Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk - 14 Days
JapanKumano Kodo

Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk - 14 Days

14 Days
Moderate to Challenging

Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk - 14 Days

from $5,995 / person

Overview

Immerse yourself in Japanese heritage and culture across 14 extraordinary days, walking three of the country's most celebrated routes back to back.

In Kyoto, the Isshu Trail winds through the forested hills surrounding Japan's ancient imperial capital, connecting its greatest temples and shrines while leaving the crowds behind. Walk away from the tourist flow at Fushimi Inari, trek to the sacred complex at Kurama and the bamboo groves of Arashiyama, with extra time to visit the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace.

Three days on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo follow, threading through the sacred mountains and forests of the Kii Peninsula on one of the world's most storied pilgrimage routes. This journey has been purifying mind, body and spirit since 794 AD.

The walk concludes with four days of the Nakasendo, the historic mountain highway through the Kiso Valley. Wedged between the sacred peaks of Mount Ontake and Mount Komagatake, the route passes feudal post towns, waterfalls and shrines on one of Japan's most breathtaking long-distance trails.

Highlights

  • Discover the magic of Kyoto and its magnificent temples, beautiful mountains and waterways
  • Chion-in Temple, with its massive Tori Gate and gorgeous Japanese gardens
  • Traverse ancient paved paths, through well-preserved Japanese towns
  • Soak up the cypress and cedar forest, alongside peaceful rural Japanese scenery
  • The jaw-dropping orange Seiganto-ji Temple and the sacred Nachi waterfall
  • The picturesque Kiso Valley and traditional post towns
  • Walks that weave up forested hillside and grand mountain views
  • Nine nights in Japanese or Western-style accommodation, some with in-house onsens, and 4 nights in a Japanese hotel in the heart of Kyoto
  • Breakfast and dinner each day on the walk, plus walkers lunches on the Kumano Kodo section
  • Walk the 3 best days on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi and the 4 best days on the Nakasendo

Itinerary

Loading overview…

What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Hotel (4 nights), 3-star Hotel / Ryokan / Minshuku (3 nights), Minshuku (1 night), 3-star Hotel / Ryokan (4 nights), 3-star Hotel / Minshuku (1 night)

Meals

13 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 8 dinners

Transfers

  • Luggage Transfers
  • Public Bus (tickets purchased locally)
  • Train (tickets purchased locally)

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

4

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate to Challenging

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Regular hills and varied terrain. These walks involve more challenging sections. Regular walking beforehand is recommended.

View Fitness Guide

9

Days on the trail

7-17 km

Daily distance range

388-818 m

Daily ascent range

9/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

Nights on the Kumano Kodo are spent in hotels, ryokans and minshukus — traditional Japanese guesthouses that are an experience in their own right, and one of the real highlights of this walk.

Ryokans are Japanese guesthouses ranging from beautifully preserved historic wooden buildings to more contemporary hybrid styles. Rooms feature tatami mat floors, shoji sliding doors and futon sleeping, creating an atmosphere of quiet, understated elegance. Few rooms have Western-style beds, and ensuites are not always standard — but the heated toilet seats are a welcome touch of luxury. The pride of most ryokans is the bathing area, and many along the Kumano Kodo are fed by natural onsen hot springs. After a day traversing the sacred mountain trails, soaking in steaming communal pools is the perfect way to end the day.

Minshukus are smaller, family-run guesthouses most commonly found in rural Japan, and the Kumano Kodo has some wonderful examples. Think of them as a Japanese bed and breakfast — intimate, unpretentious and deeply local. Rooms are traditional Japanese style, meals are home-cooked and shared, and the atmosphere is warm and familial. Bathrooms and toilets are typically shared, but what a minshuku offers in return: genuine hospitality, local connection and a closeness to Japanese culture.

