Spend a week exploring the wonders of the Kansai region, a destination synonymous with Japanese tradition and culture. This inclusive and exploratory journey will take you through the remote and rugged coastal scenery of the Kii Peninsula to soak in its famed onsens (natural hot springs), wander along its ancient pilgrimage route, overnight among monks at Mount Koya-san—a mountaintop temple complex and sample in the traditions of this unique and spectacularly scenic area.

This is one of our handy, week-long itineraries designed to link together for an in-depth exploration of Japan, to stand alone as a Private Departure or to act as a jumping-off idea for a Custom Journey.

Day 1: arrive in Osaka, train to Wakayama • Day 2: Wakayama Castle, Museum of Modern Art, drive south along the coast to Sandan-beki Cliffs and then to Shirahama’s famed hot springs • Day 3: walk along the Kumano Kudo ancient pilgrimage routes to Kumano Sansha shrines and then to Nachi-no-taki, Japan’s tallest waterfall • Day 4: visit Katsuura morning fish market, continue along Kumano Kodo to Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine • Day 5: hike to Chikatsuyu-oji amidst old forest and traditional ryokans (inns), drive to Mount Koya-san, sacred mountaintop village of temples • Day 6: arise with monks for morning prayers at Koya-san monks, return to Osaka • Day 7: depart Osaka.

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