Kumano Kodo

Discover Divine Peace in Nature

For over a thousand years, people from all walks of life, including retired emperors and aristocrats, have undertaken the challenging pilgrimage to Kumano. They traversed a network of ancient routes, now known as the Kumano Kodo, which winds through the rugged mountains of the Kii Peninsula.

The journey itself was a vital aspect of the pilgrimage, involving strenuous religious practices of worship and purification. Today, walking the historic Kumano Kodo offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the spiritual and cultural heritage of Kumano’s serene countryside.

In July 2004, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forming part of the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”