Dr. Miles Neale is a psychotherapist, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and author with twenty-five years of experience integrating science and spirituality.
MOREJoin Dr. Miles Neale on a sacred pilgrimage through mystical Japan. Walk the temples of Kyoto, the monastic paths of Mount Koya, and the ancient Kumano Kodo trails in a transformative journey of mindfulness and spiritual depth.
What if we returned to walking as a spiritual practice, and travel became a rite of passage? This rare pilgrimage through Japan’s mystical regions is not a tour, but a carefully curated initiation of the soul. Over thirteen days, you’ll walk mindfully to sacred sites in three iconic areas, stay in authentic temple lodgings, and receive teachings from masters of three major traditions Zen Buddhism, Shingon Tantra, and Shugendō shamanism. Guided throughout by Dr. Miles Neale—a Buddhist psychotherapist and author known for integrating Eastern wisdom with depth psychology—you’ll embark on a transformational journey designed for those ready to unplug, step outside their comfort zone, face challenges, appreciate beauty, embody joy, and reconnect with the mythic dimension of life. Welcome to the Pilgrimage Through Mystical Japan. READ MORE
Dr. Miles Neale is a psychotherapist, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and author with twenty-five years of experience integrating science and spirituality.
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Tour Description
Over the course of thirteen days, you’ll travel largely on foot through three of Japan’s most iconic regions—Kyoto, Mount Koya, and the Kumano Kodo trails—each representing a distinct spiritual tradition: Zen Buddhism, Shingon Tantra, and Shugendō mountain shamanism. Along the way, you’ll engage in daily meditation, Buddhist teachings, guided reflective exercises, and personal “walk ’n talk” sessions with your pilgrimage guide, Buddhist teacher and psychotherapist Dr. Miles Neale.
From the refined temples and world renown rock gardens of Kyoto’s Zen tradition—where we’ll be joined by a representative of the Rinzai lineage—to the Shingon tantric enclave and quaint monastic village atop Mount Koya founded by Master Kūkai—where a Shingon yogini will offer transmission into the esoteric path—to the mist-veiled cedar forests and syncretic Shugendō shrines along the Kumano Kodo—where we’ll be guided in ritual by a master mountain shaman—this pilgrimage offers rare access to three living wisdom traditions that have shaped Japan’s spiritual landscape for centuries.
You’ll travel as pilgrims do, staying in traditional shukubō—temple lodgings and family-run inns—immersed in the rhythms of sacred life. Each location is carefully chosen to support contemplative practice and self-reflection, while evoking awe for Japan’s celebrated aesthetic of simplicity and refinement. Mornings begin with seated meditation; days unfold through walking visits to temples and shrines, where chanting, ritual, and onsite teachings progressively reveal the liberative insights of Buddhist philosophy. Meals range from shōjin ryōri—seasonal vegetarian dishes prepared with humility and restraint in the Zen tradition—to kaiseki, a multi-course meal that showcases precision, aesthetic balance, and the quiet sophistication of the seasons. Both reflect Japan’s deep reverence for mindful living and the beauty of transience.
Midway through the journey, we begin walking the sacred Kumano Kodo. Along with its sister route, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, it holds the rare distinction of being one of only two pilgrimage trails in the world designated as UNESCO World Heritage. If you’ve already completed the Camino—or plan to—you’ll be eligible to receive the Dual Pilgrim Certificate, a recognition honoring those who have walked both sacred paths.
But this journey isn’t about checklists, photo ops, or tourism. It’s about reorienting your life toward the sacred. Through daily “walk ’n talk” sessions—a therapeutic method devised by Dr. Miles Neale—you’ll process inner material, interpret dreams, heal complexes, revel in joy, and engage your intuition during long hours of walking to and around sacred sites. The trails themselves become a container for soul dialogue, karmic activation, and catalytic transformation. Read more about Miles’ method our Sacred Earth Journey along the Camino in 2025: https://www.gradualpath.com/blog/pilgrimage-as-therapy
As Miles often says, “It’s not the destination but the journey that transforms us.” These impromptu conversations—set within dramatic landscapes and ancient temples—draw upon his two decades of experience integrating Tibetan Buddhism and depth psychology. They strike at the core of what makes us human: slow, deliberate walking; unplugging from technology; communing with nature and each other; inhabiting the body; processing emotions; revitalizing through joy; and answering the soul’s call to adventure into the great mystery.
