Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails
It's all about the journey: Take a walk along one of the Kumano Kodo's spiritual pilgrimage trails.
The Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pathways criss-crossing the Kii Mountains at the southern tip of Wakayama Prefecture. For other a thousand years these trails have been used by pilgrims from across Japan as they made the arduous journey to pray at the sacred shrines in the heart of the Kumano Kodo region. The walk itself was an important part of the pilgrimage as people undertook religious rites of worship and purification rituals in the hot springs.
Today a walk through the Kumano Kodo is a fantastic way to experience rural Japan and connect with the country's spiritual heritage. Historically people from all levels of Japanese society from aristocrats, to samurai warriors, priests and commoners undertook pilgrimages to three shrines of the Kumano Kodo, and today you'll see people of all ages and nationalities reliving the ancestors' footsteps.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
Interested in this Experience? It is included in this tour:
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This walking module presents a taster of what the Kumano Kodo has to offer at a gentle pace designed to make this amazing region accessible to all.
Kumano Kodo Three-Night Module (Gentle Walking)
This short walking module introduces the Kumano Kodo network of pilgrimage routes with a series of gentle hikes punctuated by stays in traditionl countryside inns and visits to some of the area's famous shrines. This module is designed to be incorporated into a longer Self-Guided Adventure.
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