Walk Japan - Kumano Kodo Trail
Walk Japan - Kumano Kodo Trail
Walk Japan - Kumano Kodo Trail
12 Days Starting in Tokyo and ending in Osaka
Visiting: Tokyo, Matsumoto, Magome, Kyoto, Nara, Kumano, Hongucho Hongu, Osaka
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WJP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Discover Japan on our walking holiday that ticks off the must-sees, explores its beautiful landscapes and takes you off the beaten path, too. See a new side of Tokyo on an urban hike through the sprawling capital before heading into the mountains to uncover relics from the Edo period. Finish up with a four-day hike along the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail connecting Shinto shrines. Along the way, refuel with authentic Japanese cuisine and unwind in the onsen at a traditional ryokan.
Nakasendo Way - Hike between historic post towns on a highway once travelled by samurai and itinerant merchants.
Kyoto - Explore the temples and tea houses of Japan's historic capital on foot.
Traditional accommodation - Experience a Japanese rite of passage, sleeping on a futon and washing in a hot spring bath at a traditional ryokan inn.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Join Trip In Tokyo; Welcome Meal
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Asakusa Via Inn
Accommodation Name: Sunroute Asakusa Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Our tour starts today in Tokyo, Japan's ultra-modern capital. A sprawling metropolis, Tokyo is one of the world's most populous cities and a dazzling blend of traditional culture and all things new.
For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6.30pm for a welcome meeting. If some of the group are arriving on later flights, the main introductory briefing will take place on the morning of Day 2 with everybody present.
After the welcome meeting, we'll head out to dinner (included) at a nearby local restaurant where you'll have the chance to sample various types of 'izakaya' style Japanese cuisine. There are no other activities planned today. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.
If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) or Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). The city centre is around an hour away from Haneda Airport and one hour and 30 minutes from Narita. For your arrival transfer, you'll be met in the arrivals hall at Tokyo Airport. Please look out for your name on a signboard and/or an Explore signboard. You'll be transferred to the start hotel by public shuttle bus, which may stop at up to two other hotels, before dropping you at the joining hotel where you'll meet the rest of the group.
Please note, while our itinerary gives us one full day in Japan's capital, there's a lot to pack in. If you really want to get to grips with Tokyo's sites, we recommend adding additional nights to your trip pre-tour.
Japanese hotels have strict rules regarding check in and all customers are required to wait until 3 PM for room access. You will be able to store your luggage while waiting but if you require an early check in, then you should request this at the time of booking. We do not guarantee this will be possible and depending on availability an extra fee will be charged.
Day 2: Walking Tour Of Tokyo Including Less-Visited Neighbourhoods
Location: Tokyo
Accommodation: Asakusa Via Inn
Accommodation Name: Sunroute Asakusa Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we'll head out to explore this thriving metropolis on a walking tour that will take in some of the residential and more traditional neighbourhoods of the city - Nippori, Yanesen and Nezu, for a glimpse of life in Tokyo far away from the neon lights of the business district. We'll end up in Ueno with time spare to explore the market and pick up some lunch.
The afternoon is left free to explore further. You'll be provided with an IC transport card which gives you unlimited travel on public transport around the city. Possible destinations include the Meiji Shrine and Shinjuku area, where the latest electronic gadgets dazzle from glowing shopfronts, or a boat ride along the Sumida River for a more relaxing experience.
Today's walking tour will cover approximately 8 kilometres/5 miles and will take around four hours.
Day 3: Express Train To Matsumoto; Visit The Impressive Castle
Location: Matsumoto
Accommodation: Hotel, Alpico Plaza
Accommodation Name: Iroha Grand Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll depart from Shinjuku train station (reputedly the world's busiest) on a scenic journey through the Japanese Alps to Matsumoto this morning. Flanked on each side by mountains, Matsumoto is best known for its 500-year-old castle - the oldest castle in Japan. Known as 'Crow Castle' due to its black, sombre appearance, it has retained its original wooden interior. The fascinating design includes a moon-viewing pavilion, a hidden floor for the castle's protecting samurai and various booby traps to aid its defence. After exploring the castle and its grounds, we'll have time to stroll through the town's historic quarter. For art lovers, there's also the option to visit the Matsumoto City Museum of Art, which includes collections from local Yayoi Kusama.
