This is the classic Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Nachi Taisha via Hongu, with 4.5 days of walking.

Overnights along the way feature hot spring baths and delicious, authentic Japanese food: An immersive experience for the adventurous pilgrim.

It is a challenging multi-day walk so being fit and prepared is important.

Walks can be shortened or skip with the use of public transport.

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Nonaka | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Koguchi | Nachi | Katsuura | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 6 days & 5 nights (5.5 days walking)
Overnight: Takahara, Nonaka, Yunomine, Koguchi, Nachi (Katsuura)
Accommodation Type: Standard (Minshuku, etc), Superior (Ryokan, etc)
Overall Level: Advanced
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 1=2.5, Day 2=3.5, Day 3=4, Day 4=4, Day 5=5 
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Active walkers, with experience doing multiday walks in a mountain environment.

This itinerary included a variety of experiences related to the ancient Kumano pilgrimage.

Walks on the main portion of the Nakahechi pilgrimage, including visits to all three Kumano Grand Shrines, a trip on a traditional boat, and a few nights in onsen villages to enjoy the hot springs.

There is a diversity of walks: a bit of challenge (first two days) with some steeper climbs and descents (without being exhausting!) and easier highlight walks around the shrine areas (last 3 days).

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Chikatsuyu | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Shingu | Katsuura | Nachi | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 5 days & 4 nights (all 5 days have walks)
Overnight: Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Yunomine Onsen (Kawayu Onsen) (Watarase Onsen), Katsuura
Overall Level: Intermediate
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 1=2.5, Day 2=3, Day 3=2, Day 4=1.5, Day 5=1.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Those who are good walkers looking for a bit of challenge (first two days), but also highlight walks (last 3 days)

This itinerary is based around one half day walk and two full day walks on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha, with an overnights in Takahara, Nonaka area (Chikatsuyu village), and finally in Yunomine Onsen after the walk. 

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Nonaka (Chikatsuyu) | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Osaka/Kyoto 
Duration: 4 days & 3 nights (2.5 days walking)
Overnight: Takahara, Nonaka (Chikatsuyu), Yunomine Onsen 
Accommodation Type: Standard (Minshuku, etc), Superior (Ryokan, etc)
Overall Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days.
Walking Difficult: Day 1=2.5, Day 2=3.5, Day 3=4
Recommended For: Active Walkers

This itinerary consists of one shorter walk from Yunomine Onsen to Kumano Hongu Taisha, and 2 full day walks culminating with a view of Japan’s tallest waterfall at Kumano Nachi Taisha.

The names of the passes are Kogumotori-goe (Ukegawa to Koguchi) and Ogumotori-goe (Koguchi to Nachi). The Ogumotori-goe is a challenging walk with long ascents and descents.

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Koguchi | Nachi | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 4 days & 3 nights (2.5 days walking)
Overnight: ※Yunomine (Kawayu), Koguchi, ※Nachi (Katsuura)
Overall Level: Advanced
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 1=2, Day 2=4, Day 3=5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Active Walkers

※ Yunomine or Kawayu Onsen is set for the first night.
※ Nachi has limited availability. When not available Katsuura will be selected.

This itinerary is based around two full day walks on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha, with an overnight in Tanabe City before the walk, and one Kawayu Onsen after the walk.

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Chikatsuyu | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 4 days & 3 nights (2 days walking)
Overnight: Tanabe, Chikatsuyu, Kawayu Onsen (Yunomine Onsen) (Watarase Onsen)
Accommodation Type: Standard (Minshuku, Hotel, etc), Superior (Ryokan, etc)
Overall Level: Intermediate/Advanced (Advanced if walk the full day on Day 2.  Shorterning Day 2 makes for more of an intermediate walk)
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 2=3, Day 3=4.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Active Walkers

This itinerary focuses on the best sights and walks during a slower visit- a great introductory way to experience the diversity of the sacred Kumano region of Japan.

This highlight itinerary visits all three Grand Shrines (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha & Kumano Nachi Taisha), one each day, with short and scenic highlight walks around each shrine.

A traditional boat tour on the Kumano-gawa river leads to Shingu, offering an alternative perspective of the environment.

Overnight at three different hot spring village in the mountains (Yunomine Onsen & Kawayu Onsen) and on the coast (Katsuura Onsen) while dining on delicious local cuisine.

