Japanese hiking trip on pilgrimage routes
The Japan hiking tour takes us to two pilgrimage routes on the Kii Peninsula: Kōyasan chōishi-michi and Kumano Kodō Nakahechi. The first of these is a path surrounded by stupas on Mount Kōya - the temples there are the source of Shingon Buddhism. The second, Nakahechi, connects the most important holy sites in the Kii mountains. Since this 70-kilometer mountain road has been traveled by many emperors and nobles since the 10th century, it is also called the Imperial Path. Both routes are forested and mountainous, but remain within the 1000-meter altitude range.
The end of September is a good time to visit Japan, as it falls between the main tourist seasons and national holidays. Temperatures range from 19°C to 27°C, and the weather is warm and humid.
Accommodation in hostels and mountain huts.
During city days in Osaka and Kyoto, you can leave your belongings at the accommodation, but we will carry your belongings with you during the hike. Some of your luggage can also be sent to the end point of the hike.
Overview - short & sweet
Objective: to hike through two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes, Kōyasan chōishi-michi and Kumano Kodō Nakahechi, and to learn about Japanese culture and nature.
Dates: 25.09.-5.10.2027
Activities: hiking on the Kii Peninsula, exploring Osaka and Kyoto.
Adventure guide: Evelyn Fridolin
Technical difficulty level: 1/5 (easy walking tour)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (medium effort on mountain roads with ups and downs)
Group size: min 7, max 9
Hiking adventure price:
Early bird (until 31.12.2026) — €2100
Standard Registration (01.01-30.04.2026) — €2310
Late Registration (from 01.05.2026)— €2520
NB! Elamus+ community members get a 5–10% discount. Read more and check your discount eligibility. community members page.
Travel cost
Price includes:
Entire trip organization and on-site guidance
Elamus+ Estonian-speaking tour guide (also speaks English)
Local transportation (train and bus tickets)
Visiting Tsusenkaku Tower in Osaka
Visits to all temples listed in the itinerary: Komgobu-ji, Tōdai-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Sanjusangen-do, Ryōan-ji
Tea ceremony
Visits to Yunomine and Katsuura onsens
Visit to Kyoto Tower
All overnight stays throughout the trip (hostels and chalets)
Graduation dinner
Stylish Elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy
Elamus+ hiking tour preparation package valued at €200:
a personal 30-minute online call with the tour guide, upon request;
winter hiking training before the trip*;
summer hiking training before the trip*.
*Held once a year — participation depends on the time of registration. Trainings take place in Estonia.
The price does not include:
Flight tickets to Osaka and back (from ~1000 €)
Insurance (travel insurance)
Personal hiking equipment
Meals not included in the trip price
Extra activities and transportation for them
Personal hygiene products and medications
Registering for the tour
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (20%) must be paid within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule and activities
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN OSAKAS
Arrival on Saturday, September 25. First introduction to Osaka: we go to the top of Tsutenkaku Tower and explore the retro-futuristic Shinsekai district. Overnight stay in Osaka.
DAY 2 - Koyasan
23 km of hiking, 1400 m of ascent, 400 m of descent
We leave the big city and modern life and head back in time to the beginning of the 9th century. At the top of Mount Kōya are over a hundred temples and shrines, which we head to the hiking trail connecting them. The hike runs at the foot of the mountain, generally ascending, passing 180 stone monuments along the way. At the end of the trail, the magnificent Daimon Gate awaits us, through which we can access the Garan temple complex. Overnight stay near Mount Kōya.
DAY 3 - KII PENINSULA
We will explore small villages and towns on the western side of the Kii Peninsula. A more leisurely day, where we will travel along the coastal railway, then make “village stops” of up to a few hours. We will go to Takijiri-oji, the starting point of the Kumano Kodo hike, where we will also spend the night.
