The Kumano Road traverses the mountains of Southern Kii Province, modern-day Wakayama Prefecture. The road is part of the pilgrimage path from the ancient capitals of Japan to this sacred part of Japan, in fact it has been recorded that the Japanese Imperial families have done this pilgrimage.
What makes this area sacred? Its mostly rugged mountain and coastal area. The tallest waterfall in all of Japan can be found here, and thus many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples were founded here. Not far from this area is the Grand Shrines of Ise dedicated to Amaterasu, the founding god of Japan and the Mt. Koya complex of Buddhist temples.
There are deep gorges and tall mountains and because of the shrines and temples, logging was kept to a minimum so the old growth forests here go back hundreds of years.
In addition, there are many hot springs although the volcanoes have long been dormant. A few hours by train from Osaka, Kyoto or Nara can bring you to this area.
The three Kumano shrines are the area's main attractions. The symbol is the three-legged crow, which is also the the bird of Amaterasu and is mentioned in the Kojiki. However, it is not mentioned in the Kojiki as three-legged but is depicted as such. The symbol for the J-League (as the founder is from the Tanabe area) is a three-legged crow.
In Shinto Japan, rock formations have a spirit as there are various unusual rock formations in the area. Doro Hatcho, or Doro Gorge is also in this area and is accessible by flat bottom boats.
The coastlines are very rugged and also have unusual formations, from pirate coves to hot springs. The Japan current runs closests to this area bringing the world's fish just off the coast.
The Kumano Road has been designated as a World Cultural Heritage Asset, and can still be traveled today.
It will take about a week to cover most of the road and to enjoy the sites along the way. The pilgrimage includes all three shrines and the shrine at Nachi Falls, the highest in Japan. It is a very leisure walk with many stops and the elevation is not difficult.
http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/
for more information.
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