Lesser-known pilgrim routes in Poland and Japan, and everything you need to walk them yourself.
Some of the most moving pilgrimage places are the ones few people have heard of: a Cistercian abbey in a forest, a mountain-top monastery holding a relic of the True Cross, a hidden Christian trail on a remote Japanese island. This page brings together the routes, stories and practical tips to help you plan your own journey.
Poland: the Holy Cross Camino
The Świętokrzyska Droga św. Jakuba is the Holy Cross stretch of the Polish Way of St James. It runs from the Romanesque abbey at Wąchock, through the forests of the Sieradowicki Landscape Park, past the castle ruins at Bodzentyn, and over Łysica to the monastery of Święty Krzyż.
A suggested two-day walk
- Day 1: Wąchock to Bodzentyn (a little over 20 km, 5–6 hours). A forest walk through two uprisings and a world war, ending beneath the bishops’ castle. Read the walk guide →
- Day 2: Bodzentyn to Święty Krzyż (about 23 km, around 7 hours). The hardest stage, via Święta Katarzyna and over Łysica, the highest peak in the range, to the holy mountain itself. The story of Święty Krzyż →
Good to know
- Where to stay: the Cistercian monks at Wąchock offer guest rooms on a donation basis, a good way to begin the night before.
- Pilgrim passport: available through camino.net.pl. Walk at least 100 km of the Polish Camino and you can earn a pilgrim certificate.
- Maps and waymarks: santiago.org.pl and camino.net.pl.
- Just one day? Try Holy Cross Mountain: Walk 1, or read Camino & Polish Pilgrimage for the bigger picture.
Japan: Nagasaki and the Hidden Christians
Nearly five centuries of faith in Japan, from the arrival of Christianity in 1549 to the 26 Martyrs and the communities who kept their faith in secret for generations.
- Start with the history: 1549: Christianity comes to Japan →
- In Nagasaki: the 26 Martyrs Museum and Seibo no Kishi, the monastery founded by St Maximilian Kolbe.
- Beyond the city: the Akogi Hidden Christian Trail on Narushima, in the Gotō Islands.
The thread between them
St Maximilian Kolbe links the two countries. He was a Polish friar who carried his mission to Nagasaki. Walk in Poland, walk in Japan, or follow his footsteps through both.
Guided walks: coming in the future
We hope to offer guided walks on these routes in the years ahead. In the meantime, if you have a question about a route, or would like to hear when guided walks begin, we’d be glad to hear from you.