Trip Overview
Departures
Click for Dates + Prices
Duration
10 Days
Activities
Cultural
Hiking
Physical Rating
Moderate
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Step Back in Time
Japan is a rich tapestry of culture and tradition, from Osaka’s vibrant streets to Kyoto’s timeless beauty. In Japan, meditation and reflection aren’t just practices—they’re woven into the very fabric of life. And nowhere is this more evident than on the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. For four unforgettable days, you’ll walk this sacred route, from Takahara to the awe-inspiring Kumano-Nachi Grand Shrine.
As you move through camphor and bamboo forests and stand beneath the towering thousand-year-old conifers of the Kii Mountain region, you’ll feel the weight of history. You’ll follow in the footsteps of monks, philosophers, and the brave female pilgrims once banned from entering Koyasan’s holy sites. This is more than a journey—it’s a soul-deep connection to a land steeped in wonder.
A Transformative Pilgrimage
Enter a World of Deep Traditions
On this journey through Japan, we dive deep into the ancient practice of Shugendō, unravel the stories behind stunning shrines and temples, and explore the fascinating evolution of the Women’s Pilgrimage Course.
By night, we rest in traditional ryokans, sinking into the comfort of tatami mats, and at day’s end? It’s all about soaking in the rejuvenating onsens. Your taste buds (and soul) are in for a treat—get ready to discover local flavors and experiences.
Wanna go deeper and get the juicy details? Hit play on the webinar here—it’s all in there.
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Itinerary
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Day 1
Osaka
歓迎 (Welcome) to Osaka
Upon arrival at Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX), you will be transferred from the airport to our hotel by scheduled group shuttles or with an escort on the train.
At the hotel, we meet our Wild Women guide at 5 p.m. and gather for a trip debrief before sharing stories and laughs over dinner. This is just the beginning of our transformative pilgrimage together.
Tonight you will pack your ‘Day Pack’ with the items you will need for one night on the Kumano Kodo trail. Your main luggage will be transferred to your night 3 accommodation. Your guide will let you know which essentials you should bring with you and how best to pack.
Included Meals
Dinner
Accommodations
Karaksa Shin Osaka Grande
Travel
Train (1 hour)
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Day 2
The Sacred Kumano Kodo
Soaking It In
After breakfast at the hotel, we board an early train to Kii-Tanabe, where we will also enjoy lunch nearby. We then take a bus to the Takijiri-oji bus stop.
We visit the Kumano Kodo Kan Pilgrimage Center to learn more about the UNESCO World Heritage site and sacred pilgrimage route.
From Takijiri-oji, our first walk begins. The trail climbs steadily through forested paths toward the ridge-top village of Takahara, offering sweeping views of the Hatenashi mountain range. It’s a challenging but rewarding introduction to the pilgrimage—one that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the journey ahead.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Sen Retreat Takahara, or similar
Travel
Train (2.5 hours), bus (45 minutes)
The Walk
Takijiri-Oji to Takahara 4 km, around 2-3 h
Total elevation gain: around 430 m (1410 feet)
Total elevation loss: around 200 m (656 ft)
All unpaved until km 3, then paved road until Takahara.
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Day 3
Kumano
Forested Trails
On foot, we head higher into the mountains along the pilgrimage trail. We will pass by an earthen mound ichirizuka milestone marker, which serves as a reminder of the old Nakasendo highway, before stopping for a lunch of local flavours.
Pressing on through the serenity, we reach the Hashiori-Toge pass after a short climb. Our descent follows a cobbled path and staircase to Chikatsuyu. After a short rest in this small village, we transfer by vehicle to our onsen, deep in the belly of the sacred mountains of Kumano.
At our ryokan (Japanese-style inn), we can soak in a traditional healing onsen (hot spring) before having a fun multi-course dinner together.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Watarase Onsen Yamayuri or Yunominesou
The Walk
From Takahara to Chikatsuyu: ~10 km (6 mi) , ~ 5 hours
Total elevation gain: ~1,010 m (3,320 ft)
Total elevation loss: ~840 m (2,750 ft)
Trail conditions: Unpaved mountain trail with steep ascents and descents, followed by an easier approach into Chikatsuyu village.
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Day 4
Pilgrimage to Hongu Taisha
Walking with Reflection
We hop on a local bus (around 30 minutes) to Hosshinmon- oji to begin today’s walk. This route follows a ridge through small villages and verdant forests before descending to Hongu Taisha for lunch.
