Kumano Kodo
Map
The Kumano Kodo is the collective name for the pilgrimage routes leading to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano (Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha) on the Kii Peninsula. It consists of several routes, including Kiiji, Kohechi, Nakahechi, Ohechi, and Iseji. In 2004 it was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range,' the first time a road was inscribed as a World Heritage site in Japan.
Sacred Site Info
- Type
- Pilgrimage route
- Legend
- The Heian-period visit of Retired Emperor Uda to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano in 908 is said to be the earliest on record, and in the medieval period the route is said to have become such a flourishing path of faith that the pilgrimage was likened to a procession of ants ("Ari no Kumano mode").
- Element
- Mountain, water, rock
History & Origins
Pilgrimage to Kumano began in the Heian period, with retired emperors making repeated 'Kumano Goko' visits during the era of cloistered rule. In the medieval period ordinary people also began making the pilgrimage, and the line of pilgrims was said to resemble a procession of ants, giving rise to the phrase 'Ari no Kumano Mode' (the ant pilgrimage to Kumano). In the Edo period many oji (subsidiary shrines) were set up along the routes, supporting the faith of travelers.
Highlights
About 600 m of the stone-paved Daimon-zaka slope survives, offering a deeply atmospheric walk through an avenue of cedars. The Nakahechi is the main route of the Kumano Kodo and the most walked pilgrimage road to Kumano Hongu Taisha. Remains of oji shrines and ichirizuka mileposts along the way convey the pilgrimage culture of old.
Visitor Guide
It is recommended to pick up route maps and information at the Kumano Kodo-kan in Tanabe (adjoining the 'Kumano Hongu Taisha World Heritage Center'). Trekking shoes and rain gear are needed when walking the Nakahechi. Routes starting from JR Kii-Tanabe Station or Shingu Station are the most common.
Best Season
Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) have climates comfortable for walking, and let you enjoy the pilgrimage among fresh greenery or autumn leaves.
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