The Kohechi Trail is the most remote and physically demanding of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, one of the two UNESCO World Heritage-listed pilgrimage routes (next to the Camino de Santiago). It links the sacred mountain temple complex of Koyasan with the Kumano Sanzan shrines deep in the Kii Peninsula of Japan. Hikers pass through isolated mountain terrain, cedar forests shrouded in mist, and small rural hamlets that reflect Japan's traditional way of life. The Kohechi is well-marked and very straightforward to plan online, with multiple traditional guesthouses along the way. Did you know that pilgrims have walked the Kumano Kodo routes for over a thousand years, and completing both this and the Camino de Santiago can earn you the rare Dual Pilgrim certification?

Hiking the Kohechi trail in Japan was an absolute blast. Instead of spectacular glaciers, high peaks and steep valleys, this hike gives you something different. I embraced the solitude on this trail (as I encountered one small group of Japanese hikers on my second day and that was it!), the holiness of this place, the respect with which people approach the monuments and nature, and the warm welcome by the completely non-English speaking hosts of my homestays. And not to forget, the natural Onsen hot tubs to regenerate the body after a long day of walking!