Join a two-days fully guided private tour to explore the spiritual wonders of sacred Kumano
The Kumano Kodo is a spiritual journey into the heart of Japan – a sacred path for cleansing both body and mind. It offers a profound alternative to popular tourist destinations like Tokyo and Kyoto, offering a unique and deeply meaningful experience.
If you are seeking something new, far from the bustle of urban life, an off-the-beaten-track journey awaits you here. Kumano is the perfect destination.
The Kumano region in Kii peninsula, is known as a “sacred place” in Japan, largely because of the Kumano Sanzan – the three grand shrines of Kumano, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha. The Kumano Kodo is the network of pilgrimage paths leading to these shrines.
Among the routes, this time focuses on the Kumano Kodo Iseji Routes, the paths that link two of Japan’s most sacred sites, the Ise Grand Shrine and the Kumano Sanzan. During the Edo period, both were considered essential pilgrimages for spiritual fulfilment, with the saying, “you must visit Ise seven times and Kumano three times in your life.”
▼ Find about the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route
Particularly, for those who have completed, the Nakahechi Route, the most famous of the Kumano Kodo trails, and have completed your visit to Kumano Sanzan, let’s embark on the another journey along the Iseji Route to another sacred place, Ise Grand shrine.
On this special tour, you’ll walk the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo Iseji routes while also experiencing the stunning coastal scenery of Shichiri Mihama – ranked among Japan’s 100 most beautiful beaches – and the timeless beauty of Maruyama Senmaida, one of Japan’s 100 most scenic rice terraces.
Along the way, you’ll immerse yourself in the rhythm of Satoyama life (rural living) and the spiritual energy of Kumano’s sacred landscapes.
This spiritual journey through Kumano is more than sightseeing – it offers a transformative experience, allowing you to reconnect with nature, tradition, and yourself.
In July 2004, the Kumano Kodo was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” It was the first “road” in Japan to be designated as a World Heritage site, and its unique cultural landscape – shaped by faith and human activity alongside the sacred sites of Koyasan and Yoshino-Omine – is highly regarded.
Today, this historic pilgrimage path is valued not only for its deep cultural significance, but also as a place where modern travelers seek healing and mindfulness.
The Kumano Kodo once also known to ancient pilgrims as the “Path of Rebirth.”
For ancient pilgrims, “rebirth” meant rediscovering the self through deep reflection. That same sense of spiritual awakening continues to resonate with travelers today.
Your journey begins at Harachi Shrine, a small yet deeply respected local shrine along the Kumano Kodo Iseji Hongu Route.
Within the sacred grounds of Harachi Shrine, a divine assembly resides, each spirit weaving its own timeless story.
Here is Tensho-Kōtaishin, the radiant sun deity also enshrined in the innermost sanctums of Ise Grand Shrine. Here, too, is Hachiman-Ōkammi, which is one of the most widely worshipped deity in all of Japan.
Then there is Toyouke-hime-no-mikoto, the goddess of food and grain and the main deity of Ise Grand Shrine’s Outer Shrine, and alongside them is Inari-Ōkami, the guardian spirit to whom prayers are whispered for the earth’s fruitful harvest.
This divine presence paints a vivid picture of the shrine’s profound bond with Ise Grand Shrine, and Kumano’s deep connection with nature and agriculture.
Within its grounds, towering sacred trees stand as living witnesses to centuries of devotion. As you stand before these ancient sacred trees, you’ll sense the palpable spiritual energy of the land, the tradition of praying to the “Yaoyorozu-no-kami” (the myriad gods of nature), and embodies to Kumano’s very soul – a land that holds deep reverence for the sacred whispers of nature.
Here, you can experience the essence of Japan’s nature worship and Shinto traditions, offering a quiet prayer before setting out on the ancient trail.
From the shrine, head toward Shichiri Mihama, Japan’s longest gravel beach, stretching over 13.6 miles along the Kumano Sea.
This dramatic coastline is a key part of the Kumano Kodo’s “Sea Pilgrimage Route.” In Shintoism, it’s one of the sacred path, while for Buddhists, it’s a place for sailing out to the “Promised Land” that lies beyond the horizon.
This beach is a unique point where these two religious traditions converge, truly embodying the interwoven roots of Japanese spirituality.
Take off your shoes and feel the earth beneath your feet. As you meditate to the rhythm of the waves and breathe in the ocean air, you’ll experience a moment of true harmony with nature.
