Kumano is located in the Kii Peninsula and
spans
into the Wakayama and Mie Prefectures. The Hongu,
Nachi and Hayatama Taisha are the three famed
shrines
of the area.
In Kumano, the three shrines and
pilgrimage routes
are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kumano
Nachi Grand Shrine is located a few kilometers away
from the hot spring of Katsuura, which is by the coast.
It is one of three Kumano shrines along with
Hayatama Taisha and Hongu Taisha. Collectively
they are known as the Kumano Sanzan. This holy
site started out from Shintoism until Buddhism was
introduced in the 6th century into Japan. The
buildings of the Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine have
architecture that reflects both religions.
The Seigantoji is a three storied pagoda that is best
known for having the Nachi Waterfall in the
background. It is one of the few shrine temples that
survived the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism
that was conducted by the Japanese Government.
From the Kumano Nachi Taisha you can see the
tallest waterfall in Japan known as Nachi Waterfall. At
133 meters the waterfall was venerated long before
organized religious doctrines formed in the area. It is
said the deity of the waterfall is enshrined on the
premises. Its powerful appearance is one of the
reasons that the earliest Japanese people
worshipped the waterfall and why it continues to be a
popular spectacle.
The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes visits the three
shrines with the Nachi Grand Shrine as the main
destination. On this route you can traverse to each
location enjoying the nature surrounding these holy
sites and be imbued with spiritual energy. The
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route has existed for more
than 1000 years and is still traveled by people to this
day. There are five routes you can choose to travel
through, which are Nakahechi, Ohechi, Iseji, Kohechi,
and Omine Okugake. Nakahechi is one of the well
preserved routes and easy to walk. Kohechi is a
challenging route that requires much preparation as it
connects Kumano to Koyasan, the center of Shingo
Buddhism.
Please see below for
tours that include Kumano:
