Which path calls to you?
Three pilgrimages, three traditions, three ways of walking.
Region
Spain & FranceJapanJapan
Distance
790 km1200 km38 km
Duration
30-35 days45-60 days3-4 days
Difficulty
moderate hard moderate
Tradition
Christian (Roman Catholic)Buddhist (Shingon)Shinto-Buddhist (Shugendo)
Topology
linearcircularnetwork
Best months
AprMayJunSepOct MarAprMayOctNov MarAprMayOctNov
Annual pilgrims
531k150k45k
Description
The most walked pilgrimage in the world. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port across the Pyrenees, through the vineyards of Navarra, the meseta of Castilla, and into Galicia. 790 kilometers of terrain that strips away everything you thought you needed.A 1,200-kilometer circle around Japan's smallest main island, connecting 88 sacred temples. You walk with Kukai — the monk who walked this path in 774 AD. The island walks with you.An ancient network of pilgrimage trails through the sacred mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Where Shinto and Buddhism fused into something older than either. One of only two pilgrimage routes in the world with UNESCO World Heritage status.
Camino de Santiago (Frances)
- Region
- Spain & France
- Distance
- 790 km
- Duration
- 30-35 days
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Tradition
- Christian (Roman Catholic)
- Topology
- linear
- Best months
- AprMayJunSepOct
- Annual pilgrims
- 531k
The most walked pilgrimage in the world. From Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port across the Pyrenees, through the vineyards of Navarra, the meseta of Castilla, and into Galicia. 790 kilometers of terrain that strips away everything you thought you needed.
Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage
- Region
- Japan
- Distance
- 1200 km
- Duration
- 45-60 days
- Difficulty
- hard
- Tradition
- Buddhist (Shingon)
- Topology
- circular
- Best months
- MarAprMayOctNov
- Annual pilgrims
- 150k
A 1,200-kilometer circle around Japan's smallest main island, connecting 88 sacred temples. You walk with Kukai — the monk who walked this path in 774 AD. The island walks with you.
Kumano Kodo
- Region
- Japan
- Distance
- 38 km
- Duration
- 3-4 days
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Tradition
- Shinto-Buddhist (Shugendo)
- Topology
- network
- Best months
- MarAprMayOctNov
- Annual pilgrims
- 45k
An ancient network of pilgrimage trails through the sacred mountains of the Kii Peninsula. Where Shinto and Buddhism fused into something older than either. One of only two pilgrimage routes in the world with UNESCO World Heritage status.