A Walk on Japan's Quiet Side

No crowds. No cosplay. On the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route—as author Peggy Orenstein discovers—it's just temples, trees, and a warm bath at the end of the day. Resources Listen to Peggy's story about hiking the Juliana Trail in Slovenia. Read Peggy’s other AFAR stories: horseback riding in Wyoming and exploring Yunnan, China.  Buy Peggy’s latest book, Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.