Wow this was awesome. Mount Hasa in particular looks amazing. I've only been to Tokyo and Mt. Fuji, but I would love to go back to Japan and spend more time in nature. Thanks for sharing!
So very informative and inspiring. We are doing a small part of the Tokaido trail in September. Next clearly must be a visit to Shikoku. Enjoy your walk!
When I lived in Ehime Prefecture, I often saw pilgrims in their white clothes and sedge hats. On weekends, I visited some of the 88 temples on the route. One of these days I want to cycle the route.
Nice summary! Did some parts of Kumano Kodo and MHT. Great places. Now with knee problems I’m after more flat ones. Believe Shikoku pilgrimage is flat enough or ?
I walked Iseji in March 2023 and am planning another walking trip in April 2025 and whilst I am still trying to finesse my exact route, can't quite get past this strong urge to walk at least part of the Iseji again, maybe as far south as Kumano and then cut up to Hongu and then continue to Koyasan on the Kohechi. The Saba Kaido is also on the shortlist as is the Kyoto Trail!
Hi Richard, this sounds fantastic! I’ve only walked parts of Iseji, but I hope to do the whole trail someday. Also, thank you for mentioning Saba Kaido—I hadn’t heard of that route before, and it looks very intriguing.
What, Japanese children have a holiday too! For so many years we were fooled into thinking that it was only Turkish children had a holiday dedicated to them.
I've heard quite a lot about the pilgrim/hiking trails of Japan and long to try them out some day. Do a lot of tourists take them regularly or are they the "road less traveled", so to speak?
I would say Kumano Kodo, especially the Nakahechi Route is very popular among international visitors. Same for Shikoku, though - due to the length of the trail - it attracts a different crowd.
Very comprehensive and interesting, many of these routes I did not know and now I am going to put them on my list. I would add an observation: compared to all the splendor of beautiful hikes that await a hiker in Japan, Mount Fuji appears actually quite boring. Would you agree?
Wow this was awesome. Mount Hasa in particular looks amazing. I've only been to Tokyo and Mt. Fuji, but I would love to go back to Japan and spend more time in nature. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading and commenting.
So very informative and inspiring. We are doing a small part of the Tokaido trail in September. Next clearly must be a visit to Shikoku. Enjoy your walk!
Great roundup of pilgrim paths!
When I lived in Ehime Prefecture, I often saw pilgrims in their white clothes and sedge hats. On weekends, I visited some of the 88 temples on the route. One of these days I want to cycle the route.
Ah that sounds like a great idea!
Next time be sure to check out the Dewa Sanzan as well! Dewasanzan.com has the info you need :)
Serendipitously, I just returned from an English pilgrimage of my own, to Canterbury.
How was it?
A beautiful experience.
Nice summary! Did some parts of Kumano Kodo and MHT. Great places. Now with knee problems I’m after more flat ones. Believe Shikoku pilgrimage is flat enough or ?
It has many uphill sections leading you to mountaip top temples. How was MHT?
It was great, took a while to plan, as it was for a few days. Some account here
https://open.substack.com/pub/igorf9c/p/aomori-iwate-michinoku-trail-april?r=4zs6g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
So many great ideas for our next visit!
I walked Iseji in March 2023 and am planning another walking trip in April 2025 and whilst I am still trying to finesse my exact route, can't quite get past this strong urge to walk at least part of the Iseji again, maybe as far south as Kumano and then cut up to Hongu and then continue to Koyasan on the Kohechi. The Saba Kaido is also on the shortlist as is the Kyoto Trail!
Hi Richard, this sounds fantastic! I’ve only walked parts of Iseji, but I hope to do the whole trail someday. Also, thank you for mentioning Saba Kaido—I hadn’t heard of that route before, and it looks very intriguing.
What, Japanese children have a holiday too! For so many years we were fooled into thinking that it was only Turkish children had a holiday dedicated to them.
I've heard quite a lot about the pilgrim/hiking trails of Japan and long to try them out some day. Do a lot of tourists take them regularly or are they the "road less traveled", so to speak?
I would say Kumano Kodo, especially the Nakahechi Route is very popular among international visitors. Same for Shikoku, though - due to the length of the trail - it attracts a different crowd.
I’ve never done any of these trails! And I’m really looking forward to hearing about your walk in Australia. Safe travels!
Makes me want to go to Japan one day.
Very comprehensive and interesting, many of these routes I did not know and now I am going to put them on my list. I would add an observation: compared to all the splendor of beautiful hikes that await a hiker in Japan, Mount Fuji appears actually quite boring. Would you agree?