On the Kumano, we’ll venture into enchanted forests, pray at ancient shrines, and participate in elemental purification rituals. Following a Shugendō master into communion with nature, we’ll reclaim our lost sense of divinity. Our journey in this region covers the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan), culminating at the iconic Nachi Falls—a thundering cascade revered as the descent of spirit into the world, where we’ll pause to reflect, release, and ritually return to our lives with renewed clarity and purpose.
This pilgrimage to Japan integrates movement and stillness, ancient traditions and modern psychology, solitude and community, temples and forests. It is not an escape from the world, but a crucible of self-transformation for those ready to reenchant it. You’ll be invited to embrace discomfort, cultivate presence, refine dialogue, embody joy, and walk yourself into a new way of being.
Due to the physical and emotional nature of this journey, participants should be in good health, open to trying contemplative practices and exercises, and willing to engage in group dialogue. This is not just a walking tour, it’s a pilgrimage and a therapeutic process in sacred ground. Group size will be limited to ensure depth, intimacy, and personalized guidance.
Fitness Considerations, Accommodations and Transfers
This pilgrimage combines urban walking in Japan’s great cultural centers with several days of forest trekking along the sacred Kumano Kodo trails. In Kyoto and Koya-san, we will walk 3–4 hours daily on city streets and temple grounds at an easy pace. On the Kumano Kodo, the terrain varies from gentle paths to more demanding ascents and descents through cedar forests, ridgelines, and stone stairways. Distances range from 4–13 km (2.5–8 miles) per day, with elevation gains and losses between 120–400 m (400–1,300 ft). Walking times average 3–6 hours depending on the stage, including breaks, meditation, and meals. The most challenging day involves a 13 km ridge walk with uneven surfaces and exposed tree roots (difficulty rating 4/5), while other days are shorter, gentler village or shrine approaches (ratings 1–2/5).
Overall, participants should be prepared for moderate physical activity, with one or two demanding hikes balanced by many easier walks. A “reasonable level of fitness” means being comfortable walking several hours on consecutive days, managing uneven terrain and stair climbs, and enjoying the rhythm of steady pilgrimage travel. Hiking poles, supportive shoes, and light daypacks are recommended.
This is not a luxury tour, and we make no claims to five-star accommodations. That’s by design.
We’ve intentionally selected pilgrims’ guesthouses and mountain inns that are simple and comfortable—but more importantly, they reflect the ethos of this journey: humility, contemplation, and community.
In Kyoto, for example, we stay at the Daishin-in, a 15th-century Zen temple guesthouse within the Myōshin-ji temple complex. The rooms are separated by traditional paper screens, the walls are thin, and the atmosphere is serene. Futon mattresses on tatami mats on the floor, communal restrooms, and shared onsen baths invite us into a different rhythm—one that values spaciousness over privacy, and presence over convenience.
When we arrive at each guesthouse, we will be responsible for offloading and transporting our own luggage to our rooms. Please pack accordingly. We’ll work together as a team to streamline these transitions—offering help when needed, moving with care and awareness.
There will be no white-glove service here. But there will be quiet mornings, shared meals, and the subtle satisfaction of living simply and mindfully—just as countless pilgrims before us have done. This too is part of the practice.
You can find detailed information about the hiking requirements for each day in the day-by-day itinerary, and enjoy more stunning photos from a past pilgrimage to Japan with Miles on our Flickr page.
Arrive in Osaka, where our local representative will greet you and assist with a short 5–10 minute transfer to our nearby airport hotel. Take the day to rest and recover from your journey. In the evening, we’ll gather and walk for a welcome dinner and open the circle with introductions.
Osaka, once the economic heart of Japan, served for centuries as a vibrant maritime hub. It was a key threshold city—where monks, traders, and diplomats arrived from the Asian mainland before continuing inland toward Kyoto and the sacred mountains. It is a fitting entry point for our pilgrimage, as we too prepare to shift from the outer world into an inner journey.
