Hiking in the Kii Peninsula – Japan’s Ancient Trails Through Mountains, Temples & Tradition

If you’re dreaming of a hike that combines stunning scenery with a deep sense of history, the Kii Peninsula in southern Honshu is hard to beat. Just a few hours from Osaka and Kyoto, this wild, forested region is home to the legendary Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of only two pilgrimage networks in the world to hold that title (the other being Spain’s Camino de Santiago). For over a thousand years, emperors, monks, and travellers have walked these trails to connect sacred shrines, mountain temples, and remote villages.

What makes the Kii Peninsula so special is how seamlessly spiritual tradition and natural beauty blend together. One moment you’re following mossy stone steps beneath towering cedars, the next you’re standing at a sacred waterfall or gazing out across the Pacific Ocean from a quiet mountain ridge. It’s a landscape that feels both wild and deeply peaceful.

Along the way, you’ll find a warm welcome in ryokan (traditional inns), family-run minshuku guesthouses, and even temple lodgings (shukubō) where you can experience Buddhist vegetarian meals and morning prayers. After a long day’s hiking, nothing beats relaxing in a natural onsen hot spring, letting tired legs recover as you soak in the mountain views. Whether you choose the classic Nakahechi route, the more remote Kohechi trail, or the spiritual journey up Mount Kōya, hiking in the Kii Peninsula is an unforgettable mix of adventure, culture, and nature.

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  Kōyasan Choishi-michi Trail from Kudoyama (Jison-in) to Kōyasan – Sacred Pilgrimage via Mount Kōya, Japan
  The Choishi-michi is the classic pilgrim approach to Kōyasan. Beginning at Jison-in in Kudoyama, it follows stone waymarkers (the choishi) as it climbs into cedar forests and along old mountain lanes to the bright vermilion Daimon Gate on Kōyasan’s ridge. At roughly 21 km, it’s a full day on the feet — but the rhythm of shrines, statues, and tea-stop hamlets turns the climb into a meditative journey.
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  Kohechi Route, Kii Mountains from Kōyasan to Hongu, crossing 1,000m-class passes and dropping into remote river valleys – Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail, Japan
  The Kohechi cuts straight through the heart of the Kii Mountains from Kōyasan to Hongu, crossing multiple 1,000m-class passes and dropping into remote river valleys. It’s shorter than Nakahechi (roughly 65–70 km) but typically feels tougher: steep ascents, equally steep descents, and long, quiet stretches between tiny settlements. This is the pilgrimage route for hikers who like solitude, big climbs, and the reward of onsen towns at day’s end. Recommended for experienced walkers.
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  Hiking the Nakahechi Trail, Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage Pilgrimage Route Guide – The Kii Peninsula (Wakayama), Japan.
  The Nakahechi is the most popular section of the Kumano Kodo, one of only two UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage networks in the world (the other being the Camino de Santiago in Spain). This sacred trail winds through the misty mountains of the Kii Peninsula, taking pilgrims from Tanabe inland through quiet cedar forests, tiny mountain hamlets, and ancient stone paths to the Grand Shrines of Kumano.