Skip to main content

Finding Buddha: Why Japan’s Epic Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Should Be on Your Bucket List

Modern Nomad is a weekly column dedicated to mobile gear, must-see world destinations, tips for life on the road, and traveling better through technology.

Recommended Videos

Japan is home to some of the most fascinating history in the world. Its modern society is a direct result of more than a millennium of spiritual and religious influences. Buddhism and Shintoism have shaped its politics, its ethics, and its civilization as a whole. There’s no better way to explore the country’s roots than to hike its oldest and most sacred path. The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage is one of only two hikes in the world with a spot on UNESCO’s exclusive list of World Heritage Sites (the other being Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago), which is to say it should definitely be on your bucket list.

It’s possible to hike the pilgrimage on your own, but a professional guided tour is definitely recommended. Walk Japan’s nine-day hiking tour begins with an overnight stay in the modern, bustling metropolis of Osaka. From there, the pilgrimage works backward through the country’s spiritual timeline along Japan’s rural Kii peninsula. Guests first trek to the tiny temple town of Koyosan, revered as the epicenter of Shingon Buddhism. The hike continues onward for nearly 80 kilometers through the remote, mountainous Kumano region and finally ends in the beautiful, seaside city of Ise. The latter is home to the Ise Grand Shrine, considered the country’s most sacred and historically relevant Shinto Shrine.

Related: The Manual Guide to Kobe Beef

Throughout the week, hikers experience unique elements of Japanese culture that few foreigners will ever see. Koyasan provides the opportunity to sleep like modern Buddhist monks in traditional temple lodging, dine on their unique vegetarian cuisine (shojin ryori), and even sit in on morning prayers. The town’s Kongobuji temple is also home to Banryutei Rock Garden — believed to be the largest zen rock garden in Japan. The rocks were harvested from Shikoku (birthplace of Kobo Daishi, founder of Kyosan and Shingon Buddhism) and the garden is designed to represent two dragons swimming through a mass of clouds.

The pilgrimage also passes through a number of other significant Shinto shrines, including Kumano Hongū Taisha. Here, the world’s largest Torii gate (42 meters wide and nearly 34 meters tall) marks the entrance along the Oyunohara sandbank near the sacred Kumano river. Almost every night of the tour, hikers also overnight at hotels with traditional Japanese hot spring (onsen) baths and can even relax in the country’s oldest bath in the town of Yunomine Onsen.
The tour is wholly unique and will intrigue almost any type of traveler — hikers and outdoor lovers, history buffs, anyone fascinated by Japanese culture, and of course those who intend to make the pilgrimage as part of an actual spiritual journey.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Have lost luggage? Here’s exactly what to do next
Here’s how to stay calm, get answers, and (hopefully) get your stuff back fast
Baggage claim in airport terminal. Suitcases on the airport luggage conveyor belt.

It’s happened to me before — stepping off a long flight, heading to baggage claim, and watching the carousel go around and around without ever seeing my suitcase.

At first, you tell yourself it’s just delayed. But then the crowd starts to clear, the belt slows to a stop, and reality sets in: Your luggage didn’t make it.

Read more
A Clueless suite? As if! Beverly Hills hotel debuts iconic tribute
The Clueless Suite was designed to celebrate the iconic film's 30th anniversary
L'Ermitage BH Clueless Suite

Just in time for the 30th anniversary of Clueless, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills is rolling out the pink carpet with a dreamy, fashion-forward hotel experience that would make Cher Horowitz say, “Ugh, as if!” In partnership with Bloomingdale’s Century City, Paramount Pictures, the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, and legendary costume designer Mona May, the hotel has unveiled The Clueless Suite, a nostalgic, over-the-top homage to the beloved 1995 film.

Available to book from July 12 through September 1, the limited-edition suite transforms 750 square feet of space into a stylish time capsule. Highlights include a yellow plaid accent wall inspired by Cher’s iconic first-day-of-school outfit, a neon “Carpe diem! Okay?” sign, fuzzy pens, and pop art touches straight out of a Beverly Hills dream. A Clueless board game, Polaroid camera, and a fully stocked glam closet curated by Mona May and Bloomingdale’s in-house stylists take the experience to the next level.

Read more
This West Palm Beach hotel now offers luxe private yacht experiences
The Ben at Sea offers three luxury yacht options
The Ben Hotel, Autograph Collection

The Ben Hotel in West Palm Beach is taking luxury hospitality to the next level, by sea. With the launch of The Ben at Sea, guests can now set sail in style thanks to a new yacht charter experience designed to bring the hotel’s signature service beyond the shoreline.

In partnership with PorterYachts, The Ben offers access to three sleek, high-end vessels docked at the nearby marina. Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a chic wedding, or a next-level corporate retreat, each yacht charter comes with a dedicated captain and crew. Guests can also upgrade their experience with a private chef, onboard bartender, or even live music to create a fully customized day on the water.

Read more