OVERVIEW

Kumano’s sacred mountains were a major pilgrimage destination for the imperial and aristocratic families since 794AD. The Kumano Kodo traverses the sacred Kii mountains, via the forest, through villages and to fabulous ancient temples and waterfalls. We add an extra day’s walk to this trip with a walk on the Kohechi route – challenge yourself with this, the toughest of all the routes! The Kohechi connects the spiritual hubs of Koyasan and Hongu and was used by pilgrims and merchants alike.

The Kumano Kodo is one of just two world heritage listed walks the other being the Camino de Santiago. After each day’s epic walk soak in an onsen while staying in traditional Japanese accommodation, savouring excellent traditional Japanese multi-course dinners and breakfasts.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • An ancient walk through Buddhist and Shinto history and an immersive backcountry Japanese cultural experience
  • Local Japanese meals are served in elegant tatami mat settings staying in traditional Japanese Ryokans or Minshukus
  • Walk toward becoming a dual pilgrim by walking the Kumano Kodo at your own pace
  • Enjoy excellent graded trails, wondrous views, old forests and bathing in onsens. We can vary the lengths of walks on the Kumano Kodo most days, and/or remove the rest day if you wish
  • See the Grand Shrines at Hongu and Nachi-san, along with the Nachi-taki waterfall

AT A GLANCE

TRIP LENGTH
9 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate to Challenging
PRICE FROM
£ 1845 per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
£ 370 per person

ITINERARY

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 plus a day of the Kohechi
  • 8 nights stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese lodgings with in-house onsens
  • Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day on the walk. Plus 6 walkers lunches
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s 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 a variety of 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. 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 are located in an onsen area. These are usually communal and separated by gender.

Meals are elaborate affairs from a western point of view served in a traditional dining area. A traditional Kaiseki set meal is usually offered. Sometimes there is the option of a buffet at the larger Ryokans.

Minshukas are family-run accommodations 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 enables you 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.

GENERAL INFO

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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.

Array
(
)

HIGH SEASON

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

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)

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: By far, 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 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

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)

WALKING

This walk is moderate to challenging with some long days if you wish. Full-day walks average about 17 km with 5 –9. hours walking each day however they can be as long as 24kms (you can shorten most days). The walking is over well-maintained paths but expect each day to start with some reasonable elevation gains. All good though as the tracks do flatten out.

This is a historic route with stacks of small temples (Oji)  and statues to admire along the way. For much of the time, you are walking under forest canopy which makes for mild conditions other than the height of summer.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

Array
(
)

WEATHER

From the end of March, the temperature begins to increase. In summer the conditions are excellent particularly if you enjoy warmer temperatures and taking a dip in a stream. It can, however, get a little humid.

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 outside onsen in the cool of the night is one of those real authentic Japanese experiences that you can look forward to after a big day on the track.

We believe spring and autumn to be the best time to walk as the weather is perfect for walking.

See the weather information about Osaka’s average weather at different times of the year.

Array
(
)

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 that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

Array
(
)

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

Array
(
)

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com

MAP

DEPARTURE DATES

  • DATES
    AVAILABILITY
    PRICE
    Single Occupancy
    Details
  • 1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
    AVAILABLE
    from

    £ 1845

    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 370
  • 1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
    AVAILABLE
    from

    £ 1900

    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 385
  • 1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
    AVAILABLE
    from

    £ 1960

    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 390
AT A GLANCE
TRIP LENGTH
9 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate to Challenging
PRICE FROM
£ 1845 per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
£ 370 per person
Overview

Kumano’s sacred mountains were a major pilgrimage destination for the imperial and aristocratic families since 794AD. The Kumano Kodo traverses the sacred Kii mountains, via the forest, through villages and to fabulous ancient temples and waterfalls. We add an extra day’s walk to this trip with a walk on the Kohechi route – challenge yourself with this, the toughest of all the routes! The Kohechi connects the spiritual hubs of Koyasan and Hongu and was used by pilgrims and merchants alike.

The Kumano Kodo is one of just two world heritage listed walks the other being the Camino de Santiago. After each day’s epic walk soak in an onsen while staying in traditional Japanese accommodation, savouring excellent traditional Japanese multi-course dinners and breakfasts.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • An ancient walk through Buddhist and Shinto history and an immersive backcountry Japanese cultural experience
  • Local Japanese meals are served in elegant tatami mat settings staying in traditional Japanese Ryokans or Minshukus
  • Walk toward becoming a dual pilgrim by walking the Kumano Kodo at your own pace
  • Enjoy excellent graded trails, wondrous views, old forests and bathing in onsens. We can vary the lengths of walks on the Kumano Kodo most days, and/or remove the rest day if you wish
  • See the Grand Shrines at Hongu and Nachi-san, along with the Nachi-taki waterfall
Itinerary
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 plus a day of the Kohechi
  • 8 nights stay in an intimate family-run or smallish traditional Japanese lodgings with in-house onsens
  • Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
  • Superb traditional multi-course meals for breakfast and dinner each day on the walk. Plus 6 walkers lunches
  • Itineraries can be flexible to shorten the walking or slow the trip down by adding more rest days
  • Enjoy worry-free navigation with Stroll’s 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 a variety of 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. 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 are located in an onsen area. These are usually communal and separated by gender.

Meals are elaborate affairs from a western point of view served in a traditional dining area. A traditional Kaiseki set meal is usually offered. Sometimes there is the option of a buffet at the larger Ryokans.

Minshukas are family-run accommodations 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 enables you 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.

General Info

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.

HIGH SEASON

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

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: By far, 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 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 walk is moderate to challenging with some long days if you wish. Full-day walks average about 17 km with 5 –9. hours walking each day however they can be as long as 24kms (you can shorten most days). The walking is over well-maintained paths but expect each day to start with some reasonable elevation gains. All good though as the tracks do flatten out.

This is a historic route with stacks of small temples (Oji)  and statues to admire along the way. For much of the time, you are walking under forest canopy which makes for mild conditions other than the height of summer.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

WEATHER

From the end of March, the temperature begins to increase. In summer the conditions are excellent particularly if you enjoy warmer temperatures and taking a dip in a stream. It can, however, get a little humid.

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 outside onsen in the cool of the night is one of those real authentic Japanese experiences that you can look forward to after a big day on the track.

We believe spring and autumn to be the best time to walk 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 that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from 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, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com

Map
Departure Dates
  • DATES
    AVAILABILITY
    PRICE
    Single Occupancy
    DETAILS
  • 1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
    AVAILABLE
    from £ 1845
    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 370
  • 1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
    AVAILABLE
    from £ 1900
    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 385
  • 1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
    AVAILABLE
    from £ 1960
    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    £ 390

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.
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