A Pilgrimage & Storytelling Retreat
Kumano Kodō
A Pilgrimage & Storytelling Retreat
8–12 March 2027 · Kii Peninsula, Japan
Led by Russ Watts and Lisa Hope Tilstra
Join your facilitators, Russ Watts and Lisa Hope Tilstra, on an ancient pilgrimage route in southern Japan.
Five days of walking, connecting, and learning the craft of story.
Walk the Nakahechi
Three reflective walks on the Imperial Route, through misty cedar forest to sacred shrines.
Rest in Ryokan
Traditional inns, kaiseki dinners, and waters considered the oldest in Japan.
Gather to Tell Stories
Each morning and evening, the group gathers to learn and share stories.
The Journey
The Kumano Kodō is one of the world's great pilgrimage routes — a network of ancient paths through the Kii Peninsula walked by emperors and commoners for more than a thousand years. The Nakahechi, the Imperial Route, descends through misty cedar forests and stone-paved sections to three sacred shrines nestled in valleys where pilgrims have sought renewal since the 10th century.
In March, we walk three of the most rewarding sections of this route, including a gentle descent through forest hamlets to Kumano Hongu Taisha, Japan's most sacred shrine, and a historic stone staircase to Kumano Nachi Taisha, framed by Japan's tallest waterfall. Between walks, we rest in traditional ryokan, soak in waters considered the oldest in Japan, and each morning and evening we gather to learn and share our stories.
The Kumano Kodō and the Camino de Santiago are the only two pilgrimage routes in the world inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. Walkers who complete both are recognised as Dual Pilgrims.
The Retreat Structure
Days 1 & 5
Arrival in the mountains, departure from the coast.
Days 2–4
Three days with reflective walks and no luggage to carry, traditional ryokan stays, onsen bathing, and morning and evening gatherings for learning, reflecting, and sharing stories.
Pacing
Gentle walks rated beginner-friendly. Most demands are contemplative, not physical.
Group Size
Eight participants and two facilitators — small enough for genuine connection, large enough for the richness of shared stories.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is for eight leaders who want to purposefully step back from day-to-day responsibilities and walk — literally — toward a clearer sense of where they are and where they want to go.
It is for people who understand that pilgrimage is as much internal as geographical, and that the best insights arrive in silence and shared presence. It is not a guided tour, and it invites you to be comfortable with unstructured time.