About this event
For over a thousand years, emperors, monks and commoners have walked these paths through the Kii Mountains to reach the three great shrines of Kumano. This ten-day pilgrimage follows the Nakahechi, the classic imperial route: 70 km of moss-covered stone steps, cedar forest silence, and mist rising off the ridgelines between remote mountain villages. Four walking days carry you from the coastal trailhead at Takijiri to the sacred halls of Hongu, Nachi and its thundering falls, with nights in family-run inns and soaks in the thousand-year-old hot springs of Yunomine. Bookended by time in Tokyo and the onsen towns of the coast, this is a walk for those who come as much for the quiet as the distance. One of only two pilgrimage routes on earth granted UNESCO World Heritage status, alongside the Camino de Santiago.
Photos
No photos yet. Attendee photos will appear here once the event is underway.
What Wakahi Walks does
- Organise the event from start to finish
- Lead the group on the track
- Book huts, campsites or lodges (as applicable)
- Arrange logistics — transport and carpool coordination
- Group coordination and safety planning
- Organise training events
Your contribution covers this organising work — not just the hut bookings.
Logistics
- Departure point: Tokyo (group meet); trail begins at Takijiri-oji, reached via Shin-Osaka and Kii-Tanabe
Costs
| Item | Amount | Group Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Flights Auckland <-> Tokyo (return) | $1,800-2,300 | No |
| Tokyo <-> trailhead transport (return) | $180-260 | No |
| Tokyo accommodation (1-2 nights) | $180-360 | No |
| Trail inns / minshuku (4-5 nights, meals incl.) | $400-750 | No |
| Katsuura / Nachi onsen night | $110-275 | No |
| Local buses & luggage shuttle | $80-150 | No |
| Meals (non-included days) | $200-350 | No |
| Travel insurance | $120-200 | No |
| Member Contribution | $250 | No |
Contributions are due 2 months before the event and are non-refundable. No pulling out unless a suitable replacement is found.
Pre-event and post-event group dinners
We usually meet for a group dinner before the walk and a celebration dinner after it. Both are optional, but most attendees join.
Restaurant options (average cost per person):
- Dinner included at most inns (traditional multi-course meals featuring local mountain and seasonal specialities); onsen-town ryokan nights offer kaiseki dining
Voting coming soon.
What to bring
Gear
- Daypack
- broken-in hiking boots
- rain shell
- layers for cool mornings
- sun protection
- refillable water bottle
- cash (rural Japan is cash-only)
- walking poles optional
- Main luggage forwarded between inns by shuttle
Food
- Breakfast and dinner included at most inns; carry an onigiri lunch box (available from accommodation) and trail snacks, as shops are scarce between villages
Important notes
- ITINERARY (23 Aug - 1 Sept 2027)
- Day 1 (23 Aug): Group meets in Tokyo, overnight
- Day 2: Tokyo to Kii-Tanabe (Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, then JR Kuroshio limited express); overnight near trailhead
- Days 3-6: Walk the Nakahechi, Takijiri to Nachi (4 walking days) - Takahara, Chikatsuyu, Hongu Taisha, Yunomine Onsen, Koguchi, Nachi Taisha and Nachi Falls. Nights in minshuku and ryokan inns
- Day 7: Rest and explore Nachi-Katsuura - Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seigantoji, coastal onsen
- Day 8: Buffer / optional exploring (Hongu, Hayatama Taisha at Shingu, or coast)
- Day 9: Return to Tokyo
- Day 10 (1 Sept): Depart
- No park or trail fees on the Nakahechi. Inns have limited rooms and must be booked well ahead. Luggage shuttle approx 1,000 yen per bag per day
Safety
- Moderate route on well-maintained trails with some sustained climbs; sections can be walked at your own pace with luggage forwarded ahead
- Late August is warm and humid with possible rain - pack for both heat and wet
- Travel insurance required
YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Useful links
Reserve your spot
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Who's going (1)
-
Rafick Organiser
Discussion
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