After lunch, depending on timing, we can take a bus or walk the Dainichi-goe route back, from Oyunohara to Yunomine. It is a short 1.2 miles (2 km) but relatively steep trail over Mt. Dainichi. Near the upper ridge there is a shrine that was historically associated with the Shugendo sect in the area.
A female yamabushi (mountain ascetic practicing the religion of Shugendo) will join us today on a section of the walk, accompanied by her daughter. Back at our hotel we can spend our evening soaking and reflecting in the healing hot waters of the Yunomine region.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Hotel in Yunomine Area
The Walk
From Hosshinmon-oji to Hongu Taisha 7.5km, around 3 hrs, total elevation gain: around 190 m (623 feet), total elevation loss: around 460 m (1509 feet), mix trail: half paved road, half unpaved trail.
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Day 5
The Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine
Ancient Shrines
After breakfast, we have a one-hour transfer to Kumano Hayatama Taisha Grand Shrine, where we will have time to stroll around these ancient grounds.
After absorbing the spiritual magnitude of it all, we travel by private van to the Kumano-Nachi Grand Shrine and walk the Daimon-zaka Shrine Approach. Daimon-zaka (“large gate slope”) is a 1,969 foot-long (600 m) cobblestone staircase of 267 stairs, connecting the base of the valley to Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji Temple and the Nachi waterfall. At the slope’s base, the Meotosugi (“husband and wife cedar trees”) have roots that entwine beneath the path—a reminder of the Kumano Kodo’s beauty above, below and unseen. It’s a three and a half hour journey (by private van) to our Shukubo. After settling in, we will gather for a traditional dinner and later, an onsen soak.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Shukubo or Temple stay, Koyasan
Travel
Private shuttle (1 hour to shrine and 3 hours and 30 min to hotel)
The Walk
Nachikatsura to Kumano-Nachi Taisha: 1.5 km (30 min)
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Day 6
Women’s Pilgrimage Course
A Grounding Journey
It will be an early but beautiful start before breakfast as we quietly join the Gongyo (a monk’s morning prayers).
Later, we start the Nyonin Michi trail, a section of the lotus flower-shaped Women’s Pilgrimage Course. This trail leads around the perimeter of Koyasan, past the ruins of Nyonindo, to the entrance of the enormous Okunoin cemetery. Among the 200,000 gravestones is the tomb of Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism.
We will have the option to return to the hotel by bus or on foot. If our stars (and timing) align, we may be able to join the monks for an afternoon Ajikan meditation.
At our temple stay in Koyasan, we enjoy a healthy menu of seasonal vegetables, seaweed and edible wild plants.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Shukubo or Temple stay, Koyasan
Travel
Bus (20 minutes)
The Walk
From Fudozaka-guchi to Okunoin bus station 6.9 km, around 3h
Elevation gain of ~420 m (1378 feet)
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Day 7
Mount Hiei Bound
Meandering and Museums
This morning, we must pack our small daypacks for tonight’s stay. Our guide will remind us of what essentials we will need, as we will not be able to access our main luggage until Day 8. Our group’s main luggage will be safely forwarded to our accommodations in Kyoto.
There is an optional short morning walk along the Fudozaka Trail for those who want to see the last remaining Nyonido. The trailhead for this 1.6 mile (2.5 km) route leads to Koyasan from Gokurakubashi Station (the lower station of the Koyasan Cable Car). We must take a public bus (45 minutes) from our accommodation to reach this point. The Fudozaka Trail is steep but paved and ends at the Fudozaka-guchi Nyonindo temple hall, the only surviving Nyonindo (“woman hall”) built around Koyasan’s perimeter. Historically, the seven women halls welcomed female visitors who were banned from entering the temple town before 1872.
From Nyonindo, we can continue walking (20 minutes) to the Koyasan Reihokan Museum. Built in 1921, the museum’s collection includes thousands of religious works of art, statues, mandalas and scrolls displayed in three exhibition halls.
After lunch, we have a three-hour private transfer to the Mount Hiei area. Upon reaching our accommodations, we will have time to enjoy the amenities and surroundings of our hotel before gathering again for dinner.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Hotel in Mt. Hiei area
Travel
Private transfer (3 hours) and/or 45 minutes (bus and cable car) for those who opt for the Fudozaka Trail walk
The Walk
1.6 miles (2.5 km), optional
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Day 8
The Sacred Gyoja Pathway
Monks and Mountains
This morning, we take the Sakamoto Cable Railway and will be joined by a Dai Ajari to walk the sacred Gyoja Pathway in Hieizan (Mount Hiei). A Dai Ajari is a priest who has completed an extreme feat of endurance—the challenge is so daunting that only 51 monks have achieved this elite status in 450 years. They are considered to be living saints or Buddhas within Japan.