Route: Osaka | Tanabe | Kawayu Onsen | Yunomine Onsen | Katsuura | Hongu | Nachisan | Osaka
Duration: 4 days & 3 nights (2.5 days with short walks)
Overnight: Kawayu Onsen, Yunomine Onsen, Katsuura Onsen
Overall Level: Highlight/Beginner
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Boat, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days.
Walking Difficult: Day 2=2, Day 3=1.5, Day 4=1.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Those who want to experience the highlights of the Kumano Kodo with short walks focused in each of the three Kumano Sanzan Grand Shrines areas.

This highlight itinerary visits the two Grand Shrines (Kumano Hongu Taisha & Kumano Nachi Taisha) with short and scenic highlight walks.

Overnight at a hot spring village in the mountains (Kawayu Onsen) and on the coast (Katsuura Onsen) while dining on delicious local cuisine.

This itinerary focuses on the best sights and walks in a compact time frame- a great introductory visit to the sacred Kumano region of Japan.

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Kawayu Onsen | Katsuura | Hongu | Nachisan | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 3 days & 2 nights (2 highlight walks)
Overnight: Kawayu Onsen, Katsuura
Overall Level: Shorter walks, beginner.
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days.
Walking Difficult: Day 2=2, Day 3=1.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Those wanting shorter highlight walks on scenic portions of the Kumano Kodo.

This is another classic Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Nachi Taisha via Hongu, with 4 full days of walking.

Overnights along the way feature hot spring baths and delicious, authentic Japanese food: An immersive experience for the adventurous pilgrim.

It is a challenging multi-day walk so being fit and prepared is important.

Walks can be shortened or skip with the use of public transport.

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Chikatsuyu | Hongu | Kawayu Onsen | Koguchi | Nachi | Katsuura | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 6 days & 5 nights (4 days walking)
Overnight: Tanabe, Chikatsuyu, Kawayu Onsen (Yunomine Onsen) (Watarase Onsen), Koguchi, Katsuura Onsen
Accommodation Type: Standard (Minshuku, etc), Superior (Ryokan, etc)
Overall Level: Advanced
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 1=4, Day 2=4, Day 3=4, Day 4=5 
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Active walkers, with experience doing multiday walks in a mountain environment.

This itinerary included a variety of experiences related to the ancient Kumano pilgrimage.

Walks on the main portion of the Nakahechi pilgrimage, including visits to all three Kumano Grand Shrines and a few nights in onsen villages to enjoy the hot springs. 

There is a diversity of walks: a bit of challenge (first two days) with some steeper climbs and descents (without being exhausting!) and easier highlight walks around the shrine areas (last 3 days).

Route: Kyoto/Osaka | Tanabe | Takahara | Chikatsuyu | Hongu | Yunomine Onsen | Shingu | Katsuura | Nachi | Osaka/Kyoto
Duration: 5 days & 4 nights (all 5 days have walks)
Overnight: Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Yunomine Onsen (Kawayu Onsen) (Watarase Onsen), Katsuura
Accommodation Type: Standard (Minshuku, Hotel, etc), Superior (Ryokan, etc)
Overall Level: Intermediate
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days
Walking Difficult: Day 1=2.5, Day 2=3, Day 3=2, Day 4=1.5, Day 5=1.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Those who are good walkers looking for a bit of challenge (first two days), but also highlight walks (last 3 days)

This itinerary focuses on the best sights and walks during a slower visit- a great introductory way to experience the diversity of the sacred Kumano region of Japan.

This highlight itinerary visits all three Grand Shrines (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha & Kumano Nachi Taisha), one each day, with short and scenic highlight walks around each shrine.

Overnight at three different hot spring village in the mountains (Yunomine Onsen & Kawayu Onsen) and on the coast (Katsuura Onsen) while dining on delicious local cuisine.

Route: Osaka | Tanabe | Kawayu Onsen | Yunomine Onsen | Katsuura | Hongu | Nachisan | Osaka
Duration: 4 days & 3 nights (2 days with short walks)
Overnight: Kawayu Onsen, Yunomine Onsen, Katsuura Onsen
Overall Level: Highlight/Beginner
Type: Self-guided
Transportation: Train, Bus, Walk
Daily Luggage Shuttle: Available for all days.
Walking Difficult: Day 2=2, Day 3=1.5
What is walking difficulty?
Recommended For: Those who want to experience the highlights of the Kumano Kodo with short walks focused in each of the three Kumano Sanzan Grand Shrines areas.