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Stony forest path through tall cedars on the Nakahechi between Takijiri-oji and Gyuba-doji

Home › Treks › Kumano Kodo Nakahechi

Kii Peninsula, Wakayama, Japan · Japan

Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek: grade, cost & permits

A 1,000-year-old pilgrimage path to Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of only two UNESCO-listed pilgrim routes in the world (the other is the Camino de Santiago). The classic Nakahechi runs about 38 km from Takijiri-oji to Hongu: 13.3 km to Chikatsuyu on day one (about 1,010 m up), then 24.5 km to Hongu (about 1,100 m up, 9-12 hours), which most people split or shorten by bus. Nights are in family-run minshuku with dinner, breakfast and a hot-spring bath. Quieter, cheaper and far more rural than Kyoto's temple circuit, and a better mountain walk than Mount Fuji's crowded summit trail.

Photo: Nekosuki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

GradeModerate
Duration3 days
Highest point690 m
SeasonOpen all year. Spring and autumn are best and busiest (book stays early). Summer is hot, humid and wet; typhoons can bring floods and landslides. Snow is possible from late December to February, and days are short from late autumn to early spring.
Cost from base₹21,000per person
BaseKii-Tanabe (Tanabe city), then Takijiri-oji trailhead, about 40 minutes by bus

A 1,000-year-old pilgrimage path to Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of only two UNESCO-listed pilgrim routes in the world (the other is the Camino de Santiago). The classic Nakahechi runs about 38 km from Takijiri-oji to Hongu: 13.3 km to Chikatsuyu on day one (about 1,010 m up), then 24.5 km to Hongu (about 1,100 m up, 9-12 hours), which most people split or shorten by bus. Nights are in family-run minshuku with dinner, breakfast and a hot-spring bath. Quieter, cheaper and far more rural than Kyoto's temple circuit, and a better mountain walk than Mount Fuji's crowded summit trail.

Good for soloGood for couplesGood for groupsGood for families
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On the trail now and the next 7 days

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Forecast for the trek's map point. It is usually colder and windier at the top.

Step 2 of 7Next: Route

The route

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On the map

Kumano Kodo Nakahechi · Open in Google Maps ↗

The climb

100 m300 m690 m283 m669 m309 m105 m Start · 100 mEnd · 105 m 690 m

How to reach the start

From Kansai Airport take JR to Kii-Tanabe, changing to the Kuroshio limited express at Hineno (about 3 hours; Shin-Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is about 2 hours). The JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass (¥12,000, 5 days) covers the train. From stop 2 outside Kii-Tanabe station a local bus runs to Takijiri (¥970, about 40 minutes). At the end, buses run from Hongu Taisha-mae to the Yunomine and Kawayu onsen villages (¥310) and back toward Kii-Tanabe or Shingu.

Directions to the trailhead ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Step 3 of 7Next: Permits

Permits and rules

Permit: No permit and no trail fee. The Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau asks you to book every night in advance through its KUMANO TRAVEL Community Reservation System, which also registers your walk with local authorities. Walk-ins are uncommon and mountain inns may be full or unable to serve meals without notice.
GuideNot needed
Travel adviceUK FCDO (updated 28 Aug 2026) does not advise against travel to any part of Japan; it added information on flooding and heavy rain. The tourism bureau warns typhoon rain can cause flash floods and landslides on the trail.

Official permit or booking page ↗

Rules change. Check the park office or official booking system before you travel.

Step 4 of 7Next: Gear

What to carry

Step 5 of 7Next: Cost

What it costs

Your group, from the base₹42,000
Couple · from Kii-Tanabe (Tanabe city), then Takijiri-oji trailhead, about 40 minutes by bus
Per person₹21,000

Covers local transport, permits or entry, a guide where needed and food on the trail. Getting to Kii-Tanabe (Tanabe city) is extra.

Step 6 of 7Next: FAQ

Photos

Questions people ask

How hard is the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek?

Moderate grade. It takes 3 days and climbs to about 690 m. A 1,000-year-old pilgrimage path to Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of only two UNESCO-listed pilgrim routes in the world (the other is the Camino de Santiago). The classic Nakahechi runs about 38 km from Takijiri-oji to Hongu: 13.3 km to Chikatsuyu on day one (about 1,010 m up), then 24.5 km to Hongu (about 1,100 m up, 9-12 hours), which most people split or shorten by bus. Nights are in family-run minshuku with dinner, breakfast and a hot-spring bath. Quieter, cheaper and far more rural than Kyoto's temple circuit, and a better mountain walk than Mount Fuji's crowded summit trail.

