A UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage trail through the forested Kii Peninsula, walked by emperors since the 10th century, ending at the sacred Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine — a sister route to Spain's Camino de Santiago.
| Distance | 30.0 km |
| Recommended time | 2 day(s) |
| Best season | Year-round, though summer is hot and humid and winter has a small chance of snow at higher points |
| Getting to the start | Takijiri-oji is reached via Kii-Tanabe, accessible by limited express train from Kyoto or Osaka (about 2.5-3 hours), then a roughly 40-minute local bus. |
| Getting back from the end | Kumano Hongu Taisha has bus connections onward to Kii-Tanabe (return trip) or continuing east toward Shingu and Nachi for those extending the walk. |
The traditional entrance to the sacred mountains, about 15km west of Tanabe by local bus. This is where the pilgrimage formally begins.
A small ridge-top village with traditional lodgings, a common first overnight stop with panoramic mountain views.
A village with a few minshuku (family-run guesthouses), a common second overnight stop roughly at the route's midpoint.
Traditionally considered the outer gate to the sacred Kumano area, marking the final stretch of the pilgrimage.
The most important of the three Kumano Grand Shrines and the pilgrimage's destination, reached via a descent offering a dramatic view of the shrine's massive torii gate. Nearby Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen offer hot spring lodging for a well-earned soak.