We follow in the industrious footsteps of the monks who trained on this mountain of ancient cedars, known as Buddhism’s rocking cradle.
The Enryakuji Temple is a national treasure that has served as the nerve centre for the study and practice of Tendai Buddhism. The sprawling grounds include large halls and pagodas dedicated to the founders of each of the Buddhism sects, ascetic training buildings and monk and pilgrims quarters. The designated UNESCO World Heritage Site once had nearly 3,000 sub-temples with thousands of monks in residence. We will visit the Eastern Area’s Temple Hall.
After lunch, we have a 30-minute bus ride to the Dai Ajari’s temple, Kakusho Ritsuan, where we take part in a memorable Kaji incantation prayer before returning to Kyoto by train, brimming with reflections.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Hotel Vista, Kawaramachi or similar
Travel
Bus (30 minutes), Train (15 minutes) Hieizan Sakamoto station to Kyoto station at EOD back to hotel)
The Walk
Dai Ajari walk: ~5.5km, 8h (total tour duration including lunch break and stops)
Elevation gain of ~200 m (656 feet)
Elevation loss of ~225m (738 feet)
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Day 9
Kyoto
Finding Zen
We will take a shared taxi to the Silver Pavilion, a Zen temple in Kyoto’s eastern mountains.
From here, we walk the Philosopher’s Path, a 1.2-mile (2 km) canal-side trail in the footsteps of Nishida Kitaro, a famed philosopher and founder of the Kyoto School of Philosophy. It’s easy to detour from this path as several shops, shrines and spiritual sites are found on the side streets here.
The path ends at Nanzenji, a Zen garden. One of the charms of Nanzen-ji is the ambient tea room with a waterfall view near the front of the temple complex. A regional favorite where the specialty is the yudofu tofu—a hot dish with kombu (seaweed).
Tonight, for our final meal together, we are treated to a Geisha or Maiko performance and seasonal dinner in the Gion district of Kyoto. In Kyoto, Geisha are called Geiko and apprentice Geiko are called Maiko. These artists are highly trained practitioners of traditional Japanese arts and customs of hospitality.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Hotel Vista, Kawaramachi or similar
TRAVEL
Taxi (30 minutes)
The Walk
Short and sweet but profound! It’s 1.2 miles (2 km).
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Day 10
Departure
決別 (Goodbye) Kyoto
After an early breakfast, transfers will be coordinated as needed to Kansai International Airport (KIX), where we will squeeze each other goodbye.
After this remarkable 10-day journey together, it’s time to exchange contact info, photos, and ideas for a reunion! Where to next? Another pilgrimage, perhaps?
Included Meals
Breakfast
What’s Included
- An English-speaking Japanese female guide
- Nine nights’ accommodation in hotels, including four nights in traditional tatami-style rooms. *Private upgrades may be available upon request (pending availability). To request this upgrade, please contact support@wildwomenexpeditions.com. Please note, due to the size of the some of the smaller boutique accommodations we use, we are unable to secure private rooms for all nights on this trip. When you are requesting your upgrade, we will confirm the number of nights at that time.
- All ground transport including trains and buses
- Group arrival and departure airport transfers
- Activities as outlined in the trip itinerary,
- Meals as outlined in the trip itinerary
- Admission to shrines and temples
Please Note:
All applicable taxes are included in the trip price.
Itineraries may be subject to change without notice due to weather and other environmental conditions. Please review our Booking Terms.
Trip Details
The Finer Details
Once you’ve booked your Wild Women Expedition, you’ll receive a link to comprehensive trip details to help you prepare. If you need additional information that’s not on the website, reach out to the Wild Women Expeditions office anytime!
Arrivals and Departures
- This Japan Kumano Kodo Hiking Adventure starts in Osaka and ends in Kyoto, Japan
- Plan arrivals and departures to either Kansai International Airport (KIX) or Itami International Airport (ITM), both in Osaka.
- There is a shared arrival transfer from Kansai Airport (KIX) or Itami Airport (ITM) to the Osaka hotel arriving up to 2 days pre-trip.
- Upon request, a departure transfer will be arranged from the Kyoto hotel on the final night to Kansai Airport (KIX)
- Plan to arrive in Osaka by late afternoon on Day 1 to ensure you can join the meet and greet and trip orientation in the evening.
- Plan departure flights from Osaka on the final day for early afternoon or later.
