Small Group Guided Walking Tours in Japan
Experience regional Japan through walking, culture and connection.
Discover regional Japan with Kumano Camino
Kumano Camino offers personally guided, small group walking tours through some of Japan’s most beautiful and culturally significant regions.
Based in Melbourne, we specialise in the Kumano Kodo and Koyasan, and the historic Nakasendo trail through the Kiso Valley. Our carefully planned tours combine memorable walking with an immersive experience of regional Japan – its landscapes, history, traditions, food and hospitality.
Experience the Japan we know and love
Kumano Camino was founded from a shared love of Japan and a desire to introduce others to the places, people and experiences that make travelling through regional Japan so special.
Having both studied Japanese, lived in Japan and travelled there extensively, Alison and Carolyn bring decades of personal knowledge and cultural understanding to every tour. Both travel from Australia to lead each group and are personally involved in planning and guiding the experience, allowing for greater flexibility and individual attention along the way.
Our aim is simple: to offer a thoughtful, personal way to experience Japan on foot – with the confidence and companionship of guides who know and love the country.
Why walk Japan with Kumano Camino?
Small groups, personal attention
Travelling in a small group creates a more personal experience, with greater flexibility, individual attention and time to enjoy the journey together.
Personally planned & guided
Alison and Carolyn personally plan each tour and travel with every group, providing continuity, support and first-hand guidance throughout the journey.
Decades of experience in Japan
Having studied Japanese, lived in Japan and travelled extensively throughout the country, Alison and Carolyn bring decades of knowledge and cultural understanding to every tour.
More than a walking tour
Walking is at the heart of each journey, enriched by regional food, traditional accommodation, local communities, history, culture and the everyday experiences that make Japan so memorable.
Wondering which style of travel suits you? Compare guided and self-guided walking tours in Japan.
What to expect on your walking tour in Japan
Drawing on our experience leading guests along the Kumano Kodo and Nakasendo trails, we provide practical information about trail conditions, daily distances, accommodation, meals, luggage transfers, weather, onsen bathing and fitness requirements.
Explore what to expect on tour or browse our guided walking tour FAQs.
Explore our guided walking tours in Japan
Our small group tours take you beyond Japan’s major cities and into regions where ancient pathways, mountain landscapes and local traditions offer a different way to experience the country.
Guided Kumano Kodo Walking Tour
Journey through the forested mountains of the Kii Peninsula along the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, where sacred shrines, rural villages and centuries of spiritual tradition are woven into the landscape.
Our journey also takes us to Koyasan, the mountain centre of Shingon Buddhism, where temple stays and centuries-old traditions offer a unique insight into Japan’s spiritual heritage.
Guided Nakasendo Walking Tour
Follow the historic Nakasendo through the mountains of central Japan, walking sections of the ancient route that once connected Kyoto and Edo.
Through the beautiful Kiso Valley, we walk between preserved post towns, forests and mountain villages, experiencing a slower pace of travel and a landscape shaped by centuries of history.
