Kumano Camino Walking Tour Reviews

From start to finish we were in excellent hands – 2 amazing guides fluent in Japanese with an incredible amount of local knowledge who left nothing to chance but adapted to our group’s needs along the way. Incredible food, scenery and authentic inns to stay in, little fun side trips and activities. This trip totally changed my mind about group holidays – it was the best and I cannot recommend this tour highly enough.

What a special way to experience our first ever visit to Japan! Not only our first trip to Japan, but also our first ever walking tour. Alison & Carolyn put so much pre-trip time and effort into making sure we were well prepared for the entire experience. We could see first hand the incredible relationships and special experiences they have built with locals along the walk path. We stayed in amazing traditional onsen accommodation, never went hungry and got to experience incredible cuisine and scenery throughout the journey. We left the Kumano Camino walk with new friendships, full hearts and lifelong memories. Thank you Alison & Carolyn!

Walking the Kumano Kodo with Kumano Camino in April 2026 was an unforgettable experience. The walk itself is spectacular – challenging in places, but every climb is rewarded with breathtaking scenery, peaceful forests, ancient shrines and incredible vistas that make every step worthwhile. What made the experience truly exceptional, however, were our guides, Alison and Carolyn. Their knowledge of Japan, its culture, traditions and history is extraordinary. Having first lived in Japan as exchange students more than four decades ago, they have developed a deep understanding of the country and its people, and they generously share that knowledge throughout the journey. Their Japanese language skills also enriched our interactions with local people and gave us insights that would have been impossible on our own. Alison and Carolyn genuinely care about every walker. They were organised, attentive and supportive, ensuring everyone felt encouraged and well looked after while allowing each person to enjoy the experience at their own pace. If you’re looking for more than just a hike – an authentic cultural journey led by passionate, knowledgeable and caring guides – I couldn’t recommend Kumano Camino more highly.

I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. Alison and Carolyn went above and beyond to make this a memorable trip for our group. Their local knowledge and genuine love of Japan is at the heart of all they do (their ‘Ikigai’). Alison’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the region combined with Carolyn’s exceptional organisational skills means nothing is left to chance. You think it’s just a walk – think again! It’s a food tour, a geography/history/PE lesson and an amazing cultural experience where you’ll make life-long friends along the way. If this is on your bucket list I suggest you tick it off now!

We’ve now completed two walking tours with Kumano Camino and have booked our third, which is the best recommendation we can give. Alison and Carolyn’s expertise, warmth and passion for Japan create unforgettable and truly unique travel experiences. Their deep knowledge of the country’s history, culture and traditions brings every day to life. We have returned home from each tour with wonderful memories and can’t recommend Kumano Camino highly enough.

I had the opportunity to walk the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in late 2025. The decision to do so had come through a recommendation of a friend who had done this tour previously and was heading back for more. The trail is amazing through mountains and forests, alongside streams away from what the average tourist would see. Accommodation was excellent and the food was astounding. One of the most effortless trips I had ever done due to the seamless organisation by Alison and Carolyn.

I can’t think of a better way to explore the beauty of Japan than taking a walking holiday with Kumano Camino. We walked the Nakasendo Kiso trail in Autumn of 2025 & everyday was a highlight. From charming ryokan accommodation, historic rural villages and post towns, spectacular scenery, delightful interactions with the locals & the most incredible food. Alison and Carolyn are wonderful guides, & their special relationships, knowledge, passion & expertise on all things Japanese make these tours a truly unique & intimate experience. Highly recommend, you will love it!

Alison and Carolyn are wonderful hosts. Every day held a surprise. The girls’ relationship with the people we met along the way was what made it so special for me: the soba noodle maker, the tea grower, the persimmon drier, serenades on a remote mountain: all providing such a unique cultural experience – I’d do it again!

We walked the Kumano Kodo in November 2025 with Alison and Carolyn. They were very well organised, caring, knowledgeable and attentive to all our needs. They spoke Japanese and had excellent relationships with all our accommodation hosts, and shared their knowledge of the history and culture of the area. The food was excellent and the accommodation was always well chosen. It was a special experience for us and we would highly recommend it.

Kumano Camino came to my notice from a friend who raved about her experience and recommended it. I loved it. Japan had long been on my wish list and this tour was a great way to see and experience the country. Alison and Carolyn's experience over the years adds lots of benefits for the group – inns and restaurants know them, and they both speak Japanese so any questions or curiosities along the way can be answered. The planning and logistics were well done and Alison and Carolyn complement each other's guiding beautifully. I also travelled on my own during that trip, but the tour was the highlight. Do yourself a favour and join them.

