About Kumano Camino
Kumano Camino was founded by long-time friends Alison Weber and Carolyn Abbey to share the Japan they know and love. Drawing on Japanese-language ability, extensive personal experience and long-standing local relationships, they lead small group walking tours through the landscapes, culture and communities of regional Japan.
Our story
Kumano Camino offers small group guided walking tours along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route, including Koyasan, and the Nakasendo through the Kiso Valley. Tours are offered in spring and autumn, with custom tours for private groups considered on request.
Based in Melbourne, Kumano Camino is a boutique tour company founded and operated by Alison and Carolyn. Their friendship began when they met as undergraduates at the Australian National University, where they both studied Japanese. Both later lived in Japan and have returned many times.
After careers in law and banking and raising their families, Alison and Carolyn established Kumano Camino to share their love of Japan and help others experience the beauty of walking through its regional landscapes.
Their first Kumano Camino tour followed the Kumano Kodo with family and friends. Since then, they have brought the same personal approach to every tour. Their aim is for each guest to experience the Japan they know and love, including its natural beauty, culture, traditions and the warm hospitality of the inns along the way.
Alison and Carolyn remain personally involved in planning and guiding every tour and take the time to answer each traveller’s questions before and throughout the journey.
Alison Weber
Alison was born in regional Victoria and spent a year living in Saitama Prefecture as an exchange student in 1980. She completed a Bachelor of Laws and Economics (Hons) at the Australian National University, where she also studied Japanese.
After working as a lawyer in Canberra, Alison left legal practice to raise four children and later moved to Melbourne. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and participating in a range of community activities.
Alison is also a Dual Pilgrim, having completed both the Kumano Kodo and Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes.
Carolyn Abbey
Carolyn’s love of Japan began with a one-year high school exchange in rural northern Japan. After graduating from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Economics and Asian Studies, she spent a year working as an English teacher in southern Japan.
On returning to Australia, Carolyn worked in Sydney as a credit analyst at a Japanese merchant bank. She later completed a Master of Arts in Japanese Business Communication at Monash University.
Carolyn has since lost count of how many times she has returned to Japan and is delighted to help others experience the traditions and everyday life of regional Japan.
Why travel with Kumano Camino
Kumano Camino is more than a business to us. It grew from our shared passion for Japan and our desire to help others experience regional Japan with the knowledge, confidence and connection that come from travelling with experienced guides.
While many group walking tours are accompanied by one guide, we both travel from Australia to lead every Kumano Camino tour. Having two guides gives us greater flexibility from day to day, allows us to support different walking paces and provides each guest with more personal attention throughout the journey.
Our aim is to offer exceptional service and genuine value through thoughtful planning, Japanese-language support, cultural knowledge and long-standing relationships with the people we meet along the trails. Together, these elements create an experience that extends far beyond the walk itself.
Explore the differences between guided and self-guided walking tours in Japan.
Explore our guided walking tours in Japan
Choose between the sacred pilgrimage landscapes of Kumano and Koyasan or the preserved post towns and mountain scenery of the Nakasendo and Kiso Valley.
Guided Kumano Kodo Walking Tour
Walk approximately 70 km along the Nakahechi pilgrimage route and experience the sacred mountain community of Koyasan.
Guided Nakasendo Walking Tour
Follow the historic Nakasendo through preserved post towns, forest trails and the mountain landscapes of the Kiso Valley.