Once the original approach Emperors followed to the Kumano Kodō, the Kiiji trail can still be walked today, offering visits to Yuasa, deep cultural experiences and access to a more moderate version of the classic Nakahechi route.
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Kumano Kodo Kiiji self-guided walking 5 days
Begin on the Kiiji route before segueing into the classic Kumano Kodō experience on the Nakahechi route.
- Duration: 5 days
- Trip level:Active
- Availability: All year (snow falls occasionally from December to March)
- Type:Self-guided
- Price: From USD 1,555(Price per person, based on 2 travellers sharing a room)
Highlights
- Enjoy the thermal hot spring waters at inns on several nights
- Visit the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano at Hongū, Shingū, and Nachi
- See two different sides of Kumano through coastal views and quiet mountain paths
- Learn the deep history of the Kiiji coastal route through exclusive access to the inner shrine of Fujishiro Shrine
- With varied cultural options, all walking can be reduced or removed for less confident walkers
The original access point of the Kumano Kodō, the Kiiji route features gentler hikes and a rich history to explore as a trail frequently utilised by abdicated emperors on their way to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano. Our 5-day self-guided tour starts on this ancient route and heads south along the coast as you visit Fujishiro Shrine, believed by many pilgrims to be the true entry point of the Kumano Kodō, before heading on to the atmospheric town of Yuasa, the birthplace of Japanese soy sauce. Yuasa is also home to a beautifully preserved district, the only one in Wakayama Prefecture to be classified as a Historic Preservation District of Traditional Buildings, creating a feeling of being teleported back to the Edo Period.
You continue on to Tanabe, which is where the Kumano Kodō branches off into the coastal Ohechi and inland Nakahechi trails. Head inland onto the classic Nakahechi, and with no more than 4 hours of hiking a day, you will have more time to discover the local communities along this pilgrimage route and the shrines that have drawn pilgrims for centuries. Along your pilgrimage, you will visit the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano before heading onwards by train.
You’re supported by our team in Kyōto, our local Chikatsuyu office, and by our bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and bespoke topographical maps to guide you on your way, created by our team of hikers for you.
Have you walked the Camino de Santiago? You can obtain Dual Pilgrim status on our tour, or collect your stamps and obtain the status on your future Camino de Santiago trip.
What is included
 | 4 nights at Japanese inns along the Kumano Kodō Trail |
 | 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners |
 | Round-trip train tickets from Kyōto or Ōsaka |
 | Detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking directions |
 | Topographical maps |
 | Our Preparing for Your Trip and Travelling in Japan guidebooks |
 | Local support by telephone and at our Kumano Kodō branch |
What is not included
 | Flights |
 | Airport transfers |
 | Drinks and meals not included in itinerary |
 | Local bus journeys which must be paid directly to the bus driver |
 | Single room supplement(s) for solo occupancy |
 | Daily Luggage Transfer |
Itinerary
Tour itineraries are subject to change. We will inform you of any amendments as soon as we become aware of them.
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