Do I need a permit for Kumano Kodo Nakahechi?

No permit and no trail fee. The Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau asks you to book every night in advance through its KUMANO TRAVEL Community Reservation System, which also registers your walk with local authorities. Walk-ins are uncommon and mountain inns may be full or unable to serve meals without notice.

How do I reach the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek?

From Kansai Airport take JR to Kii-Tanabe, changing to the Kuroshio limited express at Hineno (about 3 hours; Shin-Osaka to Kii-Tanabe is about 2 hours). The JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass (¥12,000, 5 days) covers the train. From stop 2 outside Kii-Tanabe station a local bus runs to Takijiri (¥970, about 40 minutes). At the end, buses run from Hongu Taisha-mae to the Yunomine and Kawayu onsen villages (¥310) and back toward Kii-Tanabe or Shingu. Base: Kii-Tanabe (Tanabe city), then Takijiri-oji trailhead, about 40 minutes by bus.

What is the best season for Kumano Kodo Nakahechi?

Open all year. Spring and autumn are best and busiest (book stays early). Summer is hot, humid and wet; typhoons can bring floods and landslides. Snow is possible from late December to February, and days are short from late autumn to early spring..

How much does the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trek cost?

From about ₹21,000 per person from the base, covering local transport, permits or entry, a guide where required and food. The journey to the base is extra.

What should I carry?

Light hiking shoes with good grip (wet stone steps and roots cause most injuries), walking poles, rain jacket, 1.5 litres of water or more, a packed lunch for the long day (no restaurants between Chikatsuyu and Hongu), cash in yen (cards are not widely accepted in the villages) and a headtorch. Luggage shuttles from about ¥3,500 per bag let you walk with a daypack.

Step 7 of 7Next: Sources

Sources and last check

Checked 11 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.

  • tb-kumano.jp OfficialRoute structure, luggage shuttles, villages served by bus; no permit or fee mentioned
  • tb-kumano.jp Official13.3 km, 6-8 h, difficulty 3, +1,010/-840 m; water tap at Kumano Kodo Kan, Takijiri
  • tb-kumano.jp Official24.5 km, 9-12 h, difficulty 4, +1,100/-1,380 m; no restaurants, bring lunch
  • tb-kumano.jp OfficialHighest point of that section: Uwada-jaya teahouse remains, about 690 m
  • tb-kumano.jp OfficialOpen year-round; seasons; typhoon, heat, snow, early nightfall; book stays via KUMANO TRAVEL; emergency numbers; Ohechi and Kohechi closures (not Nakahechi)
  • tb-kumano.jp OfficialShin-Osaka to Kii-Tanabe about 2 h, Tennoji 1 h 45 min by Kuroshio
  • tb-kumano.jp OfficialKansai WIDE Area Pass ¥12,000 (5 days); Ise-Kumano-Wakayama pass ¥16,500
  • kumano-travel.com OfficialBus fares: Kii-Tanabe-Takijiri ¥970 (stop 2, 8:32-9:10); Chikatsuyu-Hosshinmon ¥970; Hongu-Kawayu ¥310; Kii-Tanabe-Kawayu ¥1,930 (3-day package page)
  • kumano-travel.com OfficialPer-person prices: Minshuku Chikatsuyu from ¥16,300 (supper, breakfast, lunch box); Minshuku Yamane, Yunomine from ¥13,400; Minshuku Nakano no-meals from ¥5,500; Blue Sky Guesthouse, Hongu from ¥7,000-9,000; Kiri-no-Sato Takahara Lodge from ¥26,400
  • kumano-travel.com OfficialAll prices per person incl. tax; onsen tax ¥150 may be charged; cards not commonly accepted, bring yen
  • kumano-travel.com OfficialLuggage shuttle services from ¥3,520-5,060
  • gov.uk OfficialNo advise-against areas; updated 28 Aug 2026

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Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.

By Gokul · Updated 11 October 2026 · Photo: Nekosuki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Nekosuki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Vindlys · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Zairon · CC BY 4.0 · source · Photo: Douglas Perkins · CC BY 4.0 · source

From the base · —
Cost