Backpacking Japan's Ancient Trail: The Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Part 1 

Huge thank you to Joe and Straightback Games (store.steampowered.com/app/1761840/HOBBLE/) for helping make this trip possible! Extra thank you to Minshuku Wago for being a fantastic host on our 1st trail night (www.kumano-travel.com/en/accommodations/minshuku-wago) And as always thank you to our patrons for your support, if you want to see the episodes early and get extras like bloopers and commentaries, check out patreon.com/adventure. Thanks for watching!

My 90 yr old mother Betty spent her life enjoying the NH mountains with my father. She is now bed ridden and your channel brings her so much joy. She adores you all and feels like she's hiking right along with you.

Our mom took us on this trail a few years ago (mother 65, daughters 25 and 30) and I felt it was fitting because the legend is the first to travel the trail was a noblewoman and her assistants. It is a beautiful trail with nice countryside to keep you company.

Lived in Osaka for 10 years and was never fit nor brave enough to go through the entirety of the Kumano Kodo (I've drove to multiple stops on the trail). Really excited for this!!

Bryan needs to bring Himalayan pink salt with him on trips and take it with water. It'll push water into cells instead of pushing it out of his body. It'll also give him lots of more energy. Great trips guys!

Brian, more electrolytes and salt maybe. I noticed when you were breaking the news to the others, your choice of snack was some pretzel looking thing. Salt isn’t bad for you, it’s essential, but I’ve been told all my life salt is bad but that isnt true. Salt will help with hydration and energy.

Great job! Hats off to Brian :-) The humidity would kill me. What a lovely country, and people.

6 pm in Oregon usa . I was so happy to see all four together on this trip. I really enjoy going with you on these journeys. But since I'm 75 I'm quite sure id never make it off the train so I'll enjoy my chair while you do all the work. Love you guys

maybe I already watching this Kumano Kodo trip like 10 times or more, so relaxing, nostalgic, even companying me asleep. thank you can't wait to watch another Japan episode

I lived in Japan for several years, and the shot of Andrew covered in sweat 10 minutes into the hike was me walking from my front door to my train station every day of summer, I am not built for that humidity lol absolutely felt your pain!! Loved this so, so much though, I miss it there always, so I was so happy to watch you guys explore it!

Longtime fan here! Ive been away from your channel, and your wonderful videos for a long time. Maybe upwards of a year... But I have found my way back! And your videos are still just as WONDERFUL AS EVER! There is just something about them that is so inspiring. Drinking my coffee before work watching this awesome video. Thank you guys. Also, my favorite videos are definitely when you have the whole crew of four together. I too have a close crew of four longtime friends and I dont get to see them that often, so I know how hard it can be to all get together. But Im really glad to see you're all still coming together for the sake of these videos, this channel, and for your friendship itself. If I could ask for anything in future videos, it would be for you guys NOT TO CHANGE. Lol. EVER! Except I would love love love to just see more overnight backpack adventures with a map of your trail and where you guys are camping out. I enjoy those videos so much. I dont watch TV. But you AA is truly one of my all time favorite youtube channels. And I love that you produce all of your own music, which fits your whole vibe perfectly. Just wanted to say that IM BACK and that Im glad that you're still here and still putting out truly phenomenal content.

I really love getting to see a different side of Japan than what most RU-vidrs show. Great video as always! Ganbatte Bryan!

It's nice to see AA back in Japan. Good on you for persevering up those steep trails. Really enjoyed the new music for the start. Well done guys! 👍🗾⛩

I love watching you travel via train. All the sights reminded me of me taking the train thru Japan in sept 2023 and april 2024. I miss japan.

Wow, for its importance in the Japanese culture, this is such a beautiful trail. I have to watch this video a few more times while waiting for part 2 and part 3.

I’ve had heat exhaustion several times during past adventures and can no longer tolerate any heat. Felt for Bryan and the rest of your crew in the heat. Looking forward to your continuing adventures.

