This is the perfect route for an adventurous traveler in reasonably fit physical condition who wants to hike the Kumano Kodo trail. You’ll hike about 18.7 miles (30.5 km) in 2 days. 

We created this Kumano Kodo itinerary based on our personal experience hiking this section of the trail.  

Our itinerary is loosely based on the 4-day recommended route on Nagahechi Route from Kumano Travel, however we made improvements that we think you’ll enjoy.

We highly recommend it because we feel it is the best way to see the major sites, hike on the iconic parts of the pilgrimage path, and interact with locals while spending the night at a homestay.

This itinerary is for you if you:

• have to have a bit of a sense of adventure
• love for authentic experiences 
• want to avoid crowds
• seek out nature on your trips
• like traveling independently (not with tour groups)

Japan is a notoriously expensive destination, and in some ways, the Kumano Kodo is no exception. Accommodation along the trail is limited, and therefore, not entirely cheap. 

We’ve done our best to keep costs reasonable and have mostly stuck with mid-range prices for accommodation and meal recommendations.

Outside of accommodation, food, and a few bus rides, you won’t really have any other expenses because the hike itself is free. 

The itinerary includes a lot of hiking! You’ll hike about 18.7 miles (30.5 km) in 2 days. 

That said, regardless of the type of trip you’re taking, you will be walking a lot in Japan. (This is true whether you’re staying only in big cities or following a route our hidden gems itinerary that includes some nature walks and hikes.)

The good news is that the Kumano Kodo can be hiked all year round.

Wakayama prefecture on Japan’s Kii Peninsula sits pretty far south, meaning the weather in this region tends to be quite mild. To give you a point of reference, Wakayama prefecture is south of Osaka. 

Spring and fall are going to offer the most comfortable temperatures as well as beautiful blossoms and fall foliage. That said, these are the most popular times of the year to make the hike, so you’ll encounter more people along the trail. 

• Spring: Cherry blossoms and comfortable temperatures make springtime a lovely (and popular!) time to make this hike!
• Summer: The summer months can get very hot and humid, meaning the hike can be uncomfortable at times. Rain is also highly likely, at least for part of your trek, so be prepared. The good thing is that it will be very green at this time! 
• Fall: Comfortable temperatures and stunning fall foliage make this a very nice time to hike, and for this reason, it is a popular season on the Kumano Kodo.
• Winter: While temperatures can get cold and snow is possible, the Kii Mountains tend to be more temperate than other mountain ranges in Japan. There will be fewer people hiking in Japan in the winter than at other times of the year.

No matter what time of year you plan to hike, be prepared for rain, as the weather in the mountains can change quickly and can be quite different from the weather in surrounding cities.

Read more about the best time to visit Japan.

This Kumano Kodo itinerary really requires 4 full days to get to and from the start and end of the trail. 

Since this is a digital download and we cannot revoke access to it, we have a no refund policy.

For this reason, we have made it incredibly affordable.

We stand by this product 100% and have put countless hours into putting it together for you. We are confident that this will be extremely helpful in planning your trip.