Explore Japan’s Distinctive Spiritual Landscape: Kumano Kodo Known for 1,000-Year-Old Pilgrimage Routes and UNESCO World Heritage Status
For more than a thousand years, people from all walks of life, including emperors and aristocrats, have taken the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes on foot to participate in mountain worship. The paths, which run through the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, provided a way to connect with ancient spiritual traditions through a rigorous journey of religious rites and purification. The Kumano Kodo offers a rare chance to explore Japan’s distinctive cultural landscape, where the journey is an essential aspect of the pilgrimage experience.
The 1.3-kilometer path leading to Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine and Nachi Falls is one of the most exciting parts of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. The path has many unique features, including moss-covered stone steps surrounded by tall cedars that create an ancient atmosphere. Visitors can also explore the Daimonzaka Tea House, cross the Furigase Bridge, and see the “husband and wife cedar trees,” which have stood tall for almost 800 years.
In 2004, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes were officially registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Join the ranks of ancient pilgrims and embark on an eye-opening exploration of Japan’s natural beauty, history, and spirituality through the Kumano Kodo.