What You'll Eat

Meals reflect the character of the accommodations themselves. Most nights, dinner is a home-cooked affair using local ingredients. At larger ryokans, this may be a multi-course kaiseki spread or buffet, while more remote stays are accompanied by a carefully prepared bento box. Included breakfasts are served each morning.

How You'll Get Around

This itinerary moves between three destinations, with train transfers connecting Kyoto, the Kumano Kodo and the Nakasendo.

Within each destination, short bus rides and local trains are used to navigate between sections — all clearly outlined day by day in your walk notes.

All transport fares are at your own cost and cannot be pre-booked, though Japan's train and bus network is straightforward to navigate once you are on the ground.


More About This Trip

The walk begins in Kyoto and ends in Karuizawa, a one-hour train ride from Tokyo. We recommend flying into Osaka and out of Tokyo. From Osaka Kansai Airport, a direct train runs to Kyoto in around 75 minutes.

From Kyoto you will be travelling to Kii-Tanabe to commence the Kumano Kodo Highlights walk. Travel time is approx. 4.5 hrs. The Kumano Kodo walk ends in Kii-Katsuura and you will need to travel to Nakatsugawa to commence the Nakasendo Highlights walk. This will require a morning train ride and will take approx. 4.5 to 5hrs. The Nakasendo walk ends in Karuizawa, a 1hr train ride to Tokyo.

All transfers are clearly outlined in your day-by-day walk notes.


Getting around is straightforward. You will catch trains between the three destinations, and within each one you travel on foot. On the Kumano Kodo there are also two short bus rides.

The walk notes set out every transfer day by day as you go, including the local transport you use whilst walking in the mountains on the Kumano Kodo and the Nakasendo Way. None of these services can be pre-booked. Public transport is the best way to get around Japan and the most eco-friendly, and all fares are at your own cost.

Most of these journeys cost very little, usually between 150 and 500 Yen. The exception is the train transfers between the three destinations, which cost roughly 5,000 to 13,000 Yen (at the time of writing, around AUD $50 to $130).

We include meals where it makes sense, but in a city like Kyoto, with thousands of eateries to choose from, we leave you to your own devices. We will suggest places, though following the crowds and queuing can eat up a good part of your day. Wandering the streets and tasting your way through the range of food is one of the real pleasures of Kyoto.

Entry fees for the temples, shrines and gardens are not included, and these add up to around 2,500 Yen (AUD $25) a day. They cannot be pre-booked.

On two or three occasions we recommend a taxi rather than the subway, and each of these can cost as much as 2,000 Yen (AUD $20). Taxis in Japan run at Western prices, but they are very efficient, easy to catch and everywhere you look. Your walking notes explain all of this in detail. We do not advise arranging private transfers, as they are very expensive in Japan and unlikely to add much to your trip.

Some cities, Kyoto among them, charge a city tax at your accommodation on check-in. This is at your own expense and is paid on arrival. The amount depends on factors such as accommodation type, season and city, and is usually around 500 Yen per person per night.

It is worth carrying cash, as some purchases can only be made that way. Japan is a very safe place to travel.

Luggage transfers are only needed on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi and Nakasendo routes. You will need to bring your luggage with you as you travel from Kyoto to the Kumano Kodo and to the Nakasendo Way. It is an unnecessary cost to incur having your luggage travelling separately from you.

The Nakasendo walk has the luggage transferred daily however please note that on Day 11, your main baggage will be shipped in advance overnight to your accommodation in Karuizawa. You will need to organise yourself accordingly and keep a few overnight things for your night in Kiso-Fukushima. Your day pack should be sufficiently large to accommodate these items when walking.

This walk is available from March through to November. Spring and autumn are the most popular times. Cherry blossoms in March and April, and the rich autumn colours of October and November make for spectacular walking conditions. Summer is perfectly walkable, but Kyoto can be very hot, so early starts are recommended if you choose to go during this period.