(Overnight in Osaka at Stargate Hotel or similar)
We transfer from Osaka to Kyoto, pausing en route at Manpuku-ji, the head temple of the Ōbaku school of Zen, founded by Ingen Ryuki in the 17th century. There, we experience a formal tea ceremony—Japan’s quintessential expression of kata, the sacred principle of precision and meditative form. Every gesture is deliberate, every movement an offering. It is a perfect doorway into Japan’s culture of kata—the disciplined repetition of form, whether through tea, calligraphy, or martial arts—where precision and presence become a path of inner refinement.
Arriving in Kyoto, we check into the Daishin-in, a meticulously preserved 15th-century sub-temple within the Myōshin-ji complex, now welcoming pilgrims as a traditional Zen guesthouse. With its polished wood floors, tatami mat rooms, and tranquil rock garden, Daishin-in captures the essence of the pilgrim’s spirit. It will serve as our base for meals, group activities, and morning meditations while in Kyoto.
Guests in single rooms will stay at the nearby Machiya House, a restored traditional home with a small interior tsuboniwa garden—a quiet courtyard designed for light, air, and contemplation—alongside modern amenities. A shuttle service will be provided to and from group activities.
In the evening, we gather for an orientation and a teaching session with Miles.
(Overnight in Kyoto at Daishin-in, Machiya House or similar)
After morning meditation, we embark on our first walking tour of Kyoto’s Zen landmarks. We begin within the Myōshin-ji temple complex, a sprawling monastic refuge that remains an active center of Zen training. From there, we continue to Ryōan-ji, home to Japan’s most famous dry garden—fifteen stones set in raked white gravel, inviting deep contemplation on the nature of emptiness and tranquility.
Our final stop is Ninna-ji, a UNESCO World Heritage site that blends imperial history with Shingon esoteric practice. Known for its late-blooming cherry blossoms and elegant five-story pagoda, Ninna-ji evokes the quiet beauty at the heart of Japanese aesthetics.
The afternoon is free to enjoy lunch of your choice and explore Kyoto city. In the evening, we return to Daishin-in for a Dharma talk by a Zen master.
(Overnight in Kyoto at Daishin-in, Machiya House or similar)
We leave behind the austere refinement of Kyoto and journey up to Mount Koya—Japan’s tantric heartland. Founded by Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) in 816 CE, Koya is a monastic sanctuary of over one hundred temples nestled on a forested plateau. It is here that the esoteric teachings of Shingon Buddhism took root, marrying the personal with the cosmic, the human with the divine.
After checking into our pilgrim’s inn, we explore Kongōbu-ji, the head temple of the Shingon school, and Danjo Garan, Kūkai’s original monastic compound. Miles offers an onsite teaching to bridge the gap between Zen and Tantric Buddhism—how we move from formless beauty to mandalas filled with deities and vibration. We then continue to the quaint Koya village, where you may choose your own lunch and soak in the energy of this memorable place.
(Overnight in Koya at Shukubo Temple Daien-in Guesthouse or similar)
We begin the day with morning meditation, attuning to the subtle body before setting out on one of the most spiritually charged walks of the pilgrimage—the sacred approach to Okunoin, in the heart of Mount Koya.
Mount Koya, or Kōyasan, is the mountain monastic enclave established in 816 CE by Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), the great tantric master who returned from China with esoteric Buddhist transmissions and founded the Shingon school. He envisioned this remote, forested plateau as a living mandala—a cosmic mirror for inner realization, where every temple, hall, and stupa corresponds to a sacred element of awakened mind.
Our walk through Okunoin Cemetery is a descent into mythic time. Beneath towering cryptomeria trees lie more than 200,000 tombstones and memorials—samurai, poets, emperors, and commoners—each drawn to rest near the mausoleum of Kūkai. It is believed he never died, but remains in eternal meditation, a beacon of compassion for all sentient beings.