Congrats, Robby!

Did this back in 2016 and as soon as you got off the bus I was thinking “just wait for that first climb”. So glad I did it but nearly didn’t continue after that first day.

Take a look at a topographical map of Wakayama. It's simply insane. Well done, AA Crew. Those cold drinks were well earned.

Even as time passes and the surface of the city changes, nothing remains the same in terms of what lies at the root of Japan's unique culture. The common root of the originality of Japanese culture is the uniqueness of its geopolitical isolated location and the influence of its special natural environment. Even if culture and knowledge are imported from abroad, it is not dominated by them, but rather, after a certain period of time, it is able to select and discard the content, integrate it with its own culture, make repeated improvements to fit its environment, and eventually create its own new style. This is due to the influence of Japan's unique natural environment, which is both rich and harsh, and is very different from the natural environment on the continent. Japan's original country name "NIPPON" means "the country under the sun," but its other name is "YAMATO (WA, DaiWa)," which means "peaceful harmony between people and nature.　In other words, the name of Japan is "the country under the sun," meaning the country of "great harmony between people and nature. The history of Japan is very old, about 2,000 years since the reign of the Emperor, but it was during the "Jomon Pottery" culture about 14,000 years ago that humans began to form villages and communities and live in this island nation. (It was about 30,000 years ago if the Neolithic Age is included.) Surrounded on all sides by the sea and geographically isolated from the Eurasian continent in the Pacific Ocean, this island nation has a warm and humid climate, and because it is a volcanic island, it is blessed with abundant underground clear water resources, diverse vegetation, and fishery resources. For this reason, people have lived here for tens of thousands of years, enjoying the abundant nature and living in peace with nature. However, while the natural environment of this island nation is rich, it is also harsh and has both light and dark sides. Since ancient times, the people of this land have respected human harmony and have lived in peace by working together as a group. They have shared and enjoyed the blessings of nature by pooling their wisdom and collectively overcoming numerous severe and harsh natural disasters, such as frequent volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, summer typhoons, and heavy snowfall in winter. This is because this island nation has a harsh natural environment that cannot be overcome by a single person. Individual power is too weak to face the onslaught of nature, which can destroy the wealth we have built overnight. Therefore, many people should suppress their egos, dislike confrontation, and work together to create a livable environment and maintain cleanliness, and then work together to prevent disasters before they occur and to restore the environment after they have occurred. This is the most wise, efficient, and rational way to maintain peace and harmony in each other's lives, rather than to create more chaos by insisting on each other's selfishness, which has given rise to Japan's unique teachings, culture, and behavior. The ancient name of Japan, "YAMATO" or "WA" (peaceful harmony between people and nature), represents the wishes and reality of the people who have been trying to survive in the rich and harsh natural environment unique to island countries, which is different from the dry and stable land of the Eurasian continent. And it is in this ancient Japanese country name "WA YAMATO" that the essence of Japanese culture, the origin and secret of its unique culture, which is very different from the cultures of other Asian countries on the continent, is hidden. Even though Japanese culture and customs have changed over time, the basic ideas of early childhood education, "Do not cause trouble for others" and "When in trouble, it is up to each other," "Cooperate with the group" and "Cultivate individual independence and autonomy" from the early childhood years, have remained unchanged. And the fundamental ideas of teachings of Shintoism, which "abhors defilement of body and mind and values purification," have been consistently passed down to the present. It is so commonplace that the Japanese themselves are unaware that this is a uniquely Japanese teaching, but everyone has mastered it by the time they reach adulthood. This is because the natural environment of this island nation has both light and dark sides, and changes rapidly. Therefore, it is a "necessary behavioral principle" that the inhabitants of this land must learn as an adaptive behavior to survive safely and peacefully in this extreme natural environment. The unique natural environment of this island nation, which is rare in the world, has given birth to Japan's unique culture.