If you want a trip where you combine walking in nature culture and meeting people in rural Japan this trip is it. Carolyn and Alison have built warm relationships with local people in every place we visited this is the difference from other tours they were treated like family members and we were included. We had lots of fun, spectacular scenery and unbelievably great food for every meal and a warm onsen and comfortable futons every night. Their seamless organisation meant that when we came across a surprise village event we were able to stop and join in a local ceremony or a surprise treat. If you want more than a tour of the major cities of Japan I can’t recommend highly enough a tour with Carolyn and Alison.

It was such a pleasure to meet and walk the Kumano Kodo with Carolyn and Alison. Their knowledge, familiarity and passion for Japan enhanced the walk every day. We were guided through some very beautiful countryside and shared in a wonderful variety of natural and cultural experiences. Thank you lovely ladies.

I walked the Koyasan Kodo Kumano in autumn and the Nakasendo in spring with Carolyn and Alison. Both trips were fabulous. Alison and Carolyn have developed deep friendships with the Japanese people who run the accommodation so I didn't feel like yet another tourist. Our groups were warmly welcomed. It felt very special. A true cultural experience. The food was fabulous particularly on the Nakasendo walk. The scenery is stunning and the walking challenging enough but doable with options for the less fit. The memories of the trips have stayed with me and I have recommended it to my friends and family. Alison and Carolyn are wonderful guides. They were very helpful in preparation for the trip and advice about other travel around Japan.

I found the Nakasendo and Kiso Valley tour to be so much more than a hike. More like a hiking, history, food tour. Many life time memories and friendships with lots of laughter…I highly recommend Kumano Camino.

If you are looking for an unforgettable walk through the magical countryside and villages of Edo period Japan, immersed in fascinating culture, dining on exquisite local food, soaking in hot spring baths and accompanied by guides whose love of and deep connection with Japan ensures a welcoming, fun and fascinating experience – I couldn’t recommend Kumano Camino more highly.

I want to thank you both so much for such a wonderful experience on the Nakasendo Way. Every aspect of the trip – from your flawless pre-planning, your sharing of your knowledge of the history & stories along our journey, the uniqueness & comfort of the ryokans & the food (ooh the food!!) exceeded my expectations ten-fold. Walking the meandering ishidatami paths in the dappled light of the soaring cedar & cypress trees was my favourite part & I will treasure those memories for many years to come.

Highlights for me…Tea shop with Kabuki guy – loved it! Lunch in shelter between Magome and Tsumago – oishii!! Entertainment at Café Poppoya and view of Mt Ontake from there. Yamaka no yu Ryokan – so comfortable. Sweet in Tsumago – dried persimmon filling with chestnut filling. Waki Honjin in Tsumago – especially the bit about who sat where around the fire!! Greatly appreciated your notes for reference.

I have now travelled the Nakasendo and Kumano trails – what a joy. We enjoyed rural inns, beautiful countryside, knowledgeable guides and gourmet food. We had fun, learned a lot about Japanese culture and history and appreciated our travel companions – all thanks to Alison and Carolyn.

This is a fabulous way to discover Japan. In some ways it is a gourmet tour with walking on the side – but the walking is a highlight too. Alison and Carolyn leave nothing to chance – their attention to detail is superb. You must go!

We walked with Alison and Carolyn on the Kumano Kodo in 2018. We chose them after considering other options as we were impressed by their personal approach and their life long love of Japan. We felt like we would be travelling with close friends rather than just making up the numbers on a tour. Our expectations were well and truly exceeded, so much so, that we booked a return tour on the Nakasendo this year. We were concerned that a similar holiday second time around may be disappointing. On the contrary it turned out to be refreshingly different and challenging thanks to Alison and Carolyn’s leadership and caring approach. If you want to be truly immersed in Japanese culture (food, Ryokans, landscape, history, etc) and want the personal touch you won’t do better than Kumano Camino.

Back from our second trip with Alison and Carolyn. What a special time. Just love the combination of outdoors, fabulous food, rural and forest Japan, great company, quirky and amazing accommodation, caring and convivial guides, ahh the onsens at the end of the day! Both Alison and Carolyn are so caring and patient with us all. They love what they do. Can’t recommend these tours enough for a deep dive into walking and Japanese culture!

After almost a month in Japan where we loved every day … the highlight was the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage trail that Carolyn and Alison guided so wonderfully. From the beginning we knew we were in good hands … any questions or concerns were expertly dealt with before, during and after the walk. Carolyn and Alison are a great team … having two guides for a group of nine was such a bonus. Their love and knowledge of Japan, attention to detail, reassuring and patient ways, and ability to form a cohesive and happy group despite differing ages and walking abilities led to a very memorable walk and new friendships. Over the years, the guides have formed great relationships with the local people along the trail … we were made to feel so welcome at all of the fabulous and diverse accommodations. A major highlight of the walk was not only the beautiful scenery but the carefully prepared, healthy and delicious food at every stop … this is much more than a walk. It’s a wonderful cultural and gourmet experience in a safe and happy environment. I will certainly be recommending Kumano Camino tours to friends and family. Thank you Carolyn and Alison for the great adventure.

