El Camino de Santiago and Kumano Kodo (熊野古道) are the only two UNESCO pilgrimage networks. We have done both.
Destinations
The destination of all camino routes is the cathedral in Santiago, Spain.
The destination of Kumano Kodo is the Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社).
Routes
Both El Camino and Kumano Kodo have many different routes; El Camino has more options. French Way is probably the most famous and popular El Camino route. The most famous Kumano Kodo route is the Nakahechi route (中辺路) .
Durations
El Camino routes are generally longer, ranging from 5-day English Way to various routes that takes several weeks. Many people only hike the last 100 to 200 kms, enough to get a certificate.
Kumano Kodo routes are shorter and only take a few days.
Accommodations
Neither requires camping. There are many lodging options for you to select from. Food and snacks are also readily available on the way.
Scenery
We hiked Portugal Coastal Camino and Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route. Both were very scenic. We are looking forward to hiking on additional camino routes.
Stamps and Certificates
You can collect stamps on both El Camino and Kumano Kodo routes. You need to pay for El Camino passports, while Kumano Kodo passports have both free and paid versions.
To qualify for El Camino certification, you need to hike at least the last 100 kms and collect 2 stamps each day.
Kumano Kodo has a total of 41 stamps. We didn’t collect all 41 stamps. However, after completing the Nakahechi Route, we could present our Camino certification to get a Dual Pilgrim certificate.
Ceremonies
You will be able to watch Botafumeiro at the Santiago Cathedral on certain dates, whether you did the camino or not.
After you complete dual pilgrim, you can participate in a Drum Ceremony in Hongu Taisha. Note that the order is important: you should complete a camino first.
Planning
It’s easy to hike the caminos independently. Luggage transfer services are readily available. Camino signs are ubiquitous and easy find, not to mention that friendly locals are all eager to point out the way to you. Those who don’t want to arrange own accommodations can book a self-guided tour with luggage transfer. Even though there are also guided camino tours, I don’t think it’s necessary to have a guide.
Kumano Kodo, on the other hand, is difficult to arrange independently if you don’t know Japanese. We booked a self-guided tour with Walk Japan and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Guided tours are available too.
Happy Trekking!
(Click here to find out more about trekking.)
Amy 'n Rei 