The Kumano Kodo Pilgrim Trails of the Japan's Kii Peninsula are World-Heritage Listed and comprised of a number of ancient pilgrim routes that have been in use through the Kii Mountains for over 1000 years.
Kodo means 'old ways', so the Kumano Kodo refers to the ancient network of pilgrimage trails, which were first developed as a way for people to move between the sacred sites of the Kii Peninsula including Koyasan and the three Kumano Grand Shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha (the 'Kumano Sanzan'). In addition to offering a meas to reach the Kumano Sanzan shrines, the pilgrim routes were designed as a spiritual experience incorporating challenging mountainous terrain.
The Kumano Kodo pilgrim paths are the only pilgrimage routes besides the Camino de Santiago to be designated a World Heritage site.
The Kumano Kodo pilgrim routes include the:
- Kohechi - originating at Mt Koya (Koyasan), concluding at the Kumano Sanzan
- Omine-Okugake - originating at the Yoshino River (Mount Yoshino), concluding at the Kumano Sanzan
- Iseji - originating at Ise-Shima on the East Coast of the Kii Peninsula, concluding at the Kumano Sanzan
- Ohechi - originating in Tanabe on the West Coast of the Kii Peninsula, following the coastal route to the Kumano Sanzan
- Nakahechi - originating in Tanabe on the West Coast of the Kii Peninsula, following the mountainous inland route to the Kumano Sanzan.
The Nakahechi is the most popular Kumano Kodo pilgrim route, which most commonly think of when considering a Kumano Kodo walk. One of the reasons for this is it traverses mountain villages where there are basic accommodation options spaced at regular intervals along each day of the walk. There is also bus access making drop-offs and pick-ups from trailheads possible each day. By contrast the other routes, particularly the Omine and Kohechi are much more remote and challenging, requiring pilgrims to carry camping gear and navigate on foot for the entire route through the mountains. Only the most self-sufficient experienced hikers attempt these routes.
Walk into Luxury offers a Kii Peninsula journey that features visits to the origin points for two of the Kumano Kodo pilgrim routes - Kohechi and Omine - and the best walks on the Nakahechi route, combined with unique and luxury accommodation. A private driver and private local guides from each of the key pilgrim areas makes for a comprehensive but flexible experience of the Kumano Kodo pilgrim routes, in absolute comfort.
- 9 Day Kii Pensinula Pilgrim Journey including Kumano Kodo
- 13 day Japan Pilgrim Trails including Kumano Kodo & Nakasendo Trail
Image: Map of the Kii Peninsula showing the Kohechi, Omine and Nakahechi routes of the Kumano Kodo.
Browse all of our Private Walking Tours of Japan below, or get in touch with our Japan walk specialists to plan your private journey.
