Kumano Kodo · Main Route

The Nakahechi

70 km full route 4–6 days UNESCO World Heritage

Total distance

70 km

Core section

34 km

Duration

4–6 days

Difficulty

Moderate–Hard

Start point

Takijiri-oji

End point

Nachi Taisha

Best seasons

Best Good Avoid

What is the Nakahechi?

A thousand-year pilgrimage through ancient forest

INTERACTIVE MAP Open full map

Route sections

Day by day on the trail

Day 1 · Trailhead

Takijiri-oji → Takahara

3.7 km +410 m 2 h Steep

TakaharaTown guide →

No store Bus to Tanabe

Day 2 · Mountain crossing

Takahara → Chikatsuyu

12.8 km +650 m 5 h Hard

ChikatsuyuTown guide →

Convenience store Bus service

Days 3–4 · Deep mountains

Chikatsuyu → Hongu Taisha

25.8 km +900 m 2 days Hard

HonguTown guide →

Supermarket Bus to Shingu / Tanabe

Day 5 · Ogumotori-goe

Hongu → Koguchi

22 km +850 m 7 h Very hard

KoguchiTown guide →

No store No bus

Book accommodation well in advance

Day 6 · Journey's end

Koguchi → Nachi Taisha → Nachi-Katsuura

16 km +600 m 5 h Moderate

Getting connected on the trail

Walking the Nakahechi without signal?

Offline GPS maps Emergency calling Audio guides at Oji shrines Digital stamp rally Japan SIM included

Rent a kumaphone — ¥2,500/day

kumaphone app

Trail conditions

Latest from local guides

See all conditions

Trail status PHOTO

Hiroshi Tanaka

Nakahechi guide · 15 yrs

10 min ago · Takahara

Weather impact PHOTO

Mei Okada

Local resident · Chikatsuyu

1 h ago · Near Chikatsuyu

Nature PHOTO

Ken Sasaki

Hongu guide · 8 yrs

3 h ago · Hosshinmon-oji

Tanabe Community Board

Live community board for Tanabe & the Kumano Kodo.