The series originally started serialization in volume five of MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp on March 17, 2000.

Kino says in The Land of Visible Pain that this principle is probably a lie, specifically noting "if I stay any longer, I'm afraid I will settle down."

Kino's Journey explores what the anime director Ryūtarō Nakamura described as "a radical sense of 'beauty'"[3] and brutality, loneliness, nonsense, oppression and tragedy are often juxtaposed against compassion and a fairy-tale atmosphere.

Kino's Journey began as a series of light novels written by Keiichi Sigsawa, and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi.

The series originally started serialization in MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp with the release of volume six on March 17, 2000.

In commemoration of Dengeki Bunko's 20th anniversary, Kino's Journey was serialized weekly from April to September 2013 in several Japanese regional newspapers.

Tokyopop licensed the novels under the original title Kino no Tabi for release in North America, and the first volume was published on October 3, 2006.

A 96-page art book containing illustrations by Kouhaku Kuroboshi was released by ASCII Media Works in March 2003.

The first, released on December 3, 2003, contained forty-eight pages and is entitled Country of Memories —Their Memories— (記憶の国 —Their Memories—, Kioku no Kuni —Their Memories—).

[10] The first picture book came bundled with an audio CD containing image songs (one of which is based on the tune of Pachelbel's Canon).

[9] The second book, released on October 19, 2005, contained eighty pages and is entitled The Traveler's Story —You— (旅人の話 —You—, Tabibito no Hanashi —You—).

[9] A manga adaptation of the spin-off series Gakuen Kino was illustrated by the dōjinshi group Dennō Ōwadan.

A manga adaptation of Kino's Journey, drawn by Iruka Shiomiya, was serialized in Kodansha's Shōnen Magazine Edge from March 17, 2017,[14] to August 17, 2020.

[17][18] A second manga, with art by Gou, began serialization in the July 2017 issue of ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Daioh magazine released on May 27, 2017.

[20] An anime adaptation produced by A.C.G.T and Genco, and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura, aired on the WOWOW satellite television network between April 8 and July 8, 2003, containing 13 episodes.

A DVD box set entitled Kino's Journey: The Complete Collection was released on October 25, 2005, containing three discs.

The series is directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, with Yukie Sugawara supervising scripts and Ryoko Amisaki designing the characters.

[32] Produced by Shaft and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura, it follows Kino and Hermes journey to a highly advanced country where the people live confined in a sealed environment.

A Kino's Journey drama CD was available through mail order via volume fifteen of MediaWorks' now-defunct light novel magazine Dengeki hp released on December 18, 2001.

[33] The drama tracks on the CD were originally broadcast on ASCII Media Works' radio program Dengeki Taishō in 2001.

Kino's Journey has been adapted into two visual novel adventure games for the PlayStation 2 by Tycoon and ASCII Media Works.

Newtype USA named it the Book of the Month for November 2006 and called it "inviting and addictive",[42] while AnimeOnDVD said it "sucks you in", and "allows you to experience the journey" with the main character.