Very nicely done. We did the same route in June ( Dad 75 Mom 70 daughters 49 and 34 ) and your video brought it all alive again. Keep hiking keep exploring please.

Japan is at the very top of my international travel wishlist. This only fuels my desire to go more.

I absolutely LOVED this video! So helpful, w lots of nature details, not expected. We leave end of May for this trip from USA. You guys ate awesome!

it gives me immense pleasure when you talk about trees and plants. Thank you and keep up the good work!

Pacing was so good this episode! Really felt like I was there with you guys on the uphills. Glad you guys filmed all of that. What a unique perspective of Japan, can’t wait for the next few episodes!

Thanks for the polite and scholarly outlook , great stuff .

This was on one of the Kumano Kodo Oji ( Shrine) in April 2023. " Kumano is a feeling, not a form. A manifestation of the divine intangibles. A celebration of life powerful vitality. The value of Kumano is universal, timeless and as relevant now as it was 1000 years ago. It is a peaceful place in nature to take a moment to reflect on, and reaffirm one’s future direction and meaning of life. A sacred space to open one’s mind, heart and soul . All of one other senses , other artificial boundaries and border of the modern world disappear, allowing us to contemplate as one unified humanity on planet earth. The importance of a pilgrimage is Not on its completion (nor how fast and how far), but rather what you take home and become after you internalize your experiences. " Half Slow.

Wow! Incredible perseverance. Steep, hot, but your filming captured the beautiful landscape too. Great mix of nature and culture. Thanks so much!

Okay saw your guy’s one video of mt Whitney as I’m planning on doing that in sept, but this is the next that popped up on my feed! I love how realistic and authentic you guys are in your struggles as someone who’s not athletic at all can relate 😊 thanks for lugging all the camera equipment along to make this for us 🙏❤️

Of course I’m going to Japan in April and first video to pop up when I put in hiking Japan 😂

What a great walk through the Japan countryside. I enjoyed seeing the mountains, plants, and the local farming. Wish I could have smelled the cedar forest....almost!

I really felt like I was actually with you! I watched non-stop all the way to the end. The whole adventure was expertly filmed and edited. Just the right pacing. With a fun bonus ending.

I've been watching for years, I don't know why we can't have more followers like Camping with Steve.

Great episode! I totally get you guys with the Japanese summer heat. When I went to Japan a couple years ago, I did some short hikes (~2 hours each) and the July heat + rain was absolutely brutal. I can't imagine doing an extended hike like this one so I'm really feeling for Bryan. I'm still a beginner but you guys got me into hiking and among of all the episodes I've watched this is definitely on my bucket list some day. Planning to go back to Japan within the next three years so I'll see if I'm up to the task then lol.

I can tell that this trip took a huge effort to do…but at the same time, this might be the best trip you have ever done, so bravo!

What a great Christmas treat. We really enjoyed this guys and congrats on the forthcoming nuptuals Robby! Unless Thomas was pulling our leg????

I can could feel every step when you were constently were walking up hill.😂 And its nice to see another side of Japan that you dont see that often here on RU-vid as well. All in all a really great episode. And Im looking forward to the next one!

The footage footage capture is not boring, it's good, clear, and shares footage of exploring the places visited. The people in it seem very enthusiastic, making us as viewers want to join in exploring places like that.

Your old japan videos is how I found your channel; it feels amazingly nostalgic to see another japan episode from you guys!!

It's great to see you guys together again. And congratulations to Robby! 😊

I can't believe you did this without any sleep...97 degrees in humid conditions and jet lag...I bow down to you guys...

“A hawk soared upon a breeze above a grove of bamboo.” 😌

Hi from Japan! I am on my trip to Mie prefecture for the first time to visit Ise grand shrine and just found my next destination (Even though I have been living in Japan my entire life, never thought about exploring Shima peninsula until recently. So happy I found this vid!)

