Tour overview

This 11-day self-guided holiday follows the Kumano Kodo, a thousand-year-old pilgrimage route through the forested mountains of the Kii Peninsula. There is no group or guide; you walk at your own pace with detailed notes and local support. You stay ten nights in hotels, ryokan and minshuku inns, with breakfast daily and dinners on the trail.

After a rest day in Kyoto, you take the train to Kii-Tanabe and begin walking from Takijiri, staying in traditional inns at Takahara and Chikatsuyu. The trail climbs through cedar forests to the grand shrine at Hongu.

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You rest at the hot-spring village of Yunomine Onsen, then continue through Koguchi to the final section over the mountains to Nachi Taisha and its great waterfall. The holiday ends in Osaka, Japan's food capital.

The physical rating is moderate to challenging, with long days on steep forest paths. This holiday suits independent walkers looking for a spiritual journey through rural Japan.

Trip highlights

  • A day in Kyoto (Day 2)
  • Takijiri to Takahara (Day 3)
  • Kumano Hongu Taisha (Day 5)
  • Yunomine Onsen (Day 6)
  • Nachi Falls (Day 8)
  • Osaka (Day 10)

Your route

11 stops from Kyoto to Osaka

11-day route: Kyoto – Takijiri – Takahara – Chikatsuyu – Hongu – Yunomine – Koguchi – Nachi – Osaka
  1. Kyoto Days 1–2
  2. Nara Day 2
  3. Takijiri Day 3
  4. Takahara Day 3
  5. Chikatsuyu Day 4
  6. Kumano Hongu Taisha Day 5
  7. Yunomine Onsen Days 5–6
  8. Koguchi Day 7
  9. Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine Day 8
  10. Kii-Katsuura Day 8
  11. Osaka Days 9–11

Why choose this tour

A UNESCO-listed pilgrimage trail. Nights in traditional inns with dinners.

Best suited to

  • Independent walkers
  • Couples and friends
  • Culture and nature lovers
  • Active travellers
A stone path through a cedar forest

Day-by-day itinerary

11 days from Osaka, Japan to Osaka, Japan

  1. Day 1 · Osaka, Kyoto Kyoto

    Arrive in Japan.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Kyoto Kyoto

    A rest day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Kii-Tanabe, Takijiri, Takahara Takijiri to Takahara

    The trail begins.

    Hotel
    Japanese-style hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Chikatsuyu Takahara to Chikatsuyu

    Through cedar forest.

    Hotel
    Minshuku guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Kumano Hongu Taisha, Yunomine Onsen Chikatsuyu to Hongu

    A grand shrine.

    Hotel
    Ryokan
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Yunomine Onsen Yunomine Onsen

    A rest day.

    Hotel
    Ryokan
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Koguchi Koguchi

    Along the Nakahechi.

    Hotel
    Ryokan
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Nachi Taisha, Nachi Falls Nachi

    The final section.

    Hotel
    Japanese-style hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Kii-Katsuura, Osaka Osaka

    By train to Osaka.

    Hotel
    Hotel Monterey Grasmere
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Osaka Osaka

    A rest day.

    Hotel
    Hotel Monterey Grasmere
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Osaka Osaka

    The holiday ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A mossy stone trail through the forest

Where you stay

  • Kyoto (2 nights) Hotel
  • Takahara (1 night) Japanese-style hotel
  • Chikatsuyu (1 night) Minshuku guesthouse
  • Yunomine Onsen (2 nights) Ryokan
  • Koguchi (1 night) Ryokan
  • Nachi-san (1 night) Japanese-style hotel
  • Osaka (2 nights) Hotel Monterey Grasmere

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 10 nights in hotels and traditional inns
  • Meals 10 breakfasts and 6 dinners
  • Train and bus to the trailhead
  • Luggage transfers on the trail
  • Detailed route notes and maps
  • Local emergency support

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 9 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Lunches
  • Local transport
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Kumano Nachi Taisha and its pagoda

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a guide or group
  • You dislike steep paths
  • You want luxury hotels throughout
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–11 · Lunch: none included · Dinner: Days 3–8
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Japan
Moss-covered stone steps in a Japanese forest

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,659 per person, twin share, tour only. 357 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is there a guide?

No, this is a self-guided holiday with route notes and local support.

Do I need a visa for Japan?

No, UK citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days.

How hard is the walking?

Moderate to challenging, with long days on steep, sometimes slippery forest paths.

Is my luggage moved for me?

Yes, on most trail days.

What are ryokan and minshuku like?

Traditional Japanese inns with futon bedding on tatami floors, often with shared or communal hot-spring baths.

When can I start?

On almost any day through the walking season.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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