Suggested Walks
There are many options for walking the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage route. You can do a few minutes walk to a week long trek through the mountains. Walking times can vary depending on walking pace and rest times. Please give yourself lots of time to enjoy the mountains of Kumano safely. Also be prepared for rain, it is an area with lots of precipitation.
2 day walks
Takijiri-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Day 1
- Bus from Tanabe or Shirahama to Takijiri-oji (timetable #1)
- Walk Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu-oji in Nakahechi town.
(approx. 16 kms, walking time around 6 hours) - Kumano Kodo (Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu-oji) Map 1
- Kumano Kodo (Takijiri-oji to Chikatsuyu-oji) Map 2
- Overnight in Nakahechi area.
Day 2
- Walk from Chikatsuyu-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha (Beginning of walk is found on this link, Chikatsuyu to Tsugizakura)
(approx. 24 kms, walking time around 8 hours) - Kumano Kodo (Chikatsuyu-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha) Map 1
- Kumano Kodo (Chikatsuyu-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha) Map 2
- Overnight in Hongu area (Hongu, Yunomine Onsen, Kawayu Onsen, Wataze Onsen)
* Buses stop at Chikatsuyu-oji, so you can choose to do one or both days walk.
※ It is best to stay the night in Tanabe before your walk, or stay in Takahara for the first night, if you are planning to come from Osaka or Kyoto. Even if you take the earliest train and bus from Osaka or Kyoto, you will not have sufficient time to complete the entire walk from Takijiri to Chikatsuyu or Nonaka.
Hongu area to Kumano Nachi Taisha
Day 1
- Walk from Hongu to Koguchi (trailhead is close to Ukegawa Bus Stop)
(approx 13 kms, walking time around 5 hrs 30min) - Kumano Kodo (Kogumotori-goe section) Map
- Overnight in Koguchi
Day 2
- Walk from Koguchi to Kumano Nachi Taisha
(approx 14.5 kms, walking time around 7~8 hrs) - Kumano Kodo (Ogumotori-goe section) Map
- Bus service is available to and from Koguchi from either Hongu or Shingu.(timetable #5) So it is possible to break this 2 day walk into single day walks.
*This walk is good either direction
*It can also be easily linked up with the walk from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
(If you do that it is nice to have a rest day in Hongu to enjoy the onsens and countryside atmosphere)
Day Walks
Yunomine Onsen Loop
- Walk from Yunomine Onsen to Hosshinmon-oji via the Agaki-goe route.
(approx 6 kms, walking time around 2 hrs) - Walk from Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha.
(approx 7 kms, walking time around 2 hrs) - Walk from Kumano Hongu Taisha to Yunomine Onsen via the Dainichi-goe route.
(approx 3.5 kms, walking time around 1 hr 15 min) - It is nice to stay in Yunomine Onsen the night before and after the walk, to make for a complete day walk.
Half Day walks
Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
- Bus to Hosshinmon-oji (timetable #6)
- Walk from Hosshinmon-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
(approx 7 kms, walking time around 2 hrs) - Kumano Kodo Map
- This is a very popular course going through ridge top farming communities and forested areas. It is easy to spend a good portion of the day strolling this section of the Kumano Kodo.
*Bring a lunch as there are no facilities along the trail that offer regular service.
Kumano Hongu Taisha to Yunomine Onsen (Dainichi-goe route)
- You can walk either direction from Kumano Hongu Taisha to Yunomine Onsen or from Yunomine Onsen to Kumano Hongu Taisha. It is a great way to link the two areas without using public transit.
(approx 3.4kms, walking time around 1hr 15min) - Kumano Kodo Map
- This route takes you over a small mountain pass. It is a steep climb and descent either way you go.
Be careful on the stone staircase, as the moss can be slippery when wet.
Complete list of Kumano Kodo maps >>
Complete list of bus timetables >>
Complete Nakahechi Route Guide >>