Loved this. Felt the nostalgia, I lived in Japan from age 3-9 decades ago (late 60s early 70s). Could literally feel and smell the descriptions

Wow! Just Wow! Thank you for taking us on this adventure! ❤

Great video. What a fun trip. Glad you're all safely back home...at least I'm thinking you are by now.

Japan is such a interesting place to visit. Great watch.Thanks 😊😊😊

Watching part 1 again…can’t get enough of your Japan videos. I didn’t want Part 3 to end. Awesome adventure, great videos!!

Wow, dragonflies? What an interesting hike.

Can't wait for part 2! You guys are great company.

I recently re watched your California Lost Coast hike as I hiked it about 30 years ago. And now watching you hike the Kumano Kodo which my wife and I just completed this early November. I’m now in my early 70’s and appreciate how you portray your adventures and the intensity of them as well as the interaction between the four of you. Looking forward to things to come. Especially the last part to Hongu Taisha.

Great video guys, what a beautiful place! Always a great day when AA releases a new adventure. Looking forward to the next two!

Thank you, guys! This was a trip down memory lane. I did half of the Nakahechi route in 2018 and completed the 2nd half in 2019, both times during Golden Week in April/May, so it wasn't nearly as hot and humid as you guys have experienced. Also, it's awesome to see all 4 of you guys together in Japan. Cheers!

I've been waiting for a long time for your next Japan adventure after Mt. Kumotori.

all your video are so good. you guys have ruined every other long-form hiking video for me. the intro alone goes so hard that i was actually getting pumped. it is so cinematic and well shot and you guys are so personable. literally the best hiking videos on youtube. the music is so good and you guys do a great job with it, you know how to pace the music and have it fit the immaculate vibe that you create. THE VIBES ARE JUST SO GOOD

I was binging your last Japan trip videos as inspiration for my upcoming trip. What a nice surprise to have a new episode for more inspiration!

Thank you for taking us along on your trek in Japan. I dragged my camping gear all around Japan with me in mid-October 2019 - but never camped. I did cycle the Seto Sea island hop with the 7 islands or bridges -- on a really old screechy bicycle. Enjoyed it in spite of the bike. Looking forward to the rest of your videos of this trail - I walk along on my treadmill. Happy Trails. also -- would love the flying mode in real life!!

Stoked for this series! Love Japan and you guys have great videos. Hope we get some more of you guys just exploring Japan too.

4:35 ....those houses !......they also catch my attention whenever the train passes by them...somewhere before Shizuoka

Absolutely loved this and can't wait for the next chapters!

That intro into the theme was so good! My favorite way y’all have started an episode so far!

The Terminator thing brought back some memories, LOL. Great video fellas. I've never been outside of the US but if I ever got the chance to, Japan would definitely be on my list. I've already decided that the only reason I would want to visit another state or country is for hiking first (or biking) and then whatever else next.

Wow! I loved the new theme song variation in the intro. Great job, you guys! The whole journey looks truly epic in those intro shots. Can't wait to see it all unfold. And it's not every day you see Thomas huffing and puffing on a hike!

I went to the three Kumano Grand Shrines before!!!!!! I always wanted to walk the pilgrimage trail myself some day. Love it!!!!!!!!!

35:54 Is Robby getting married? Congrats!

I loved that you share your knowledge of plants, trees, fungi, and animals! Thank you 🙏🏼

I love these, thanks for doing it and sharing! I was in Japan and i just got to know about this when i planned my Camino de Santiago after my trip to Japan, i hope to comeback someday and do it!

These videos are so relaxing. I think this has been my fav so far after years of watching. Love the japanese countryside. I would love to see it in person one day

I love this episode! You offer many points of views on this hike in Japan....the getting to the actual trailhead was an awesome adventure. My daughter leaves to study in Nagoya in March and this video will help her a bit. thanks again...keep up the great work 🙂

Wow, so excited for the next one! This is one of my favorite (trees) episodes you guys have done yet.