To make today's journey by train easier, we'll make use of Japan's excellent luggage forwarding services and send our main luggage to Kyoto. You'll need to pack your overnight things in your daypack.
Day 4: Hike On Nakasendo Way From Magome To Nagiso; Bullet Train To Kyoto
Location: Magome
Accommodation: Hotel, Elcient Kyoto
Accommodation Name: Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll have an early start this morning as we catch a train to Nakatsugawa. From here, it's a journey of around 30 minutes by public bus to Magome in the tranquil Kiso Valley, running alongside the Central Alps.
We'll hike from here along a section of the Nakasendo Way, a historical trail that connected Kyoto to Edo (now modern-day Tokyo). The Nakasendo's origins date back to the Edo Period (1603-1868) when the Japanese Shogun created a comprehensive communications network of roads to help stabilise and rule the country. Towns like Magome and Tsumago, which we'll also pass through on the hike, were post towns, providing accommodation and supplies for travellers on the route, an eclectic mix of soldiers, merchants, and monks among them. These towns have been lovingly preserved to retain their Edo-period details and the streets are lined with traditional wooden buildings.
Our hike today takes us on a mainly stone-paved, undulating path through beautiful countryside and small hamlets to Nagiso. We'll catch an express train from Nagiso to Nagoya, then change to the super-fast shinkansen (a.k.a. the bullet train) that speeds us on to our base for the next three nights, the one-time historic capital of Japan - Kyoto.
Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walk is expected to take around four hours and 30 minutes with a total ascent of 450 metres/1,476 feet and descent of 610 metres/2,001 feet.
Day 5: Walking In Kyoto Including Philosophers Way And Temple Visits
Location: Kyoto
Accommodation: Hotel, Elcient Kyoto
Accommodation Name: Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Meals Included: Breakfast
At the heart of Japanese culture and influence for over 1,000 years, Kyoto was the epicentre of events that shaped the history of Japan. One of the only major cities to survive the extensive bombing of WWII, the Imperial city boasts more than 2,000 temples and shrines, many set in landscaped gardens, making this captivating city the cradle of all things uniquely Japanese.
Today, we'll head to the north of the city to spend a full day walking and sightseeing in the Higashiyama District along the lower slopes of Kyoto's eastern mountains. This is one of the city's best-preserved historic districts. Walking among the narrow lanes, wooden buildings, and traditional merchant shops, we can catch a glimpse of what the old capital city must have been like.
In the morning, we'll follow the Philosophers Path, along a cherry tree-lined canal, stopping to visit some of the city's most important temples including the Silver Pavilion and the Eikando and Nanzenji temples. The route is named after the influential 20th-century philosopher Nishida Kitaro who walked here in his daily meditation. In the afternoon, we'll continue to the Heian Shrine, a reconstruction of part of the Imperial Palace as it would have looked 1,200 years ago. The shrine is known for its beautiful traditional Japanese garden which contains multiple ponds in which tortoises, egrets, koi carp and other wildlife can be spotted. From here, we'll pass through the cobbled streets to Kodaiji where you can see a perfectly groomed towering bamboo grove, a Zen rock garden, and a pair of historic tea houses.
Today's 12-kilometre/7.5-mile walking tour is expected to take around seven hours including time spent sightseeing.
