Tours of a Lifetime

What’s Old is New Again Oku Japan Unveils New Tours Along the Ancient Kumano Kodo

Oku Japan is a Kyoto-based tour operator specializing in sustainable guided, self-guided and custom walking tours exploring remote regions of Japan. The very first travel brand to offer self-guided walking trips along Japan’s ancient pilgrimage routes, Oku continues to honour its passion for Japanese culture by fostering meaningful community partnerships, encouraging cross-cultural connections among locals and travellers, and forging new adventures in Japan’s still-undiscovered territories.

Recently, Oku unveiled new tours along the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail located on Japan’s Kii Peninsula and comprised of several routes. While the Nakahechi route (also known as the ‘Imperial’ route) is perhaps the most well-known, there are several others that carry their own unique histories and atmospheres, and it is on two of these routes – the Kiiji and Iseji – where Oku is offering a selection of new self-guided walking tours.

“Oku Japan has run a self-guided program along the Kumano Kodo since 2010, and we operate a local branch office in Chikatsuyu, so our ties with the local community are especially strong,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Oku’s General Manager. “After the disruption of the last few years, we are excited to develop and now launch new tours in the region, offering travellers even greater opportunities for discovery and cultural immersion, while providing the communities here with even more much-needed support.”

Along the Kiiji, or western route, Oku invites guests to experience the best of two worlds as it merges with the classic Nakahechi route, where the company has run a program for years. Available as both five- and six-day options, the duration of these hikes are no longer than four hours, making it a very accessible option to all levels of hikers, along with allowing more time for guests to enjoy the local communities.

The Iseji route follows the coast and connects the Ise Grand Shrine, or Ise Jingu (a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and the country’s most significant spiritual site) to the Hayatama Grand Shrine in Shingu, a holy ground that is part of the Kumano Sanzan or Three Grand Shrines of Kumano.

All of these tours operate year-round, and guests are supported by Oku Japan’s team in Kyoto, its local Chikatsuyu office, and by the company’s bespoke turn-by-turn walking instructions and topographical maps.

To learn more about these new self-guided hiking adventures on the Kumano Kodo, or to see Oku’s complete line-up of self-guided and guided tours, please visit: www.okujapan.com