Great episode!! Loved the new intro and seeing all of you on the trip! Japan is a beautiful place and hiking is a serious endeavor there! Can’t wait to see the rest!

Outstanding episode. Thank you, guys, for bringing us along.

Great job guys! Looking forward to the next piece of trail.

my eyes lit up when Andrew mentioned 'Midnight Diner' at 1:20:15 godspeed guys!

Hi guys, I've been a fan of yours for quite a while. It's nice to see that you guys are still closed friends and hope you guys will always stay close forever. Life is always changing, and things are always forever changing, but you guys always find ways to make time for each other, I really like that about you guys. Keep hiking and go on your adventures so we, as fans can come along with you guys....❤❤❤

maaan those shot outs were next level!! I've been looking forward so much to these episodes, glad to finally be catching them :)

my partner and i have been watching y'all's videos together for years now. y'all have become such a bonding experience for her and i, and i am so grateful for every amazing video y'all put out!

Such a lovely group of friends 🥲 watching you guys happily venture is making me happy also! The background music and voice overs are really soothing also. Great work, thank you 🙏

if I had 4 spirits in my life, i'm sure they have all of your personalities.... Robby definitely reads my mind when choosing food.

Man what an incredible place! Really felt like I was there with you guys loved the video! I can definitely see how it reminds you guys of the Smoky Mountains we film a lot there and just watching the video I can definitely see the resemblance!

this is amazing! ive lived in japan before and love hiking there, this was very nostalgic. ive walked parts of the old tokaido road, and want to walk the shikoku pilgrimage and kumano kodo. i was very worried in the beginning that you might underestimate the heat, but im glad you adressed it. cant wait to watch the rest of this!

Welcome to Japan, guys.I have been looking forward to this day since your Mount Kumotori video. Captured perfectly as always. I always enjoy your travels my friend, stay safe! 😉🤙🤙🐶🐾🐾 Cheers🍻 my friends.Thank you so much for creating a truly beautiful footage of Japan.

Amazing, this is a wonderful video :) Thank you for all the effort!!

I can't wait for the next episodes. What a beautiful hike. Maybe I'll make my way from IL to Japan some day.

Thank you guys

Happy Holidays Adventure Archives crew! Thank you for your amazing dedication and hard work for giving us great content!

Very good channel, very inspiring and makes me feel like I'm going on a trip too. the video shooting is also very fitting❤

Awesome, I was there, being deeply impressed by the high energy there❤

I realy enjoyex this. Definitely a trail i have now added to my list of trails to ecperience.

I love how Andrew keep dropping biology facts.After watching I really feel like going on a hike with y'all.

I love japan I think there are so many wonderful things in japan I love the forest bathing and the monks and the shrines. Japan is truly an amazing place I hope I get the chance to see it one day.

My partner and I did the route in October 2019. We are mid 70’s so didn’t hike as hard as you guys, we also walked the Camino in 2016 and knew to bring our certificates to get duo pilgrim certificate. We took it easy and the Kumamoto Kody trail was only one week of our 5 week stay. We are slow travellers and have many wonderful memories, but we didn’t enjoy that first day on the trail with the treacherous tree roots. Yea for hiking poles.

You guys kill it with every video on all aspects. Music track, visuals, narrating, the plant/animal life education, culture and biome, food/snacks, navigating Japan, EVERYTHING! Even the fun stuff at the end. 😂 Please keep doing your thing and sharing with the world 🗺️ 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

What a pleasure to see the vistas and your good-natured comaraderie, Happy trails! from central Israel.

At 1:12:10, watching over the village made me emotional. Rural Japan can be so nostalgic beautiful and feels like home.

beautiful, and great wellmade vids you make.

Been looking forward to this video and it didn't disappoint!

Loved traveling in Japan ❤

Excited to give this a watch! I was JUST looking up this trail system, yesterday, as I am thinking of planning to do this next year! Hope you great time on this one together!

Happy Holidays Adventure Archives 🎉