We had a really enjoyable trip to Japan … the highlight was undoubtedly the Koyasan and Kumano Kodo walk. We enjoyed the opportunity to see and even participate in a side of Japan that many who follow the usual tourist routes would not see close-up: the forests, the hills, rural life and hospitality, the practice of traditional Buddhist and Shinto rites … All of this was made available to us in a seamless, no-fuss manner … briefing notes were provided each evening along with a short discussion to help us prepare for the next day’s walk. All we had to do was rise, dress, eat and walk! The meals were a highlight for us … culinary treats introduced us to the variety and delicacy of healthy Japanese cuisine. The mood of the group was relaxed and encouraging … Carolyn and Alison dealt with individual needs sympathetically and positively. Their enthusiasm for Japan was infectious. Getting the group together before leaving Australia … was a welcome way to break the ice. So, many thanks to you Carolyn and Alison … I’d recommend the tour to anybody interested in experiencing a different side of the culture, traditions and cuisine of Japan.

Thank you both for the wonderful introduction to Japan. It really couldn’t have been better! Walking the Nakasendo Way was a perfect way to start. Firstly there was the massive advantage of your knowledge and guidance and secondly, walking through the countryside, passing through post-towns and experiencing the history was a more authentic introduction to Japan than arriving in a big city. Even if I’d done heaps of research I never could have constructed anything approaching the Tour you’ve designed. I really appreciate your fantastic trip notes, even more after the event. The experience of the ryokans and food was amazing and our daily routine became everyday life rather than a one-off touristy experience.

Thank you for the extraordinary job you both did to make our walking tour so enjoyable - from the logistics of food and lodgings to sharing your love and your knowledge of Japan. I admired how you managed the needs and wishes of your clients, how you were always supportive and respectful to and about each other and how you use each other’s separate strengths to get things done.

Walking the Nakasendo trail guided by Alison and Carolyn was a pure joy. Not only had they chosen exceptionally beautiful sections of this famous ancient highway, but the accommodation in the traditional inns gave us a unique and authentic Japanese experience. Every meal was a journey into Japanese gastronomy, exquisitely presented and explained. Both competent Japanese speakers they smoothed the way through the normal difficulties, enjoyed the walk themselves and offered in depth information about where we were and the history along the way. We traversed remote countryside, forests, preserved ancient villages and small towns and were rewarded with a traditional hot bath/onsen and celebratory drink at the end of each day. We also appreciated the comprehensive lead up preparation and information before we departed. If you want to see the real Japan, we can highly recommend walking the Nakasendo with Kumano Camino. A unique experience.

The Kumano Kodo was everything I hoped for and more. Great Japanese food, lovely traditional accommodation and a relaxing Onsen at the end of every day. Carolyn and Alison were very supportive, knowledgeable, both speak fluent Japanese, complement each other and are a lot of fun. Having 2 guides is a definite asset for the varying levels of fitness in the group. The walk is challenging in parts, but the beauty and peacefulness make it well worth the effort.

The Kumano Kodo experience highlights totally different aspects of Japan. Whilst some sections of the walk were challenging, the scenery was nothing short of spectacular, the food was fabulous, & the hosts in the various locations were extremely accommodating. The temple experience in Koyasan is a definite must. The guides had good knowledge of the area & local customs.

The Kumano Kodo walk was one of the happiest of holidays. The scenery is spectacular and so tranquil. We were provided with daily briefings and every day was a new experience. The walk is challenging at times. Having two guides offers the flexibility for guests to walk at their own pace. I would highly recommend this guided walk.

Walking the Kumano Kodo was one of the best holidays I have ever had. The walk was certainly tough but the sights, the company and the great food and accommodation made every day worth the challenge.  Alison and Carolyn were wonderfully knowledgeable and accommodating guides. Pre-trip and daily briefings provided all the information that I needed. It was an immersion into Japanese culture combined with a physical challenge that I enjoyed enormously. Alison and Carolyn love to share what they love about Japan and they are fun and engaging host(esses)!

We had an awesome time walking through spectacular landscapes culminating each night with an exquisite feast of locally grown food, and relaxing in the onsen. Thanks to our very caring and knowledgeable  guides, Alison and Carolyn, who made our experience so memorable.

Thank you Alison and Carolyn. This was a great introduction to Japanese walking and to authentic Japanese regional cuisine. The ryokans were very well chosen, each with their own individual character. A visit to an onsen is definitely the way to finish a day’s hiking!

Walking the Kumano Kodo was an amazing adventure. Alison and Carolyn were thoughtful and engaging guides who took care of every detail. The inns were fantastic and the food was sensational. More importantly the scenery was breathtaking with the highlight being Nachi Taisha.