Small group
Japan
·
33°50′N 135°46′E
The Quiet Trail
DAYS
12
GROUP
Max 12
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
SEASON
Mar – May · Oct – Nov
FROM
£5,650
Twelve days on Japan’s ancient pilgrim paths: the Kumano Kodo, the Nakasendo and the quiet side of Kyoto.
01
Highlights
- Walk the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage through cedar forest to the Grand Shrines
- Sleep in family-run mountain inns and bathe in natural hot springs
- Follow the old Nakasendo post road between two Edo-era villages
- Discover the quiet side of Kyoto with a walk over the hills from Kurama to Kibune
02
Day by day
Day 1 — Kyoto
Arrive in Kyoto and settle into a small machiya townhouse inn. In the evening Aiko leads a walk through the lanes of Gion and a welcome dinner of seasonal small plates.
3 km · ↑ 0 m · Night: machiya inn, Kyoto
Day 2 — Kyoto’s quiet side
Escape the crowds on the forest trail from Kurama temple over the ridge to Kibune, where restaurants serve lunch on platforms above the river.
7 km · ↑ 400 m · Night: machiya inn, Kyoto
Day 3 — To the Kii Peninsula
Slow trains south to Tanabe and the start of the Kumano Kodo. A short first walk from the trailhead shrine to a hilltop village inn.
4 km · ↑ 350 m · Night: mountain minshuku
Day 4 — Into the cedars
A full day on the pilgrim path, past moss-covered oji shrines and tea fields, to the village of Chikatsuyu and its riverside hot spring.
13 km · ↑ 1,000 m · Night: family inn, Chikatsuyu
Day 5 — To Hongū
Our longest day on the Kumano Kodo ends at the great gate of Hongū Taisha, the spiritual heart of the pilgrimage.
15 km · ↑ 700 m · Night: onsen ryokan, Yunomine
Day 6 — Hot springs day
Visit the shrine at dawn, then walk the gentle Dainichi-goe trail and soak in Japan’s oldest hot spring at Yunomine.
8 km · ↑ 400 m · Night: onsen ryokan, Yunomine
Day 7 — Kogumotori-goe
High forest trails with views across endless ridges of the Kii mountains, descending to a small inn by the Nachi river.
15 km · ↑ 800 m · Night: riverside inn
Day 8 — Nachi Falls
Climb the stone steps to Nachi Taisha and its 133-metre waterfall, then trains north to the Kiso Valley.
6 km · ↑ 450 m · Night: post-town inn, Magome
Day 9 — The Nakasendo
Walk the old Edo post road from Magome to Tsumago over a forested pass, past waterfalls and a teahouse that has served walkers for centuries.
8 km · ↑ 350 m · Night: post-town inn, Tsumago
Day 10 — Narai
A short train ride to Narai, the longest of the post towns, for a walk over the Torii pass and an evening of local sake.
6 km · ↑ 400 m · Night: post-town inn, Narai
Day 11 — Tokyo
Morning train to Tokyo. A last walk through the old Yanaka neighbourhood and a farewell dinner together.
4 km · ↑ 0 m · Night: small hotel, Tokyo
Day 12 — Homeward
Journey ends after breakfast. Aiko helps everyone onto the airport train.
0 km · ↑ 0 m · Transfer to Tokyo airports
03
What’s included
- 11 nights in inns, ryokan and small hotels
- All breakfasts, 9 dinners and 4 lunches
- A local leader throughout
- All rail travel in Japan and luggage forwarding
- Shrine and temple entry fees
- Carbon-balancing of all ground travel
TRIP CARD
FROM, PER PERSON
£5,650
DAYS
12
GROUP
Max 12
STYLE
Small group
NEXT DEPARTURES
3 Apr 2027 · 24 Apr 2027 · 16 Oct 2027
No payment now. A trip designer replies within 48 hours.
Field photos
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N°
2026
The route
Every stop of this journey, drawn by hand in the studio. Distances and ascents for each day are in the itinerary above.
Good questions
Anything else? Write to hello@inncode.studio and a trip designer will answer.
Each journey has a difficulty rating. Easy means gentle walks of two to four hours; Moderate means most days on foot with some climbs; Challenging means full days with real ascents. Your trip designer will talk it through with you before you book.
Absolutely — around a third of our travellers join on their own. We pair solo travellers in twin rooms or offer a single room for a small supplement.
No. Prices cover everything from the first meeting point to the last, so you can fly from wherever suits you. We are happy to suggest routes and the lowest-carbon options.
Your deposit is fully refundable up to 90 days before departure. After that, our team will always try to move you to another date before any charges apply.
Ready when you are.
Hold a place on this journey or ask us to design a private version on your own dates.
The Quiet Trail
Where to next?
Studio
21 Harbour Lane
Bristol BS1 4XX
United Kingdom
50°56′S 72°58′W — PATAGONIA
33°50′N 135°46′E — JAPAN
31°08′N 7°55′W — MOROCCO
64°01′N 16°58′W — ICELAND
24°44′S 15°17′E — NAMIBIA
62°06′N 7°12′E — NORWAY
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