Day 6: Train To Nara; Walking Tour Around The City's Parks And Temples
Location: Nara
Accommodation: Hotel, Elcient Kyoto
Accommodation Name: Hotel Elcient Kyoto Hachijoguchi
Meals Included: Breakfast
We'll spend today in Japan's first capital Nara, travelling there by train (in around 50 minutes) and exploring on foot. Perhaps one of Japan's friendliest and greenest cities, Nara sits on the edge of a sprawling park that provides a picture-perfect backdrop for the city's magnificent temples and shrines. Nara is known for the 1,200 deer that roam free in the streets and parks. Believed to be messengers of the gods, the deer are protected by city law. We'll take in the best of the town's sights including the world's largest Bronze Buddha at the magnificent Todaiji temple and the shrine of Kasuga Taisha before returning to Kyoto for the night.
Today's 10 to 12 kilometre/6.2 to 7.5-mile walking tour is expected to take around six to seven hours including time spent sightseeing.
Day 7: Train To Kii Peninsula; Hike Through Ancient Forest To Takahara
Location: Kumano
Accommodation: Lodge, Kiri no Sato Takahara Lodge
Accommodation Name: Yunomineso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we'll head into rural Japan and the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, much of which is covered by dense rainforest. Travelling first by train and then by bus, we'll arrive at the small village of Takijiri-Oji, the starting point for our hike on the Kumano Kodo.
Kumano Kodo is the name given to a network of pilgrimage routes that connect three great Buddhist shrines: Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha, and Hayatama Taisha - known collectively as the Kumano Sanzan. Emanating from these three shrines, various pilgrimage trails trace their way through dense forest and across high mountain passes and stunning valleys, linking the various sacred sites of the area. Awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004, the Kumano Kodo remain in use as pilgrimage routes to this day.
Our hike this afternoon takes us through an ancient forest filled with giant camphor trees and sacred caves to Takahara, a ridge-top settlement at around 300 metres/984 feet known locally as 'Kiri-no-Sato' (village in the mist) thanks to the blankets of mist that create a sea of clouds over the valleys below. After the walk, it's a short drive to our base for the next three nights in Tanabe, a hot spring town located along a river.
The Yunomineso is a ryokan where we'll stay in Japanese-style rooms (twin-share or single rooms). The futon beds are rolled out each night on the traditional tatami mat (woven soft igusa straw) flooring. Generally, the rooms are simply decorated with a low table to sit around, a scroll or picture in an alcove and a Japanese tea set. Shoes are taken off in the entranceway to the room. All of the rooms have an en-suite toilet and washbasin. In true Japanese style, bathing is in traditional same-sex communal baths or onsen that are used after washing yourself by hand-held shower in the same communal area. Two private baths can be used if available but cannot be pre-booked.
We'll include luggage forwarding today to ship our main luggage to Tanabe. Our bags won't arrive until tomorrow, so you'll need to pack your overnight things in your daypack for the first night in Tanabe.
Today's 5 kilometre/3 mile walk is expected to take around two-and-a-half hours with a total ascent of 430 metres and descent of 200 metres.
Day 8: Kumano Kodo Walk With Sweeping Countryside Views
Location: Kumano
Accommodation: Kawayu Midoriya
Accommodation Name: Yunomineso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we'll return to Takahara by minibus. We have a longer hike ahead of us to Chikatsuyu, a route that takes us past the ruins of the Uwada-jaya Teahouse and across the Hashiori-toge Pass, with its iconic Gyubadoji statue of one of the first pilgrim emperors. We'll be treated to stunning views of the surrounding countryside from various points along the way and enjoy an included lunch at a rest station en route.
Today's 10-kilometre/6.2-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 590 metres/1,936 feet and descent of 640 metres/2,100 feet.
Day 9: Walk On The Kumano Kodo To Hongu Shrine
Location: Hongucho Hongu
Accommodation: Kawayu Midoriya
Accommodation Name: Yunomineso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today's hike takes us over the mountains from Hosshinmon to the Hongu Taisha, at the very heart of the Kumano Kodo and the region's most important shrine, serving as the head shrine for over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan. It's also known for its huge torii gate, the largest in Japan, dwarfing the pilgrims passing under it. After completing today's hike, we'll have the chance to pay a visit to the Hongu World Heritage Centre next to the shrine, an information centre for all things Kumano related which also houses an exhibition on the area.