Accommodation Notes
Hotel
Modern western-style hotels are used in the cities. The rooms are generally smaller than equivalent hotels in the West. All have en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, TV and fridges in rooms. We typically use twin rooms in Japan as these are more prevalent locally for cultural reasons.
Ryokan or Minshuku
Ryokan are traditional Japanese-style inns. They may be in modern concrete or older wooden buildings but the rooms are always in the Japanese style with tatami (straw) matting and futons laid out in the evening by the ryokan staff. Evening meals are served together usually in the dining room, and are exquisitely prepared multi-course meals. Many ryokan have both en suite bathrooms (with the exception of some older buildings) and communal hot spring style baths (segregated by gender). Minshuku are more commonly smaller family-run properties with warm
Hospitality. Usually guests lay out their own futons and toilet and bathing facilities are communal, segregated by gender. Ryokan and minshuku are the classic Japanese experience.
Shukubo (Koyasan)
These are lodgings in Buddhist temples originally meant for pilgrims, but now open to anyone. The rooms are similar to Ryokan or Minshuku, though with fewer facilities. The food is excellent vegetarian Buddhist ‘Shojin-Ryori’ cuisine. It is a wonderful experience to stay in a Shukubo and there is often the opportunity to join the early morning religious service.
Meals
Most meals will be Japanese cuisine and will draw upon the rich variations of Japanese cuisine. Fish, seafood and tofu are a main staple. Meals at the inns are typically set meals showcasing regional specialities.
- Vegetarian options are available, but limited.
- Strict vegetarian diets, vegan diets, or gluten free diets will be difficult to accommodate due to the pervasiveness of the fish-based stock dashi and the use of soy sauce and miso in Japanese cuisine.
- Soy allergies may also be difficult to accommodate.
- If you have severe allergies and cross contamination is an issue, please contact the Wild Women Expeditions office to ensure you can be accommodated.
Tips are not required when dining in Japan. Dietary requests notified whilst on trip can’t be accommodated.
Luggage
During the tour, we send larger items of luggage ahead by courier to make the long-distance transfers by bus and train more relaxed. This means you do not have to handle your larger items of luggage through railway stations and on trains. However, those larger items of luggage do not rejoin us on the same day; and you will not have access to them on certain nights. So please bring a backpack to carry your overnight items. All the Japanese inns on the intervening nights provide soap, shampoo, towels, slippers and cotton robes called yukata, which are worn inside after you check-in. It is normal in Japan to wear a yukata to eat dinner, to relax in your room and when walking about, even outdoors. This means you do not need extra clothing for the evening- you really can travel light!
During the daytime, it may be possible to deposit this backpack in a luggage locker while walking or sightseeing, but please try to pack as lightly as possible. The luggage forwarding takes place as follows:
- Long distance luggage forwarding for 1 larger bag per person on 1 occasion from Osaka Day 2 to Yunomine Day 4.
- Same day hand luggage transfer from Takijiri to Takahara on Day 2, and from Takahara to Yunomine Onsen on Day 3.
As a general guide, we recommend you bring a small to medium size suitcase on wheels, as well as a medium size backpack. Please note that forwarding of one larger item of baggage per person is included in your tour price; if you choose to travel with two larger items of baggage, then your guide will happily arrange forwarding of both items and simply ask you to pay locally for the second item. Please review your packing list to make sure you have everything you need for the trip.
Your suitcase should weigh no more than 55 lbs. at time of departure. The total dimensions of the bag when you add the bag’s external length, width, and height should be no more than 62 inches. (For example, a piece of soft-sided luggage that measured 25 x 18 x 14 would have total dimensions of 25+18+14 or 57 inches and be within these size limits).
Clothing and Equipment
- Yukata (simple cotton kimono) are provided at each ryokan or minshuku, and you can wear this during your stay in the Japanese style accommodation both indoors and outdoors.
- Yukata and slippers provided by regular hotels are normally only used in the private rooms. This will allow you to pack lightly for the walking sections. Soap and shampoo are always available at any accommodations.
- Hairdryers are provided in the regular hotels and in the public bathrooms in Ryokan. They are usually available in some minshuku, too. Bathing suits cannot be used in the public bathrooms.
- For autumn tours: long sleeves are recommended, but you should not need heavy sweaters. You should have a light windbreaker or a rain jacket, light fleece as well as bringing a selection of light layers to wear will be most helpful.
- If bringing any appliance please note that most North American appliances can be used in Japan. Please ensure your appliance has a plug with 2 flat prongs. Outlets in Japan do not accept 3 prong grounded plug types. Some of the minshuku may only have a limited number of outlets in the room so if you are charging more than one item of equipment, you may wish to bring a small multi socket charger.