Japan has four major holiday and high-season periods when domestic travel peaks and accommodation costs rise significantly — in some cases by 30% or more. We recommend avoiding these dates where possible:

Sakura season (Kyoto): mid-March to April

Golden Week: 29 April to 5 May

Obon: 10 to 20 August

Koyo Season (autumn colours): mid-October onwards, weather dependent

Speak to your destination consultant when planning your dates, and we can help you find the best time to go.

At over 150km across three distinct routes, this is an ambitious itinerary, but rest days between destinations make it very achievable.

Daily distances average around 15km with five to eight hours of walking, and longer days of up to 24km are possible for those wanting to push further.

Almost all sections can be shortened if needed. The graded difficulty is moderate to challenging, with most days beginning with challenging elevation gain before the trails level out. Paths throughout are well-maintained, and the variety of terrain across Kyoto, the Kumano Kodo and the Nakasendo keeps the walking fresh and engaging from start to finish.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo travellers on our self-guided Kumano Kodo, Nakasendo & Kyoto Walk. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

March 2027

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Available
Limited
Unavailable
Out of season

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Notes

We are no longer accepting bookings for 2026.

Kumano Kodo reviews

4.9
108 reviews
5 Star
100
4 Star
8
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0
Evan K
last month

We spent a few days in Osaka first then headed to Tanabe. Easy train ride cool scenery. Lady at the Info center was awesome all questions answered all info received as expected. Had a nice wonder around town, went to the beach and had a nice meal at a local restaurant. First accommodation was comfortable and good breaky next day. Auswalk Kumano Kodo trek planning worth every cent. Everything was seamless. Accommodation and food exceeded expectations. Met some great characters along the way. You'll be planning our next trip to Turkey.

Sara S
2 months ago

The notes were very thorough it was very daunting reading it but once I was into it, it became clear how easy it all was to get around. Stress free, relaxing adventure. Auswalk took care of the details so I could have all the fun!!!

Diane H
2 months ago

Auswalk is extremely well organised, the mix of honesty type accommodations and hotels offered a real sense of Japanese culture.

Jonathan K
3 months ago

Few different options for departure point but no major challenges navigating getting to the start of the walk. Information provided was adequate.

Warwick B
3 months ago

Departure point process was all very easy to navigate. Comfort hotel was excellent. Information centre helpful. Bus was crazy busy. You can tap using ic card so don’t need money for first bus.

David S
3 months ago

Outstanding walk well organised.

Frequently Asked Questions

The walk starts in Kii Tanabe. We recommend flying into Osaka.

Your main luggage is collected from your accommodation each morning and delivered to your next stop — you carry only a daypack on the trail. The allowance is one bag per person up to 20kg. Keep your bag manageable in size, as you may occasionally need to carry it a short distance from a bus stop or up stairs at some accommodations. Don't pack breakable items like glass or pottery, and make sure your bag tag is attached at all times.

The Kumano Kodo offers a genuinely unique accommodation experience. Most nights you'll stay in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or Minshuku (family-run guesthouse), both of which typically feature Japanese-style rooms with futons on the floor, beautiful multi-course dinners using local produce, and communal bathing facilities. Some properties offer Western-style rooms with beds. On the 10-day itinerary, one night is spent at a Buddhist temple in Koyasan, where you can attend morning temple ceremonies and experience shojin ryori — traditional vegetarian temple cuisine. Baths and toilets are often shared and are noted to be very clean and separated by gender.

Meals are usually served between 18:00 and 19:00, so the best arrival time is by at least 17:00. Arriving late disrupts the kitchen's schedule and is considered quite rude to your hosts — in some cases, a late arrival may mean missing your meal without a refund. If you're running behind, contact your accommodation as soon as possible. Check-out times are typically between 9:30 and 10:00 AM.

Japan is a densely populated country with generally good coverage, and even in more remote sections of the Kumano Kodo you're never far from civilisation. That said, coverage can vary by location, so carry your phone fully charged and keep a backup power bank handy. Most accommodations have WiFi.

