Japan 2027

Join Darene on an extraordinary two-week women’s pilgrimage through Japan. Discover ancient walking trails, sacred temples and timeless traditions, woven together with moments of deep reflection — creating one unforgettable journey that opens the door to YOU.

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Step into three soul-stirring chapters…

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   The Nakasendo Trail

Step back in time and walk the ancient road connecting Tokyo and Kyoto, once travelled by samurai and feudal lords, winding through beautifully preserved mountain villages, forests, the Kiso Valley and historic post towns of Magome, Tsumago and Narai. Walk the most beautiful section for 35km.

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⛩️ The Kumano Kodo 

Follow Japan’s sacred UNESCO-listed pilgrimage Nakahechi route (Imperial route)— the spiritual sister to Spain’s Camino de Santiago — through the spiritual Kii Peninsula, rich in ancient forests and historical shrines. Walk the most famous stretch of about 45km.

🧘‍♀️Sacred Mount Koyasan & the Women’s Pilgrimage Route

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Journey to sacred Mount Koyasan, the spiritual heart of Japanese Buddhism with 117 temples, where you’ll walk the ancient Nyonin Michi — the ancient Women’s Pilgrimage Route of 16km. Stay in a Buddhist temple, experience meditation and morning prayer, and walk through the mysterious lantern-lit paths of Okunoin at night.

     Immerse in vibrant Osaka, Kyoto and Nara where Japan spices up your journey into a celebration of life. Relax in two coastal towns, the Kumano Kodo finale at Kii-Katsuura and on Japan's whitest beach, Shirahama, soaking in restorative natural onsens.

Share this rich walking, cultural and life-enhancing experience in a group of 10 women, with a growth mindset, who value the integrity of the group. Take your own personal pilgrimage within this container with complete support and with options to shorten your daily walking by taking transport. 

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Highlights to take your breath away and touch your soul...

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• 🥾 Walk the ancient Nakasendo Trail through centuries old, traditional mountain villages, forests and historic post towns including Magome, Tsumago and Narai.

• ⛩️ Walk the UNESCO-listed Kumano Kodo - one of Japan's most sacred pilgrimage routes. Obtain your dual pilgrimage certificate!

• 🛕 Visit the three Grand Shrines of Kumano - Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha.

• 💦 Experience Nachi Falls and climb the spectacular Daimon-zaka pilgrimage steps.

• ♨️ Soak in Japanese onsens including stays beside the ocean and in traditional hot-spring towns. This will become a new tradition!

• 🌊 Relax in beautiful Shirahama, with its white-sand beach and ocean-view onsen hotel.

• 🧘‍♀️ Stay at a Buddhist temple on sacred Mount Koyasan, including a traditional vegetarian Buddhist dinner.

• 🌙 Walk through lantern-strung Okunoin Cemetery at night - one of the most atmospheric experiences of the journey.

• 🧘 Experience Buddhist meditation and morning prayer at Koyasan.

• 👘 Dress in a traditional Japanese kimono and experience an authentic tea ceremony. Then wander around town in your kimono.

• 🍵 Old Kyoto On Foot: Discover Kyoto's ancient streets, temples and gardens, including Gion and Higashiyama.

• 🦌 Spend a day in historic Nara viewing temples, the giant Buddha and its famous free-roaming deer, regarded as God's messengers.

• 🍣 Taste your way through Osaka on a 15-dish guided food tour.

• 🧳 Travel with ease - luggage transfers and private group transport on the more challenging travel days.

• 👭 A small group journey - sharing the experience with like-minded women makes the adventure even more special.

• ✨ Space to reflect, heal, reconnect - pause and construct the next chapter of your life in nourishing group sharing circles.

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Delightful rituals

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Shinrin-yoku - forest bathing: slowing down, breathing, listening, noticing light, texture and scent.

Onsen — healing through hot springs. This is much more than simply having a bath. Japan has a deeply rooted bathing culture, and "toji", the traditional use of hot-spring bathing for therapeutic purposes.

Zen meditation / Zazen - Japan's Buddhist traditions have cultivated practices of stillness, awareness and attention for centuries. 

The Tea Ceremony - a return to presence, beauty, ritual and appreciation of "chanoyu".

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Japan has a fascinating sensibility of wellbeing and the art of less—a beautiful thread woven throughout our pilgrimage that will guide us.

From mottainai, the wisdom of not wasting what has value, to wabi-sabi, finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence; from ma, the value of space and pause, to ikigai, a sense of purpose and meaning—these Japanese philosophies invite us to slow down, simplify and reconnect with what truly matters.

Even Marie Kondo’s philosophy of keeping only what “sparks joy” echoes this deeper Japanese sensibility of living with intention, gratitude and less.​​

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