This is a powerful chance to reflect on your own, by connecting with the nature, and the spirits of the ancient pilgrims who walked this very path before you.
After your time along the beach, you’ll visit Nakamichi Store, a local favorite for over a century.
This is your opportunity to connect with the community with a local guide, pick up fresh, seasonal ingredients for dinner, and get an authentic taste of daily life in Kumano.
Your home for the night is “Oroshian,” a one-of-a-kind guesthouse nestled deep in the mountains of Mihama Town. Here, you’ll be fully immersed in the natural beauty of the Kumano countryside, allowing you to truly appreciate the slow, mindful pace of satoyama life.
Ms. Matsui, the owner of this guesthouse, grows pesticide-free rice and meticulously makes a variety of fermented foods, such as umeboshi (pickled plums) and miso.
You hear a story about her unique lifestyle with nature.
And then, you can experience the joys of a slower lifestyle – from chopping firewood, cooking rice in a traditional Kamado stove, to heating a bath with a wood fire. This is a opportunity to experience the simple satisfaction of a hands-on living.
Tending the fire, you’ll be captivated by the crackling sounds, a whisper of a scent and dancing flames as the rice slowly cooks. It’s a moment of simple calm that will soothe the mind.
In the evening, you’ll gather around the Irori hearth for a special dinner. Enjoy delicious local ingredients from Kumano’s sea, mountains, and rivers, along with hot, perfectly cooked rice infused with the delicate aroma of firewood.
As night falls, step outside to a star-filled sky and feel your heart unwind in the stillness of the countryside.
On the morning of the second day, you’ll enjoy making breakfast together with Ms. Matsui.
Together, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the local food culture in a delicious way by making “Mehari-zushi,” using Takana-zuke, pickled mustard leaves, a traditional Japanese fermented food.
Enjoy them for your breakfast on the terrace.
After breakfast, it’s finally time to set off for the Fuden-toge and Tori-toge Passes on the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route.
As you make your way toward Fuden-toge Pass, should luck be on your side, you might be treated to a breathtaking spectacle of morning mist,“Fuden Oroshi”. You’ll witness the mist cascade like a waterfall through the valleys – a truly humbling display of nature’s power and majesty.
Laid by generations of local hands, these ancient stone-paved paths are a milestone to the region’s history and deep faith.
As you walk along the path, the calming scents and sounds of the deep Kumano forest will envelop you, creating a deep sense of peace.
Along the way, you’ll find respite at “Ikiru Café,” the only teahouse left on the Iseji route’s mountain pass, which has stood here since the Edo Period. There, you can savor their celebrated “Fuden Ohagi,” rice cakes, a delightful reward for your trek.
From the Tori-toge Pass, you’ll be greeted with a breathtaking view of “Maruyama Senmaida,” the “thousand rice terraces of Maruyama.” These intricately carved fields, honored as one of Japan’s 100 most beautiful, are a stunning testament to human ingenuity and the community’s deep connection with nature.
When you stand here, you’ll feel the enduring legacy of a community that has lived in harmony with this land for centuries.
You’ll take a lunch break with a view of the terraced rice fields. The menu is a meal that’s a great choice for vegetarians, featuring Karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken) made from soy sheets and Koso-Genmai (enzyme-activated brown rice) Onigiri (rice balls) with a cup of local Assam tea.
You might be surprised to find Assam tea on the Kumano Kodo, but it holds a rich history that has been carefully preserved by the local community in Oroshi district.
We won’t spoil the story for you – your guide will share that special surprise.
Your journey concludes with a relaxing soak at Yunokuchi Onsen, a hot spring believed to have been discovered 700 years ago – where ancient pilgrims likely sought comfort and renewal.
Submerge yourself in the healing warmth and let the earth’s energy restore both body and mind, leaving you with a profound sense of peace and a lasting memory of a journey that is truly a rebirth.
（Information current as of September 2025）
EDIT&TEXT Tsukasa Nishimura
▼ You can also watch the video about Shichiri Mihama Beach. Please English subtitle on.
▼ About an experience at Oroshian. Please English subtitle on.
▼About the Mehari-zushi making experience. Please English subtitle on.
▼About the walking the Kumano Kodo’s Fuden-toge Pass. Please English subtitle on.
体験する
聖地・熊野をゆったり巡る1泊2日のガイド付きプライベートツアー
雄大な熊野の川をカヌーで巡り、日常から離れた特別な時間を過ごす
海とみかん畑が見える中で、のびのび暮らすひつじたちと触れ合える牧場。