A comfortable, at least shower-proof daypack with a waterproof liner is ideal. Key items include sturdy walking shoes, a quality rain jacket, waterproof over-trousers, at least 1.5–2 litres of water, snacks, bug spray, a personal first aid kit, and your phone. Walking poles are recommended for all days on the track — the terrain involves regular elevation gain and some steep sections. In summer, wear long sleeves and pants due to leeches. A warm hat and gloves are worth bringing if you're walking in spring, autumn, or winter.

Japan runs largely on cash, and the Kumano Kodo is no exception. ATMs are scarce along the trail and in smaller villages, and many cafés, shops, and local buses don't accept cards. Stock up on Japanese Yen (JPY) before you set out. Convenience store ATMs are a reliable way to withdraw cash with an overseas card.

No. Tipping is not customary in Japan and is not expected at restaurants, from drivers, or at accommodations. Good service is simply the standard — enjoy it.

Onsens are one of the great pleasures of walking the Kumano Kodo, and there are some important customs to follow. You bathe completely naked — swimwear is not permitted. Wash and rinse yourself thoroughly at the shower stations before entering the communal bath. Keep your towel out of the water. Onsens are separated by gender. If you have tattoos, be aware that many onsens restrict entry — speak with your accommodation host in advance, as policies vary and some places offer stickers to cover small tattoos.

Remove your shoes at the entrance and change into the indoor slippers provided. Your room will likely include a yukata (cotton robe) — wear something underneath, fold the left side over the right, and tie the belt securely. Dinner is typically served at a set time between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, so plan to arrive by 5:00 PM at the latest. When attending a morning temple service in Koyasan, yukata and sleepwear are not appropriate — dress properly for the occasion.

Japan has a rich culture of etiquette and it's worth taking a little time to learn the basics before you go. Remove your shoes before entering homes, ryokan, and many traditional restaurants. Speak quietly in public spaces, particularly on public transport. Avoid eating or drinking while walking. A slight bow when greeting people goes a long way. Sensitive topics including the Imperial Family and Japan's wartime history are best avoided in conversation. Note that it is illegal to bring over-the-counter medicines containing pseudoephedrine or codeine into Japan — check your medications before you travel.

Traditional Japanese cuisine relies heavily on soy sauce, miso, and fish stock (dashi) — these appear in almost everything and are very difficult to remove. If you can tolerate these ingredients, your accommodation options increase significantly. Strict vegans and those with coeliac disease or severe gluten intolerance will find the Kumano Kodo genuinely challenging. Some accommodations can cater for vegetarian meals with advance notice, but this cannot be guaranteed everywhere. Dietary requests must be declared at the time of booking and cannot be changed after confirmation. If your requirements are complex, bring supplementary snacks from the city before you set out on the trail.

Yes, and it's particularly important in Japan. There are no reciprocal healthcare agreements between Japan and other countries, meaning all medical treatment — including emergency evacuation — is charged at full cost. Your policy must cover hiking and emergency evacuation.

Want to Know More?

The Kumano Kodo Experience

Wonder
Walk along the 1200-year-old UNESCO-listed pilgrimage through Kumano’s sacred mountains and forests
Marvel at Hongu Taisha and Nachi Taisha, grand shrines on the Nakahechi
Arrive beneath Seiganto-ji Temple and sacred Nachi waterfall, Japan’s tallest.
Wellness
Breathe in the forest air as you walk, absorbing the timeless spirit of this ancient pilgrimage route.
Stay in family-run minshuku and ryokan, savouring traditional multi-course dinners and take a riverside onsen dip
Choose shorter or longer stages to match your energy and pace taking the time to breath and benefit from this ancient pilgrimage
Nature
Walk beneath the distinctive Japanese forest canopy past Oji shrines and rivers
Cross the sacred Kii Mountains beside cascading streams and thick green forest
Take in Hyakken-gura views across Kumano’s remarkable sweep of 3600 peaks