DAY 4 - NAKAHECHI: Takijiri-oji - Tsugizakura-oji
18 km of hiking, 1200 m of ascent, 850 m of descent
We start hiking on the Kumano Kodo Trail. We get Kumano Kodo Trail passes, which we can use to collect stamps during the hike. The hike begins with a climb and we hike through misty forests. We pass the mountain village of Takahara, see several small shrines. In the evening we reach Tsugizakura-oji.
DAY 5 - NAKAHECHI: Tsugizakura-oji - Kumano Hongu Taisha
21 km of hiking, 1000 m of ascent, 1400 m of descent
Second day on the Kumano Kodo Trail. There are gorgeous mountain views, forests, and small shrines along the way. In the evening, we reach the most important shrine on the trail, Kumano Hongu Taishan, which also has a giant torii gate. At the end of the day, you can relax in the Yunomine onsen.
DAY 6 - NAKAHECHI: Kumano Hongu Taisha - Koguchi
16 km hiking, 650 m ascent, 650 m descent
Day three on the Kumano Kodo Trail. We pass through the Kogumotori-gode mountain pass and hike through cedar forests. We arrive at Koguchi village in the evening.
Day 7 - NAKAHECHI: Koguchi - Nachi Taisha
17 km of hiking, 1200 m of ascent, 950 m of descent
Day four on the Kumano Kodo Trail. We hike over the Ogumotori-gode mountain pass, and reach the magnificent Nachi Taisha Temple and Nachi Waterfall. This completes the Nakahechi Trail. We spend the night in the oceanside village of Kii-Katsuura, where we also visit the Katsuura Onsen.
Day 8 - NaRA
Nara is home to the Tōdai-ji Temple, the largest example of wooden architecture in the world. The temple is home to sacred deer, which we are also very likely to encounter.
Day 9-10 - KYOTO
We head to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan - which was the capital of Japan during the Heian period. We visit four very different temples: Fushimi Inari Taisha with its red torii gate from the 8th century; Kinkaku-ji, a golden temple from the late 14th century; the giant wooden Kiyomizu-dera, overlooking the Otowa Falls; and Ryōan-ji, a temple with a Zen garden from the 15th century. We visit the Gion district and experience a tea ceremony.
We will also explore the modern side of Kyoto: we will visit Kyoto Tower, the futuristic railway station and retro-futuristic train cafes. Those who wish can visit the manga museum.
Day 11 - BACK HOME!
We are flying home.
If you wish, you can extend your trip to Japan before or after the hike. For example, by visiting by bullet train Tokyo.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Hiking equipment
Here is a list of the most important things you may need on a hike.
Backpack
Comfortable hiking shoes
Wind and rainproof jacket and pants
Comfortable clothes for hiking: a couple of t-shirts, a long-sleeved blouse, shorts, long pants, socks, underwear
Bottle of water and snacks of your choice
Power bank and phone with wires
Sunscreen (the stronger the better), first aid kit, medication, toiletries
Swimwear
Sunglasses
You can always ask the adventure guide for advice!
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and orderliness of their travel documents. The following documents are required for this trip:
Passport (Estonian citizens do not need a visa for up to 90 days)
Required to complete to enter the country electronic questionnaire
travel insurance (including travel disruption, baggage, medical assistance).
We recommend that you take out travel insurance immediately after receiving confirmation of your travel registration so that you are also covered for longer-term health problems!
Read more also Elamus Pluss OÜ travel conditions
Don't worry, let's do it!
Is this hike suitable for me?
Absolutely! This is an active vacation that is affordable for any adventurer with an active lifestyle.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?!
For this hike, it is important to have decent hiking shoes and a backpack - no other fancy equipment is needed. Tents, sleeping bags, and mats can be left at home this time.
Okay, I registered. Now what?
To make the hike more enjoyable, we recommend participating in our preparatory events before the trip - it's also part of the fun. Elamus+ also organizes preparatory hiking training and, if desired, we can provide advice on suitable insurance and equipment, etc.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
