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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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Join the ranks of the junreisha, or pilgrims, as you explore Ise, Mount Koya and the ancient paths of the Kumano Kodo on this classic trip.
Pilgrim's Paths
This very special journey through Japan will take you from modern Tokyo to ancient Kyoto via a network of ancient pilgrimage paths known as the Kumano Kodo. Along the way you'll stay at a temple lodging on Koya-san and at various traditional ryokan inns.
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