Returning to Kawayu Onsen by bus, we'll have a final chance for a rejuvenating dip in the hot spring waters this evening.
Today's 7-kilometre/4.4-mile walk is expected to take around three hours and 30 minutes with a total ascent of approximately 600 metres/1,969 feet and descent of 950 metres/3,117 feet. Please note, it's possible to take a public bus for part of today's route if you'd like to shorten the length of the walk.
Day 10: Kumano River Boat Trip To Hatayama Shrine; Train To Kii-Katsuura
Location: Hongucho Hongu
Accommodation: Hotel, Charmant
Accommodation Name: Hotel & Renta Car 660
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We'll take a break from walking today and start the day with a leisurely boat trip along the Kumano River to Hatayama Taisha, the second of the three great Kumano shrines. This is how pilgrims traditionally approached the shrine, which is located near the river mouth. The nature in and around the shrine is an integral part of this grand shrine's precincts and annual rituals. We'll have time to explore here before continuing a short distance by train to our destination for the night, the coastal town of Kii-Katsuura.
Once a quiet fishing port, the town's fortunes changed when an abundance of hot springs were discovered here. Kii-Katsuura's other attraction is the early-morning fish market, which you might like to visit tomorrow.
Again, our main luggage will be forwarded, this time to Osaka and we'll travel with our day bags today and you'll need to pack your things for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Hike To Nachi Shrine; Train To Osaka
Location: Osaka
Accommodation: Rihga Place Higobashi
Accommodation Name: Shin-Osaka Washington Hotel Plaza
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we'll take a bus to Daimonzaka Chushajo, from where it's around a one-hour walk to the Kumano Nachi Taisha, the last of the Kumano Kodo's three great shrines. This walk takes you part of the way along the Daimonzaka, an impressive 600 metre/1,969 feet cobbled stairway with a total of 267 stairs, lined with towering Japanese cedar and bamboo groves. Nachi Taisha, the culmination of today's walk, boasts a magnificent red pagoda and stands against the striking backdrop of Nachi-no-Otaki, Japan's tallest waterfall. We'll take some time to marvel at this amazing sight before taking the bus back to Kii-Katsuura Station.
At the station, we'll hop on the train for a four-hour journey to our final destination, Osaka - Japan's second city. The food capital of Japan, Osaka is one of the best places to get a taste of local cuisine - whether it's octopus balls from a street-side stand, okonomiyaki savoury pancakes (a regional speciality), or some of the best sushi in the world.
Today's 3-kilometre/1.9-mile walk is expected to take around one hour with a total ascent of 50 metres/164 feet and descent of 200 metres/656 feet.
Please note, our itinerary allows for limited time in Osaka, if you'd like to explore more of the city, we recommend adding additional nights to your trip.
Day 12: Trip Ends In Osaka
Location: Osaka
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends after breakfast this morning at our hotel in Osaka.
There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Osaka at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel.
If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from either Kansai International Airport (KIX) which is approximately one hour by train or Osaka International Airport (ITM) which takes around an hour by shuttle bus. The transfer will be unescorted and on public transport (metro and train or airport limousine shared shuttle bus) - your tour leader will give you your tickets and all of the information you need.
If you have time to spend here, Osaka has all the galleries and museums you'd expect of a large city including the unusual Instant Ramen Museum where visitors can have a go at creating their own cup noodles! It's also worth taking a walk around the Namba area, one of Osaka's most vibrant and interesting districts where kilometres of covered arcades, crisscrossed by canals and rivers, open up to back streets filled with history and small shops.
What's Included
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Train Tickets
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Accommodation
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Fully Guided
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Meals – Breakfast Only
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Country Entry Visas
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
Meals
Breakfasts: 11
Lunches: 4
Dinners: 5
Check out our Q&As
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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What is the maximum group size?
16
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
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