However, the area has been regarded as being a sacred site since prehistoric times. From here it is about 40 km of mountainous trail before one reaches the mystical Kumano Hongū Taisha. [citation needed], The "Magose Toge" forms the boundary between Miyama, Kyoto and Owase, Mie. Winding through the mountains of Honshu's Kii Peninsula, an area straddling Wakayama, Nara, Osaka and Mie prefectures, it's been walked by pilgrims on their quest for enlightenment for over a millennium. The trails are as follows: Nakahechi is well preserved and relatively easy to walk, leading through hilly, forested landscapes and occasional villages. Would you be interested to participate in a virtual guided tour to a tourist spot in Japan using video and a chat function? The earliest records of this route dates from the early 10th century. The Kumano Kodo is a 70km 5-day pilgrimage taking you through the most beautiful countryside in Wakayama. While Japan has more than 3,000 Kumano shrines, what makes Kumano Sanzan unique is they are the sohonsha , or "head shrines" from which all other Kumano shrines trace their origins, making them some of Japan's oldest and most important religious sites. For over 1,000 years everyone from samurai warriors and aristocrats to priests and commoners have made the trek between the region’s Three Grand Shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hayatama Taisha. The Kumano Kodo refers to a set of four pilgrimage routes that lead to the Kumano Sanzan, or the three grand shrines of the Kumano sect of Shinto. [citation needed], The "Kohechi" route links Koyasan to the Kumano Sanzan. Sign in and subscribe for the latest Japan travel news and updates. Our initial goal … Well, I first stumbled upon this off-the-beaten-path pilgrimage when I worked for the Japanese government and found this photo on a pamphlet: Something about it captivated me. In Wakayama, Japan, a highlight of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage is the Kamikura Shrine. An overland route links Kumano Hongū Taisha with Kumano Nachi Taisha. Part of the Kumano Kodō near Yunomine Onsen. How in God’s Name did I hear about this virtually unknown trail, the Kumano Kodo? Japan’s Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage. These trails were used by pilgrims to "Kumano Sanzan" (熊野三山) or the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano: Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社), Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社) and Kumano Hayatama Taisha (熊野速玉大社). Inns are rarely found without zigzagging up and down the mountainsides into valley towns, greatly increasing the distance traveled. You will be hiking Japan’s most remote and rewarding journeys, the Kumano Kodō. This route was used primarily by followers of the Shugendo mountain worship sect. These trails connect three of the country’s most spectacular shrines: Kumano Hongū Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha, collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan. Already during the preparation period back home in Amsterdam for our one-month trip Japan, the 4-days trail through Japanese … Learn how and when to remove this template message, Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range", Kumano Kodo, from The Official Nara Travel Guide, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kumano_Kodō&oldid=1001519942, Tourist attractions in Wakayama Prefecture, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2019, Articles needing additional references from October 2007, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019, Wakayama Prefecture articles missing geocoordinate data, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 20 January 2021, at 01:44. It is the shortest route connecting Koyasan to Kumano but is a tough walk that traverses three passes of over 1,000 meters elevation gain. They are the only pilgrimage routes besides the Camino de Santiago to be designated a world heritage site. This mountaintop route is long and challenging, and consequently should not be undertaken without careful preparation. Located on the Kii Peninsula Wakayama prefecture around 100 km from Osaka, the Kumano Kodo is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that have become popular among hikers from Japan – and all over the world – in modern times. This trail also has the best infrastructure and safest … [citation needed], The Kumano Kodō pilgrimage routes that lead to Kumano can be categorized into three sub-routes: Kiji; Kohechi; and Iseji. And chances are you’ll be staying at a ryokan that will have laundry service. Only short, isolated sections remain as stoned or earthen trails today. One of Japan's most remote and rewarding journeys, the Kumano Kodō hiking route weaves through the mountainous Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka. Kumano Hongu Taisha — Found at the center of the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and serving as the lead shrine to over three thousand shrines across Japan, this sacred complex can be reached by climbing up 580 stone steps. These shrines (the parent shrines for thousands of Kumano shrines throughout Japan) house, or “enshrine” the local divinities of Kumano. Self Guided & guided walks . Located nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Osaka on Japan’s Kii Peninsula, the Kumano Kodo is a network of pilgrimage routes that have been in use for more than 1,000 years. It is lightweight, quick dry, and odor resistant. Jan 1st, 2021 (Completion of Campaign) WOW! Maybe it was the bizarre costume/pilgrimage … – If you are planning to hike one or several trails of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, Japan’s Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage is an indispensable guidebook with detailed maps, altitude charts, and tips. The Kodo ("old ways") are a key part of the region's UNESCO designation, and have been in use for over 1000 years. All rooms offer ocean view. The Kumano Kodo and the Camino de Santiago are the only two pilgrimage routes in the world that are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2015 a dual pilgrim program was created for pilgrims who walk both routes. It runs north to south and is 70 km long. The section between Takijiri Oji (outside central Tanabe) and Hongu is about 30 kilometers, and can be done in a comfortable two days' walk with an overnight stop in Chikatsuya Oji, where there are a few minshuku. Millions have traveled this sacred pilgrimage over the centuries, using the same moss-covered pathways taken by samurai warriors and Japanese emperors. The Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō, the largest peninsula of Japan. Visiting tips – Consider this 5-Day Osaka-Kumano-Wakayama area JR pass or this 7-day pass which covers a larger area. Thank you very much to those that have taken an interest in our Kumano Kodo Preservation campaign. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail is why you travel to Japan. The Kumano Kodo describes a network of ancient paths that meander across Japan’s mountainous Kii peninsula. The Kumano Kodo (kodo means “ancient path”) is a network of pilgrimage trails that link the three grand shrines of Kumano (Hongu Taisha, Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha) which are together known as the Kumano Sanzan. Iseji connects Kumano with Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture. 14 Days | Pilgrimage Trekking in Japan. The trail ends with a descent into Hongu Taisha, offering a spectacular view of the shrine's massive torii gate. This is where your walk on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage begins with a 3-hour hike to the hill village of Takahara. Japan's Sacred Pilgrimage walk. [citation needed], From Kumano Hongū Taisha, most pilgrims went by boat on the Kumano River to Kumano Hayatama Taisha in the coastal town of Shingū. I didn’t realise this before I trekked the Kumano Kodo myself, but there are only two hiking routes that have UNESCO World Heritage status – this one and the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) in Spain. Both durations are great seasons to embark on this pilgrimage as it’s spring and autumn respectively with cooling weathers and stunning views. It is 2 km long and is a steep climb, and descends over a small pass. We did it and then some! Magose-koen Park on the way down the pass is renowned for its cherry blossoms. Shirts to bring on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage. Kumano Kodo Food The wonderful regional cuisine in the traditional guesthouses is truly one of the highlights of hiking the Kumano Kodo. Once a sacred pilgrimage trail reserved for emperors and samurai, the ‘Kumano Old Road’ is today open to all seekers and wanderers, with plenty of intensely photogenic shrines and natural beauty along the way. The three main shrines of the Kumano Kodo, which led to the network of trails being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, date back more than 1000 … Walk Japan’s ancient pilgrimage routes along the Kumano Kodo. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes were registered as UNESCO World Heritage in 2004. Those who hike the Kumano Kodo will follow in the footsteps of ancient emperors and samurai who made this journey in centuries past. [citation needed], The "Iseji" route links Ise Grand Shrine with the Kumano Sanzan.