After lunch and free time in the village, we return for a rare five-senses meditation led by a female Shingon master, offering an embodied experience of tantric transmission through the gateways of touch, scent, sound, sight, and taste.
We close the day with an integration session led by Miles, processing our experiences and insights within the Koya mandala.
(Overnight in Koyasan at Shukubo Temple Daien-in Guesthouse or similar)
We descend from Mount Koya into the deep green embrace of the Kii Peninsula, a sacred geography older than Buddhism itself. Here, the mountains speak the language of animism—where waterfalls are spirits, rocks are altars, and the forest itself is an oracle.
The Kumano Kodo, a network of pilgrimage routes threading through the Kii Peninsula, has been walked by emperors and ascetics for over a millennium. It is a landscape of myth and memory, where religious boundaries dissolve and the wildness of nature becomes a crucible for spiritual rebirth.
We begin walking from Gyuba-dōji, named after the legendary image of Emperor Kazan, who renounced court life and entered these mountains on a horse and ox yoked together—a gesture of humility and surrender, marking the beginning of the inward path.
Our route today is a three-hour forest walk, about four kilometers in length, with a gradual ascent of roughly 150 meters (500 feet). This is one of the gentler stretches of the Kumano Kodo, winding through towering cedar groves and carrying us toward Tsugizakura-oji, one of the oji shrines along the pilgrimage route. These waystations were once sites of ritual offering, places where pilgrims paused to commune with local deities and reaffirm their vows.
Along the trail, Miles offers an outdoor teaching session, grounding the symbolism of our descent into the forest as a mythic stage of transformation.
We break for a bento picnic lunch in nature, then continue on foot to our inn. Many of these traditional inns offer onsen bathing—mineral-rich hot springs long revered in Japan for their healing and purifying properties.
We close the day with an evening discussion and integration session with Miles.
(Overnight in Kumano at Kawayu Onsen Matsuya or similar)
The sacred threshold known as Hosshinmon-oji, or “Gate of the Awakening of Faith,” marked the point in ancient times where pilgrims ritually prepared themselves before entering the spiritual heart of Kumano. This gate was not merely symbolic—it initiates the final passage from the outer journey to the inner vow of the Bodhisattva: the awakened altruist who offers the elixir of compassion to the world.
We begin here with a contemplative three-hour walk along the classic approach trail to Kumano Hongu Taisha. The route covers about 7.5 kilometers, descending roughly 250 meters (820 feet) through steady forest inclines, carrying us through the quiet rhythm of the woods toward the grand shrine at the center of Kumano’s triune sacred system.
Hongu Taisha is the first of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan) we will visit and has drawn seekers from every level of society for over a thousand years. Originally built on a river delta, the shrine was relocated after a flood to a quiet rise surrounded by cypress trees. Its towering torii gate remains one of the largest in Japan.
This shrine, like others in Kumano, blends Shinto and Buddhist cosmologies, reflecting Japan’s unique syncretic spirit. The deities here are considered manifestations of celestial Buddhas and Bodhisattvas—guardians of healing, compassion, and blissful wisdom.
At the shrine, Miles offers an on-site teaching session. After lunch in the village of Hongu, we return to the inn. The day concludes with an evening discussion and integration session led by Miles.
(Overnight in Kumano at Kawayu Onsen Matsuya or similar)
Today we undertake the Kogumotori-goe trail, one of the most visually striking and evocative sections of the Kumano Kodo. Spanning about 13 kilometers with roughly 400 meters (1,300 feet) of both ascent and descent, this rugged route takes around six hours including breaks. It is among the more demanding stretches of the pilgrimage, winding through steep inclines and high ridgelines that reveal sweeping views of layered mountain peaks. Beneath our feet, cedar roots form tangled pathways; above us, the canopy filters sun and wind into a mythic kaleidoscope.
Historically, this route was used by imperial pilgrims as part of their arduous journey into Kumano. But its real power lies in its capacity to draw out the unconscious. The forest becomes a mirror. The terrain becomes a teacher.
During a midday pause, Miles leads a session on shadow-work, guiding pilgrims to meet the unintegrated aspects of psyche that surface when we leave behind the comfort of identity and step fully into the unknown.
