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The is a series of ancient
(熊野本宮大社), Kumano Nachi Taisha">acred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" ...
(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).
The Kumano Kodō pilgrimage routes that lead to Kumano can be categorized into three sub-routes: Kiji; Kohechi; and Iseji.
On 7 July 2004 the Kumano Kodō and Kumano Sanzan, along with Koyasan and Yoshino and Omine, were registered as
The is a series of ancient pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
routes that crisscross the Kii Hantō, the largest peninsula of Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
. These trails were used by pilgrims to "Kumano Sanzan
A is a type of Shinto shrine which enshrines the three Kumano mountains: Hongū, Shingū, and Nachi [].Encyclopedia of ShintoKumano Shinkō accessed on October 6, 2008 There are more than 3,000 Kumano shrines in Japan, and each has received its k ...
" (熊野三山) or the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano: Kumano Hongū Taisha
is a Shinto shrine located in Tanabe, Wakayama, deep in the rugged mountains of the Kii Peninsula of Japan. It is included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the World Heritage Site "
_(熊野本宮大社),_Kumano_Nachi_Taisha.html" ;"title="acred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" ...World Heritage
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
sites together as the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the Kii Peninsula in Japan.
Selection criteria
The locations and paths for this heritage site were based on their historical and modern imp ...
".
Kiji route
The "Kiji" route runs along the west coast of the peninsula to the city of Tanabe, where it forks into two more routes: Nakahechi; and Ohechi. The Nakahechi route leads into the rugged interior mountains toward Kumano Hongū Taisha, and the Ohechi continues south along the coast. The Nakahechi route was the most popular for pilgrimages from Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. The earliest records of this route dates from the early 10th century. The trail has a long history of use by people with diverse belief backgrounds leading to mixed religious symbolism overlaid and incorporated into the setting and stages of the pilgrimage itself. The UNESCO World Heritage registered section begins at Takijiri-oji, which is considered to be the point of entry to the sacred area of Kumano. From here it is about 40 km of mountainous trail before one reaches the mystical Kumano Hongū Taisha. Most pilgrimages break the journey into a two-day walk. The Chikatsuyu-oji is about halfway, and most pilgrims stay the night here at aminshuku
A is a type of traditional Japanese inn that typically features ''tatami''-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner. Ryokan have existed since the eighth century A.D. du ...
.
In Hongū, pilgrims often did purification rites in Yunomine Onsen
In Japan, are the country's hot springs and the bathing facilities and traditional inns around them. As a volcanically active country, Japan has many onsens scattered throughout all of its major islands. There are approximately 25,000 hot ...
(Yunomine hot spring). Tsuboyu is a small cabin on the creek that runs through this isolated village, featuring a small rocky bath that is the only World Heritage hot spring open to visitors. The bath was used for purification rites and its legendary healing effects.
The Kumano Kodō Dainichi-goe route links Kumano Hongū Taisha with Yunomine. It is 2 km long and is a steep climb, and descends over a small pass.
From Kumano Hongū Taisha
is a Shinto shrine located in Tanabe, Wakayama, deep in the rugged mountains of the Kii Peninsula of Japan. It is included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the World Heritage Site "
,_most_pilgrims_went_by_boat_on_the_Kumano_River_to_ ,_most_pilgrims_went_by_boat_on_the_Kumano_River_to_Kumano_Hayatama_Taisha">acred_Sites_and_Pilgrimage_Routes_in_the_Kii_Mountain_Range"_...,_most_pilgrims_went_by_boat_on_the_Kumano_River_to_Kumano_Hayatama_Taisha_in_the_coastal_town_of_Shingū,_Wakayama.html" ;"title="Kumano_Hayatama_Taisha.html" ;"title="acred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" ...
, most pilgrims went by boat on the Kumano River to Kumano Hayatama Taisha">acred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" ...
, most pilgrims went by boat on the Kumano River to Kumano Hayatama Taisha in the coastal town of Shingū, Wakayama">Shingū. This 40 km section of the Kumano Kodō is the only river pilgrimage route that is registered as a World Heritage site. An overland route links Kumano Hongū Taisha with Kumano Nachi Taisha. Most pilgrims take two days to complete this walk, staying overnight in the small town of Koguchi. The section between Hongū and Koguchi is called the Kogumotori-goe, and the section between Koguchi and Kumano Nachi Taisha is called Ogumotori-goe.
Kohechi route
The "Kohechi" route links Koyasan to the Kumano Sanzan. It runs north to south and is 70 km long. 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.Iseji route
The "Iseji" route linksIse Grand Shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and .
The Inner ...
with the Kumano Sanzan. It was not until the 17th century that this route became part of the Saikogu pilgrimage, the first temple being Seiganto-ji
, Temple of Crossing the Blue Shore, is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. In 2004, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other locations, under the name "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mounta ...
, which is closely related to the Kumano Nachi Taisha.
The "Magose Toge" forms the boundary between Miyama, Kyoto
is an agricultural town located in Kitakuwada District, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,070 and a density of 14.89 persons per km2. The total area was 340.47 km2.
On January 1, 2006, Miyama, along ...
and Owase, Mie
is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 16,910 in 9177 households and a population density of 88 persons per km2. The total area of the city was .
Geography
Owase is located in southeastern Kii Peni ...
. A moss-covered stone path stretches about 2 km into the beautiful cypress forest covered with ferns. This route leads to Tengura-san with a huge stone at the tip. A small tunnel below the stone can be entered. From the stone is a scenic view of Owase City. Magose-koen Park on the way down the pass is renowned for its cherry blossoms.Revival of the Ancient Pilgrimage Road
Gallery
See also
*Japan 100 Kannon Pilgrimage The is a pilgrimage circuit that is composed of the following three independent pilgrimage circuits:http://www.nichibun.ac.jp/graphicversion/dbase/reikenki/index.html 日本百観音, International Research Center for Japanese Studies
* , in the ...
*Shikoku Pilgrimage
The or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (''Kōbō Daishi'') on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long histor ...
*Tourism in Japan
Japan attracted 31.88 million international tourists in 2019. Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular foreigner attractions include Tokyo and Hiroshima, Mount F ...
*The 100 Views of Nature in Kansai This is a list of 100 views of nature decided upon by the "Kansai Global Environment Forum" in Japan for their natural beauty, history and cultural significance.
Summary
See also
* List of Historic Sites of Japan (Ōsaka)
References
{{reflist
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References
Bibliography
* .External links
A guide to hiking the famous Nakahechi route
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumano Kodo Shinto Tourist attractions in Wakayama Prefecture Roads in Wakayama Prefecture History of Wakayama Prefecture World Heritage Sites in Japan Japanese pilgrimages