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

What is the Nakahechi?

A thousand-year pilgrimage through ancient forest

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 No bus · walk to Kurisugawa

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 · Kogumotori-goe

Hongu → Koguchi

13 km +850 m 4.5–6 h Hard

KoguchiTown guide →

No store No bus

Book accommodation well in advance

Day 6 · Ogumotori-goe

Koguchi → Nachi Taisha → Nachi-Katsuura

14 km +1,100 m 7–9 h Hard

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

The Nakahechi

A thousand-year pilgrimage through ancient forest

Day by day on the trail

Takijiri-oji → Takahara

Takahara → Chikatsuyu

Chikatsuyu → Hongu Taisha

Hongu → Koguchi

Koguchi → Nachi Taisha → Nachi-Katsuura

Walking the Nakahechi without signal?

Latest from local guides

Real-time trail reports from the community board

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