Kumano Kodo
Photo: Tim Notari from Tanabe-Shi Wakayama-Ken, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is a collection of pilgrimage routes in Kansai. These routes terminate at the Kumano Sanzan, a set of three shrines in southern Wakayama. The routes are one of two pilgrimage routes that are inscribed as a .
UnderstandThe Kumano Kodo have been in use for over 1,000 years by pilgrims travelling between the many sacred sites on the Kii Peninsula.
PrepareThe Kumano Kodo is best hiked in spring or fall due to the temperate weather, the journey can be uncomfortably hot during summer and during winter some routes can be unsafe due to ice or snow.
RoutesKumano Kodo is not a single route, but a group of them, which vary in difficulty and time taken. Some routes have become less serene due to modern development.
Go nextAfter finishing a route you will probably want to visit the all three grand Kumano shrines rather than just the one your chosen route ends at. The nearest station to the shrines are Shingu Station and Nachi Station.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Kumano Kodo" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Tim Notari from Tanabe-Shi Wakayama-Ken, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons