Plan a Kumano Kodo, Japan Private 6 Day Hiking Tour
Your Journey, Your Way
Comfort, Culture, and Care on Japan’s Sacred Pilgrimage Trail
Experience the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo with the freedom of a private tour designed just for you. Walk at your pace, stay in handpicked accommodations, and let us handle every detail, from transfers to luggage to authentic Japanese meals.
Walk in the Footsteps of Pilgrims Without the Stress of Planning
For over a thousand years, emperors and travellers have made the sacred journey through Japan’s Kumano mountains to seek meaning, renewal, and peace.
Now, you can experience this timeless pilgrimage without the worries of logistics or crowds.
Planning the Kumano Kodo on your own can be overwhelming. From securing limited accommodation and arranging luggage transfers to navigating Japanese booking systems. But with Home Comforts Hiking, your private hiking experience is seamless, safe, and completely personalised.
Every step, every meal, every stay is arranged by experts who know the trail inside out, so you can focus on the journey, not the details.
Highlights of Your Private 6-Day Kumano Kodo Experience
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Walk the most beautiful sections of the Nakahechi route — Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachisan Shrines
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Stay in traditional Japanese inns with local meals prepared for you each night
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Enjoy exclusive riverboat experiences and cultural insights guided by locals
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Travel light with daily luggage transfers
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Experience the flexibility to pause, explore, or linger longer wherever your heart leads
Why Book a Private Kumano Kodo Tour with Home Comforts Hiking?
Your Itinerary, Your Pace
Whether you prefer gentler walks or longer sections, we design your route to match your fitness, interests, and schedule. You decide the pace — we make it happen.
Private Guides and Personal Care
Enjoy the insight of an English-speaking and local guide who walk exclusively with your group, adjusting each day’s pace and sharing stories that bring the pilgrimage to life.
Comfortable and Authentic Stays
Relax in handpicked traditional inns and onsen guesthouses that balance comfort and culture. Hot showers, warm hospitality, and luggage waiting each evening are part of the experience.
All Logistics Taken Care Of
From airport transfers and accommodation to meals, luggage, and daily route notes, everything is handled. No stress, no uncertainty, just effortless exploration.
Trusted Experts Since 2018
We are an Australian-owned company with a registered travel agent account on the official Kumano Travel site, giving us direct access to limited local accommodation. Trusted by hundreds of travellers, and featured in Great Walks Australia Bushwalking Magazine and The Australian Hiker Podcast, your journey is in expert hands.
Ready to walk without worry?
What Our Hikers Say
Kumano Kodo Private 6-Day Tour Itinerary
The Experience You Can Expect
Each morning, you’ll set out through misty cedar forests, following stone paths that have guided pilgrims for centuries. You’ll walk at your own rhythm — free from group schedules — with a local guide nearby and route notes in hand.
As the day unfolds, you’ll pass ancient shrines, mountain vistas, and charming villages where time moves gently. When evening arrives, you’ll step into a warm inn where your luggage is waiting, dinner is served, and a steaming onsen awaits to soothe your muscles.
This is not a race. It’s a chance to slow down, reconnect, and rediscover yourself, through the quiet magic of Japan’s sacred trail.
Itineraries can be tailored to your group’s interests, fitness, and travel schedule.
Day 1 — Arrival in Kii-Tanabe
Arrive via train from Osaka KIX Airport (hourly departures).
Hotel check-in from 4:00 pm; arrive before 4:45 pm.
Welcome briefing at 5:30 pm.
Dinner at a local restaurant in Kii-Tanabe.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kii-Tanabe.
Meals: Dinner (D), Lunch (L)
Day 4 — Kawayu Onsen to Koguchi
Breakfast and lunchbox provided by inn. Walk 14 km to Koguchi with scenic mountain views.
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Rated Moderate.
Accommodation: Minshuku in Takada (onsen, dinner, breakfast included).
Meals: B, L, D.
Day 2 — Takijiri to Chikatsuyu
Breakfast at hotel; lunch pack provided.
Bus (40 min) to Takijiri trailhead.
Walk 14 km to Chikatsuyu.
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Total ascent 930 m.
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First 1.1 km = 300 m ascent (steep, but paced slowly).
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Additional 630 m ascent spread across 11 km
Rated Hard.
Accommodation: Traditional Japanese inn with onsen at Chikatsuyu.
Meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).
Day 5 — Riverboat & Shingu Shrines
Riverboat ride to Shingu (bus alternative if unavailable).
Explore Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kamikura Shrine with guide.
Visit Castle Ruins and/or Asuka-Jinja Shrine, or enjoy free time.
Total walking: 4–5 km, Easy.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Local train to Kii-Katsuura.
Accommodation: Kii Katsuura traditional
Meals: B, L, D.
Day 3 — Hosshinmon Oji to Hongu & Yunomine
Bus or taxi to Hosshinmon Oji.
English-speaking Japanese guide joins for the day (groups of 12+).
Walk 7.5 km to Kumano Hongu Taisha.
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Rated Easy to Moderate.
Explore shrines and surrounding architecture.
Lunch at Hongu.
Walk 3 km to Yunomine Onsen.
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1 km flat, 1 km ascent (300 m), 1 km descent (200 m).
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Rated Hard (bus option available).
Accommodation: Onsen inn at Kawayu Onsen.
Meals: B, L, D.
Day 6 — Nachisan & Departure
Early morning visit to Tuna Market (Mon–Fri only).
Bus to Nachisan.
Walk the famous Diamonzaka Slope.
Explore Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, Seiganto-ji Temple, and Nachi Falls (tallest in Japan).
Total walking: 4–5 km, Easy to Moderate.
Bus return to Kii-Katsuura for lunch and onward travel.
Train journey (3.5 hrs) along the Kii Peninsula to Osaka KIX Airport.
Arrive ~5:30 pm for flights from 7:30 pm onwards.
Meals: B
Note: Itinerary may change due to weather or group requests, with adjustments discussed at daily briefings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the price?
Your guided tour includes accommodation on a twin-share basis, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners, daily luggage transfers on the trail, public bus fares used during the tour, a private taxi or bus on Day 3, an English-speaking guide for the full six days, and interpretive guiding on 2 to 3 shrine days for larger groups. You also receive route maps, trip notes, and practical safety information.
What is not included?
Airfares, train fares to Kii-Tanabe and from Kii-Katsuura, 2 lunches, drinks and snacks, personal incidentals, passport and visa if required, and travel insurance.
How much does it cost?
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2026 tours: AUD 2,790 per person, twin share.
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Single supplement: AUD 450.
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Final price is dependent on accommodation type and options. Ask for a Quote.
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Prices are in Australian dollars.
How do I Book and Pay for Private Tours?
You can Request for Quote for your Private Tour.
You can then confirm your Private Tour with a deposit of A$500 per person which secures your place.
The balance is due one month before the tour start date.
Australian customers can pay by bank transfer:
Home Comforts Hiking | BSB 923100 | Account 36237075
Overseas customers receive a PayPal invoice in AUD. You do not need a PayPal account and can pay by Visa or Mastercard. You may also pay in Australian Dollars via a transfer service such as Wise or through your bank:
Home Comforts Hiking | BSB 923100 | Account 36237075
The SWIFT Code for ING Bank Australia is INGBAU2S
Cancellations and Refunds
Please read our Cancellation and Refund Policy.
How difficult is the hike?
Overall the guided itinerary is rated moderate, with some steep and hilly sections that can feel hard for inexperienced or less fit hikers. We walk about 50 km over five hiking days, typically 7 to 15 km per day. The average group pace is about 2.5 km per hour with regular breaks to enjoy views, villages, and shrines. As you are a private group, the itinerary can be tailored to your preferences.
What are the accommodation arrangements?
We stay in small village guesthouses where availability is limited. Rooms are twin share. Solo travellers are paired with the same gender; if pairing is not possible, a single room may be arranged with the single supplement. Bedding, linen, and towels are provided. Pillows in Japanese inns can be firm, so bring your own if you prefer. Many properties have onsite onsen baths, and some villages have excellent public onsens nearby. Most minshuku have shared bathing in gender-segregated onsen areas. Morning bathing is often unavailable, but wash basins are provided.
What Meals Are Included?
Breakfast (B) is included daily, usually Japanese style, sometimes with a Western option.
Dinner (D) is included on five nights, including a welcome dinner in Kii-Tanabe on the first night.
Lunch (L) is included on three trail days and again in Shingu; on the other days you can buy lunch at local shops or cafes.
Snacks and drinks are not included.
Dietary requests: We pass requests and allergies to our hosts. Vegetarian options are available in many places. Please note that katsuo dashi (fish broth) is common in Japanese cooking and can be difficult to avoid completely.
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. Tap water in the Kumano area is high quality. Bring bottles or a hydration bladder and refill each morning.
How does luggage transfer work?
Luggage transfer is included on all guided hikes. Each guest can check one bag up to 20 kg. Leave your bag at reception by around 8:30 am and it will be delivered to the next inn. You carry only a daypack while walking.
Good to know: Only one checked bag per person is allowed for transfer. Even with transfer, you still need to move your own bag up and down stairs and to and from stations. Pack light. Most inns have washing machines and dryers.
What should I bring?
A small daypack with rain cover, one 20 kg bag for transfer, hiking clothing, sturdy shoes, rain jacket, hiking poles, swimsuit, toiletries and personal medication, money card, passport and visa if required, travel insurance documents, phone or camera with chargers. Yukata robes, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided at the inns. If you prefer a soft pillow, bring your own.
When should I book?
Accommodation along the trail is scarce and books out early, especially in Cherry Blossom season (late March to early April) and Autumn Colours (October to November).
Recommended lead times
January to February: at least 1 month ahead
March: 9 to 15 months ahead
April: 12 to 15 months ahead
May: 9 to 12 months ahead
June: 6 to 9 months ahead
July to August: 3 to 6 months ahead
September: 6 to 9 months ahead
October to November: 9 to 12 months ahead
December: 3 to 6 months ahead
You can sometimes book later, but your accommodation choices and access to onsens may be limited, and transfers may be longer.
How do I Book and Pay for Private Tours?
You can Request for Quote for your Private Tour.
You can then confirm your Private Tour with a deposit of A$500 per person which secures your place.
The balance is due one month before the tour start date.
Australian customers can pay by bank transfer:
Home Comforts Hiking | BSB 923100 | Account 36237075
Overseas customers receive a PayPal invoice in AUD. You do not need a PayPal account and can pay by Visa or Mastercard. You may also pay in Australian Dollars via a transfer service such as Wise or through your bank:
Home Comforts Hiking | BSB 923100 | Account 36237075
The SWIFT Code for ING Bank Australia is INGBAU2S
Cancellations and Refunds
Please see our Cancellation and Refund Policy
When should I book my flights?
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Book flights after your trip is confirmed. If you are flying home the final day, aim for departures after 7:30 pm from Osaka Kansai International Airport. The train from Kii-Katsuura to KIX takes about 3.5 hours and typically arrives around 5:30 pm.
Where do we meet on Day 1 and where does the hike finish?
We meet at our hotel in Kii-Tanabe. Buy your JR train ticket to Kii-Tanabe (Wakayama Prefecture) at Osaka Kansai International Airport, then travel by limited express. Please arrive at the accommodation by 5:00 pm. Trip briefing is at 5:30 pm.
The hike finishes at Kii-Katsuura around 12:30 pm on Day 6. From there you can take the afternoon train to KIX or continue your Japan journey. We can help with tickets.
Group size and guides
Some departures are led by our local English-speaking Japanese guide, Yoko Murakami, who has more than ten years of Kumano Kodo experience.
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Tours with Yoko have a maximum of 8 guests. If fewer than 8 guests are booked, a small-group surcharge may apply to cover guide costs.
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Private groups of 9 to 14 guests have a second guide on the three days that include the three grand shrines.
If you prefer no guide or guiding on only some days, see our self-guided tours.
What pace do you set and what if I am slower?
Your guide sets a slow to moderate pace with frequent breaks for water, photos, and shrine visits. If you need extra support, your guide can adjust the plan, suggest a bus segment, or arrange a shorter route so the experience stays safe and enjoyable.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes. If we cannot confirm your chosen dates and accommodation, your deposit is fully refundable. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance for cancellation cover, medical situations, and valuables.
Top tips for a smoother trip
Test your shoes before you travel. Pack light. Carry snacks and water each day. Use Google Translate for quick conversations. The Japan Transit app is excellent for transport info. ATMs are widely available at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart. Ponchos work well over a daypack in rain. Bamboo hiking poles can be bought or borrowed locally. There are no public rubbish bins on the trail, so carry out your rubbish and dispose of it at your inn each evening.
Need help right now?
We are here to help with planning, dates, and practical questions.
Reach out to our Guides directly.
Our Promise to You
When you book a private Kumano Kodo tour with Home Comforts Hiking, you’re not just booking a trip. You’re entrusting your journey to people who care deeply about your comfort and experience.
You’ll have:
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Confidence that every detail is taken care of
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Freedom to walk your way
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Comfort in knowing support is always close by
Ready to Walk the Kumano Kodo — Your Way?
Start your pilgrimage on your terms, with privacy, flexibility, and care at every step.
Our team will help you plan, personalise, and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
👉 Enquire Now for Private Tour Availability
(Limited spaces due to accommodation restrictions — secure your preferred dates early!)
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