Adventure · 12D | 11N
Kumano Kodo & the Alps
Two of Japan's great walks — the Nakasendo post road and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage — with the Kamikochi valley in the Northern Alps in between.
- Best time
- Late March to May, and November
- Route
- Tokyo · Kamikochi · Magome · Kumano · Osaka
Day by day
12 days, planned in full
Two of Japan's great walks — the Nakasendo post road and the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage — with the Kamikochi valley in the Northern Alps in between.
Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo
Into the city, a boot and pack check with the guide, and an early night before an early train.
- Night
- Tokyo
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Into the Northern Alps
Rail and bus to Kamikochi, a valley closed to private cars, and an afternoon walk along the Azusa river to Myojin pond.
- Night
- Kamikochi
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 3
Up to the Yari ridge
A long day climbing towards Yarigatake's shoulder for the high ridge view, then back down to the valley floor by six.
- Night
- Kamikochi
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 4
The Nakasendo
South to Magome and the eight kilometres of old post road over the pass to Tsumago, through cedar forest and thatched villages.
- Night
- Magome
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 5
Tsumago to Nagiso, and on
The lower stretch of the road in the morning, then rail down to Kii-Tanabe on the Kii peninsula for the pilgrimage start.
- Night
- Kii-Tanabe
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6
Kumano Kodo, day one
Takijiri-oji to Takahara — a steep first climb into the cloud, and a village of eleven houses with a view down the whole valley.
- Night
- Takahara
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 7
Kumano Kodo, day two
Takahara to Chikatsuyu, fourteen kilometres of ridge and forest past roadside stone Jizo figures, with a minshuku at the end of it.
- Night
- Chikatsuyu
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 8
Kumano Kodo, day three
The long stretch to Hongu and the great torii gate, the largest in the world, then the hot spring at Yunomine for the legs.
- Night
- Yunomine
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 9
Nachi and the falls
River boat down the Kumano-gawa as the pilgrims did, then the climb to Nachi Taisha beside Japan's tallest single-drop waterfall.
- Night
- Katsuura
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 10
Koyasan
North to the mountain monastery, a night in temple lodgings with vegetarian shojin ryori, and the Okunoin cemetery by lantern light.
- Night
- Koyasan
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 11
Morning prayers, then Osaka
The six o'clock service with the monks, the funicular down, and an evening in Osaka that will feel very loud after ten days of forest.
- Night
- Osaka
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 12
Fly home
The Haruka express to Kansai, forty minutes from Namba.
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's included
- 11 nights in minshuku, mountain lodges and a Koyasan temple
- Return economy airfare and all rail, bus and boat legs
- English-speaking walking guide for the Alps and Kumano sections
- Daily luggage transfer between every trailhead
- All dinners and breakfasts on the walking days
- Kumano-gawa river boat and the Koyasan morning service
- Onsen entries at Yunomine and Kamikochi
Not included
- Japanese e-Visa fees
- Lunches, which are bought at village stores along the routes
- Adventure travel insurance, which is compulsory on this trip
- Boots and wet-weather gear
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Plan this trip
Make Kumano Kodo & the Alps yours.
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