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Kumano Kodo Imperial Route

Head on a spiritual journey through Japan's ancient Nakahechi Route, where nature and tradition meet in the sacred mountains of the Kumano Kodo.

STARTING POINT

Takijiri

FINISH POINT

Kii-Katsuura

DURATION

5 days / 4 nights

SEASON

From April to October

TECHNICAL LEVEL

FITNESS LEVEL

TOUR TYPE

Inn-to-Inn

PRICE

From 990€/person

  • Traverse Japan's ancient Nakahechi Route, steeped in history and spiritual significance
  • Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Japan’s lush forests and mountain landscapes
  • Discover the sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines
  • Visit multiple UNESCO Heritage sites and Japan’s tallest waterfall
  • Experience traditional Japanese hospitality with stays in local inns
  • Connect with the deep spiritual energy of Shinto shrines nestled along the trail
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Self-guided

INCLUDED IN PRICE

4 nights in 3-star hotels with breakfast
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike
Tourist tax

What to Bring to the Tour

Hiking shoes/boots
25 to 35-liter backpack
Base layer
Sports T-shirts
Hiking shorts
Hiking water-repellent pants
Waterproof jacket
Midlayer
Sports socks and underwear
Leisurewear for evenings
Shade hat/cap
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Hiking poles
ID card or passport
Snacks
Cash
Water bottles or hydration pack
Toiletries

The Kumano Kodo, a network of ancient pilgrimage routes, weaves through the mountainous Kii Peninsula, connecting sacred sites in one of Japan's most spiritual regions.

The Imperial Route, or Nakahechi Route, has been the path of emperors and nobility for centuries, leading pilgrims through dense forests, over mountain passes, and into remote villages.

Our tour offers a rare opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history, connecting deeply with the cultural and spiritual heritage of Japan. The trail is a UNESCO World Heritage site, leading through lush forests, past centuries-old shrines, and along serene mountain paths. Each step on this path invites reflection, as the tranquil surroundings and deep spiritual energy of the Kumano region create a transformative experience.

Marked by Oji shrines, where pilgrims traditionally prayed for safe passage, the route is slowly taking you towards Nachi Tasha and Japan’s tallest waterfall, the perfect culmination of your journey that will make you overwhelmed by a deep sense of peace.

We provide all necessary arrangements, including traditional accommodations, detailed itineraries and handouts with information, GPS tracks and customer support, so you can fully immerse yourself in this journey of self-discovery.

Join us on this reflective trail that will resonate with you long after you return home!

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Of course. We aim to make your decision as easy as possible. Therefore, we crafted several selections targeted at particular groups of hikers – Best for Beginners, Best for Advanced Hikers, Mountain Hikes, Pilgrimages, Classic Treks, etc. 


If you remain unsure and overwhelmed, you can fill out this form or book a call with us, and we can help you directly.

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Samo
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Number of people

2
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Andrew Luff's profile photo

Andrew Luff

Verified customer

A fantastic 3 day self guided Hut to Hut hike around Triglav National Park in Slovenia. We experienced a full range of weather which made it an unforgettable trip. The organisation and back up support with GPS maps etc was excellent. Hut staff were friendly and very happy to give advice and suggestions on the routes and directions. Would recommend.

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Carly Leonard

Verified customer

My friend and I went with Triglav Tours for a 3 day, 2 night hike this summer and had the most amazing time!! Our guide, Bine, was awesome and had lots of cool facts to share about the area we were hiking. Additionally, my friend and I had not completed such a technical hike before and the guide and other guests were very patient with us and encouraging, ensuring we felt safe the entire time. The overnights were also such a fun way to get to know Bine, the other guests, and other hikers as well. Cannot recommend Triglav tours enough!!!

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Michael White

Verified customer

I arranged a six-day/five-night trip with Hut to Hut Slovenia. It's the first time I've gone with a tour organizer and I can say it went really well. In the past I've arranged huts myself and it is a huge hassle figuring out how to make the bookings, if the bookings actually exist, and what good/viable routes might be. Having this all sort was, at least to me, totally worth it. The routing is via Ride with GPS, which was great. I'd recommend bringing 1:25,000 scale paper maps as a backup, just in case. The huts themselves differ wildly. Some are really rustic with, ahem, interesting toilet facilities. One was accessible by road and thus had showers, a long menu, and even espresso. All will have some sort of food, but you might only have two options for dinner (one with meat, one vegetarian). The cuisine in the Slovenian huts leans strongly to stews and goulashes with minimal fresh vegetables and/or fruit. Certainly good and hearty but pretty much everyone I talked to said the food was better in the Italian and Austrian huts. Some huts are cash only, some take cards (but the card reader might be down). A 1.5 litre bottle of water is about 6 euro, so if you have a beer with dinner and also buy lunch you need to carry about 25-30 euro per day in cash (assuming you have a booking that includes breakfast). Of the six days of hiking, four were ridiculously spectacular, with the highlight being sunrise from Mt Stol. Getting up to the high mountains, though, can be crazy steep, with switchbacks only sparsely used. Descents are similarly tough, and you have to watch every step. For the first time ever I used trekking poles and my knees thank me. Two days were a bit of a slog, but this is probably unavoidable getting up to or down from the high terrain. Would I do something like this again? Yes, absolutely! But next time it will probably be the Dolomites.

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Roman Klymenko

Verified customer

Very beautiful hike. I did not expect that Slovenia is so amazing.

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Birgit Kindler

Verified customer

We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)

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Dominik Schrotter

Verified customer

We had a great day with Klemen on this hike, he showed us some lesser known spots/highlights of the southern part of the julian alps with a nice viewpoint at the end. 10/10 would book again

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Self-Guided


On a self-guided tour, you explore a destination independently, following a pre-planned route and itinerary without a guide but with all necessary information and accommodation bookings provided in advance.

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