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Walking the Kumano Kodo Iseji comes with a badge of honour and pride as you tread on the exact footprints of mediaeval pilgrims. The pilgrimage route is also a visual treat, weaving through lush forests and mountain passes on cobblestone trails. Your effort and courage are crowned with access to revered shrines such as Hana no Iwaya and Ise Grand Shrines, including dazzling natural sights like the Nachi Falls and the Pacific Ocean. The walk is challenging and, as such, demands overnight stops to rest and recharge before continuing. Here are some nice accommodations you should consider along the route. Explore our collection of Kumano Kodo Walking Adventures from self-guided to guided or private guided walks.
Photo credit: Ancient Inn Ikyu
Ancient Inn Ikyu, Ise City, Mie
The 5-star Ancient Inn Ikyu is dipped in the forests of Ise, just 15 minutes away from the acclaimed Naiku Shrine. Rooms are in Japanese or Japanese-Western-style terraces that open into the lush forest, retaining the prevailing aura within the Ise Shrine. All rooms feature tatami floors and Japanese beds (Japanese-style), Wi-Fi, air conditioning, TV sets, refrigerators, toilets with washing machines, bathrooms, and shower booths. Two special rooms feature open-air natural hot springs baths.
Authentic Ise dining takes centre stage at the Shozan restaurant, offering Western and Japanese cuisines, including Oshi and late-night snacks. The Japanese meals embody the culinary heritage of Ise, enriched by fresh ingredients from the mountains, sea, and forest, with the Matsusaka Beef at the fore. There are two large communal baths (stone and cypress) to relax in, while massages are available on request to help you relax better, and a moon-viewing platform makes every evening memorable.
Photo credit: Marriott Mie Hotel
Fairfield by Marriott Mie Kumano Kodo Mihama
Laid against the backdrop of Japan’s Kii Mountain Range, Fairfield by Marriott Mie Hotel fronts the KumanoNada Sea and offers guests a cosy enclave to retreat and recharge. As the walk on the Kumano Kodo gains steam, this hotel's simplistic yet ornate rooms and suites absorb you for the night in warmth, comfort, and style. Enjoy lavish appointments such as Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, comfy beds, air-conditioning, mini refrigerators, and deluxe ensuite bathrooms with bath amenities. Charming views of the surrounding landscapes, notably the Shichiri Mihama Beach, from the rooms ensure guests stay in touch with nature and the spirits of the natural splendour in the route. Exquisite local restaurants for dining experiences surround the hotel, and guests can bring food into their rooms.
Photo credit: The Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima
Kumano-bettei Nakanoshima, Katsuura
The Kumano-Bettei Nakanoshima is a chic 3-star, seaside Ryokan inn nestled on a private island in Katsuura Bay, only accessed by vessels from the tourist pier. This exclusive natural setting offers guests marvellous views of the bay waters and charming sunsets over the mountains from expansive outdoor baths while they luxuriate and rejuvenate. Rooms are split into two buildings – Naginosho (10 Western-style rooms) and Chomontei (34 Japanese-style rooms with tatami floor mats). Features of both room styles include ensuite outdoor baths with bay views (Naginosho only), twin beds, onsen baths, air-conditioning, refrigerators, safety boxes, and luxury bathrooms with complete bath amenities. Meals are served in the Kumano-no-Megumi dining room, featuring the Kaseiki course that comprises mainly seafood and local fares, with some vegan options. There's a massage service to soothe your nerves for a mindless sleep. There is also a lounge and bar for socialising and mingling at your discretion.
Owase Seaside View, Owase
Settle into the quaint ambiance of jeOwase Seaside View, a small inn of just 10 rooms nestled on Kata Bay, with magnificent vistas of the Pacific Ocean and mountains draped in greenery. All rooms present charming views of this spectacular scenery on the fringes. Interior room details take after the Japanese-style theme, with tatami floor mats, toilet and bath facilities, flat-screen TVs, and futon beds. Breakfast and dinner are served in rooms, at nearby restaurants, private rooms, or halls, featuring the longtooth grouper (Kue), a staple fish in the region, as the main course, among other fresh seafood options. There’s a large public bath to relax, gazing at the crystal views of Kata Bay and the ocean beyond. On the outdoors, the hotel has a private fishing pier for guests who would love to revel in their catch.
Discover Kumano Kodo Holidays Here
Experience thousands of years of history and experience some of the best places to go hiking in Japan on the off beaten Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes & Nakasendo Way from Kyoto to Tokyo. Follow the footsteps of ancient travellers along Japan’s oldest and most iconic trails journeying through the countryside. Here, we give you a quick guide of both trails. If you are planning more adventures in Japan, you might like to read our guides on
The Camino de Santiago and Kumano Kodo are two hiking journeys that offer an unmatched sense of fulfilment upon completion. As the only two UNESCO-listed pilgrimage routes in the world, these walks are a must-do for those seeking an extraordinary challenge. Plus, completing both walks earns you the status of a dual pilgrim, which brings a feeling of spiritual satisfaction. Let us walk you through how to become a dual pilgrim, fusing two of the most spectacular pilgrim journeys on Earth. Explore
Embark on a visually, physically, and spiritually rewarding odyssey through the ancient Nakahechi Route on the Kumano Kodo Trail. Encounter sights for sore eyes and a thousand opportunities for reflection. Dive
Setting off on the sacred pilgrimage of the Kumano Kodo along the Nakahechi Route is a transformative journey that transcends both physical and spiritual realms. As pilgrims tread the ancient paths, the choice of
A journey to achieve inner peace, spiritual fulfilment, or a deeper connection with nature is best encountered in solitude, away from every distraction. The Kumano Kodo Iseji Route is one of the few pilgrimage journeys that invite you to savour an authentic and spiritual experience trodding the lesser-travelled path of the Kumano Kodo.
Walk with us over this piece as we uncover the Iseji’s j
Along the Kumano Kodo Iseji, Japan’s countryside scenery unfolds like a digital wallpaper, highlighting waterfalls, mountain peaks, rushing streams, and flourishing forests. Many spectacular landmarks dot the route, notably the Kumano Nachi Taisha, one of the three shrines of the esteemed Kumano Sanzan. This shrine is particularly stunning, distinguished by the charming Nachi-no-Taki Waterfalls – the shrine’s deity and source.
The Kumano Kodo is a unique region in Japan, esteemed for its spiritual, cultural, and natural splendour. It is home to several pilgrimage routes strewn across the Kii Peninsula, Japan’s largest peninsula. Two routes – Iseji and Nakahechi- lead pilgrims on a sensational trip of spiritual discoveries as they behold the Kumano Sanzan, the three Grand Shrines of Kumano. The walk also brims with enthralling visuals of nature's bragging rights, such as waterfalls, green mou