- There are no porters for this trip, so you will carry your own baggage on/off the trains from and to the airport.
Onsens
Many accommodations in Japan feature onsens. These are public bathing areas, sometimes filled with heated mineral water, and sometimes fed by local hot springs. You will be provided with a small and large towel. You do not wear a swim suit in the onsen and they are gender segregated (women’s and men’s). When you enter the change rooms, there will be lockers for your clothing. Find a shower stall and rinse down well, using the soap and small towel provided. Then find your way into the onsen for a quiet soak. It’s important to be mindful of other women using the onsen and to keep voices low. These are quiet spaces.
A common question asked is whether you can enter an onsen if you have a tattoo. It is an unwritten rule that public onsens do not permit those who have tattoos on their body. If you choose to enter a public onsen with a tattoo, chances are, no one will notice (especially if it’s small and inconspicuous), but if you are asked to leave, you should respectfully do so.
The Kumano Kodo and Dual Pilgrim Status
The Wild Women Expeditions Kumano Kodo itinerary qualifies for the Camino de Santiago and Kumano Kodo Dual Pilgrim certificate.
The Kumano Kodo differs from the Camino in that there is no fixed minimum number of kilometres required. Instead, you must complete a walking pilgrimage route, collect stamps along the way, and visit the three Grand Shrines of Kumano.
The following are the Kumano Kodo requirements to meet Dual Pilgrimage requirements:
- You will begin your walk at Takijiri-oji (Day 1)
- You walk the Hosshinmon-oji → Kumano Hongu Taisha (~7 km) known as the ‘Short Pilgrimage’ on Day 4
- You will pass by Kumano Hongu Taisha on Day 4
- You will visit the 3 Grand Shrines:
- Kumano Hongu Taisha
- Kumano Hayatama Taisha
- Kumano Nachi Taisha
We will provide you with a Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Credential (stamp booklet). Along the route, you are required to collect stamps in the credential at the small wooden stamp boxes located at shrines and rest points. Your guide will point these out to you.
Upon arrival at Kumano Hongu Taisha, you should collect the final “completion” stamp. You then cross the street to the Kumano Hongu Heritage Center and present both your Camino credential and Kumano Kodo stamp booklet. A short form will be completed, and the Dual Pilgrim certificate will be issued on the spot!
Please note that there is no certificate for the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage alone, only the Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Credential (stamp booklet).
Tipping
Tips are not customary in restaurants or hotels in Japan. Your tour guide will suggest any exceptional occasion when a tip may be appropriate. At the end of the tour, your tour leader would gratefully accept a tip if you wish to make such a gesture, but this is entirely at your discretion.
Important Booking Information
Take a peek at our Booking Terms and Travel Insurance requirements before booking. We’ve got some great advice and requirements listed here so you can have your bases covered and adventure with peace of mind.
The Wild Women Way
How do we roll? Together. The Wild Women Way is our approach, our values, and our foundation. Learn more about our Wild Ways HERE.
How We Support You
Ready for a big adventure? We’re in it together. On this trip, we spend many days hiking. Yes, some of it can be a challenge, but you’re never alone. Like thousands of women before you, you’ll draw on strength you didn’t know you had and come out feeling like the goddess you are.
Like all our trips, this trip can be scaled to suit different abilities and comfort levels. If you have concerns or reservations about your ability to complete or enjoy this trip due to any physical or medical reasons, please contact us and let’s talk about it.
What the Trip Entails
This is an active hiking adventure. We would like you to be comfortable with the following:
- Walking distances on this trip vary from .9 to 8 miles (1.5 to 13 km) and involve steep climbs, uneven steps, cobblestone, and slippery moss-covered paths
- The Kumano Kodo section will involve walking 16 miles (26 km) over the course of 4 days
- Some days involve long train travel of up to 3 hours and several modes of transportation. Please pack efficiently and choose sensible luggage that suits boarding trains and buses
- On this pilgrimage trail, you will be carrying essential items only (in your day pack) for a total of 2 nights on trip and your main luggage will not be with you during those nights. Please refer to the itinerary for those nights without your luggage.
- Four nights will be spent in accommodations offering tatami rooms, which are traditional Japanese rooms with tatami flooring. These Washitsu-style accommodations have sliding doors (fusuma) versus hinged doors
- Expect a menu and flavors that may be unfamiliar to you
- If you have tattoos, you may not be permitted to enter certain onsens
- Physical Rating: Moderate (Good level of fitness required. Trips are moderately challenging with an average of 4 to 6 hours of activity each day.)
