.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
On this walk, you will have to catch at least 3 buses; most of the rides are very short. These cannot be pre-booked and are by far the best way to get around the mountains. These bus fares are at your own cost.
HOW TO GET START AND FROM END OF WALK
Travelling to the Start of the walk
This walk starts in Tanabe and ends in Nachi-san or Nachi-Katsuura. You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk (i.e. you will need to organise your travel to the start of the walk in Tanabe and then onwards from your last accommodation). To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
By Air: The best option is to fly into Osaka and take the train from there. You can take the train direct from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kii-Tanabe (train station). Take a local train from Osaka city for a few stops and then hop on the Kii Peninsula JR West train. The train station is at the airport, and there are English-speaking staff at the ticket office. You might consider spending some time in Osaka. Osaka is a very interesting city and has many beautiful temples and of course Osaka Castle. In spring, it is particularly beautiful. It also has a sophisticated restaurant culture and markets that seem to go on for kilometres, literally.
By rail: Japan has one of the best train systems in the world, so it’s very easy to catch a train to any destination in the country. An express train is the fastest way to travel to the area. Travelling in Japan on trains is a seamless experience, and it is not necessary to always pre-purchase tickets. There’s plenty of Rail staff that speak English well enough to direct you the right way and to converse with you about how to buy your ticket. We can provide more information if you wish, so please ask one of our destination consultants.
Hyperdia is a great website resource to figure out when and where your train departs. It might be best to buy your train ticket on the JR train network when you first arrive in Japan so you can relax. However, the trains run often and are so efficient that you shouldn’t have any trouble just arriving 20 minutes beforehand and buying a ticket. JR passes can be a convenient and reasonable way to get around the area. There are two regional JR passes that cover the Kii Peninsula: Kansai WIDE Area Pass and Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass.
The journey from Osaka to Tanabe takes about 1 – 2 hours. You can take the train direct from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kii-Tanabe (train station). Take a local train to Hineno station then hop on the Kii Peninsula JR West train. The train station is at the airport, and there are English-speaking staff at the ticket office.
If you stay in Osaka, then you’ll need to catch the Subway (Osaka Metro Midosuji) to Tennoji station. The tickets can be purchased locally. From Tennoji, it’s a JR train service to Kii-Tanabe bound for Shirahama.
Travelling from the end of the walk
By rail: The train from Katsuura (Kii- Katsuura train station is a short distance from Nachisan) back to Osaka takes about 4 hours. You can also choose to go to Tokyo or anywhere else for that matter, in Japan. However, you most likely will need to travel through a major city to get there.
By Air: See above
WALKING
This 61km walk is moderate to challenging, with some long days if you wish. Full-day walks average about 17 km with 5 –9 hours of walking each day; however, they can be as long as 24 km (you can shorten most days). The walking is over well-maintained paths, but expect each day to start with moderate elevation gains. All good, though, as the tracks do flatten out.
This historic route has stacks of small temples (Oji) and statues to admire along the way. For much of the time, you are walking under a forest canopy which makes for mild conditions other than the height of summer.
Please refer to Gear Advice in our FAQ section for what to bring.
WEATHER
From the end of March, the temperature begins to increase. In summer, it’s quite warm and humid but still good for walking, particularly if you enjoy warmer temperatures and taking a dip in a stream.
The walk is offered in winter, but bring some warm clothes and good rain gear. The area is just as beautiful if not more and is not busy at all. Soaking in an outside onsen in the cool of the night is one of those authentic Japanese experiences you can look forward to after a big day on the track.
As walkers, we believe any time is good for walking, but spring and autumn are the most popular as the weather is ‘perfect’ for walking.
See the weather information about Osaka’s average weather at different times of the year.
INSURANCE
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips requiring international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
INFORMATION PACK
For nearly 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know that you’ll have many more questions even with that in mind. You will receive a detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks from departure outlining all the fine details and much more.
CONTACT
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants, or if you have specific track-related questions, ask Magnus, Brett or Tash, who have all walked the Kumano Kodo. You can contact us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.
ENQUIRE NOW
If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.