After our bento lunch, we return to the inn to soak, rest, and reflect. The day concludes with an evening session with Miles, deepening the alchemical work of integrating what we’ve encountered—in the wilds, within and without.
(Overnight in Seiryu-so Onsen Hotel or similar)
We travel deep into the Kumano mountains for the extremely rare opportunity of a three-day training immersion with an authentic Shugendō master. Shugendō is Japan’s indigenous path of mountain asceticism, blending tantric Buddhism, Shinto animism, and shamanic inner alchemy.
After a ceremonial opening, we enter the forest for a few hours of immersive walking, spanning 10–12 kilometers with roughly 300 meters (980 feet) of elevation gain and loss. The path begins with a sharp ascent and continues in a long, continuous descent through wild forests, where tangled roots and uneven ground invite us to awaken our elemental connection to nature and loosen the grip of ego. In its traditional form, this training is rigorous—testing physical endurance and the flexibility of character. For our group, we will undertake a gentler approximation, preserving its spirit while allowing for a more accessible experience. In this tradition, the mountain is both teacher and temple.
We share a traditional lunch at the ashram and return for chanting and discussion rooted in the Shugendō lineage.
The day ends with a group integration session led by Miles.
(Overnight in Seiryu-so Onsen Hotel or similar)
Today we return on foot to the ashram for further Shugendō training with the master. The path is gentle and steady—about six kilometers round trip, taking roughly 45 minutes each way, with only modest rises and falls in elevation (120 meters / 390 feet). This simple walk leads us to one of the most profound practices of the tradition: the waterfall purification ritual known as misogi. Standing beneath cold, rushing water, we dissolve ego, disregard preferences, face fears, and endure karmic residue without reacting, for the chance to glimpse what it is to return to a natural state of primordial clarity.
After lunch and rest, we reconvene for a final elemental discussion on practice, then return to the inn for dinner, reflection, and an evening integration session with Miles.
(Overnight in Seiryu-so Onsen Hotel or similar)
Our final initiation in the Shugendō lineage culminates with a dramatic goma fire ritual. This dynamic, symbolic act of burning through obstacles channels the power of purification and transformation. Flames rise from a central hearth amidst the swirl, chanting and intense drumming, burning away karmic obstacles, while seeding our intention for renewed life.
We then set out on a series of gentle walks over flat village and town paths—seven to nine kilometers in total, with only modest rises and falls in elevation (120 meters / 390 feet) taking roughly an hour and a half. These short stretches carry us into Shingu, where we visit Hayatama Taisha, the second of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, nestled near the mouth of the Kumano River.
After a substantial lunch in Shingu, we return to the inn and close the day with an evening integration session led by Miles.
(Overnight in Shingu City at Hotel New Palace or similar)
We make our final sacred walk to Seiganto-ji and Nachi Taisha, the third of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan), perched beside Japan’s tallest waterfall. The thundering waters of Nachi Falls are revered in both Shinto and Buddhist cosmologies as a symbol of divine descent—spirit flowing into human form. This shorter but steep approach covers about 5–6 kilometers, ascending 200–250 meters (650–820 feet) on stone stairways and pavements, and takes around 1 to 1.5 hours.
Here, we hold a closing ritual, reflecting on the full arc of our heroic journey—from departure to descent, transformation to return.
After free time in the nearby village, we gather one final time for a celebratory farewell dinner, savoring and sharing the depth of our transformation.
(Overnight in Shingu City at Hotel New Palace or similar)
After breakfast, we journey along the coastal road back to Osaka airport, pausing for those eligible to receive the Dual Pilgrim Certificate—an emblem of completion for both the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano and the fabled Camino de Santiago. Those who have not walked the Camino will instead maintain their stamped pilgrim’s passports, marking the completion of the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Sanzan), alone.
The bus ride and transit at the airport is a liminal space on pilgrimage for deep reflection, looking back on a wonderful tour, metabolizing the challenges and breakthroughs, and looking ahead at integrating insights and sharing gifts back home. Book your return flights or onward travel from Osaka's Kansai International Airport.
(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.
