Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage (Japan)
The other UNESCO pilgrimage — Japan's answer to the Camino, with hot springs at the end of every day
Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient trails on Kii Peninsula. The Nakahechi is the classic — 4–6 days through cedar mountains to three Grand Shrines. You sleep in family-run ryokans, eat kaiseki dinners, and bathe in onsen. Book through Kumano Travel — a local non-profit that arranges luggage transfer and accommodation.
Route outline
No permits. Book accommodation + luggage transfer via kumano-travel.com 3–6 months out for peak seasons.
5–7 hours walking with day pack (luggage transfers between inns). Moderate hills, well maintained trail.
Trekking insurance MUST cover the max altitude of your route — most standard policies cap at 3,000 m. Airalo eSIM for offline maps and check-ins from the trail.
Ryokans serve dinner at 18:00 sharp — miss it and you don't eat. Cash-only in villages. Book onsen with private bath if you're tattooed.
Other treks worth planning
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