Tag: honshu
Things to do in Yunomine Onsen
Yunomine Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture
Japan, like other countries located in the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, is volcanically active and prone to numerous earthquakes. The four tectonic plates underneath this island nation cause daily tremors and are responsible...
Visiting Nachisan and Kumano Nachi Taisha
While there are many religions in Japan, the two main contenders are Shintoism and Buddhism. Shintoism is Japan's indigenous religion which involves worshipping elements of nature, such as mountains and waterfalls. Followers have travelled around on spiritual...
The Pacific Ocean, a Pagoda and a Waterfall: Day 5 of Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route
The final day of the Kumano Kodo on the Ogumotori-goe path was bittersweet. On one hand, we were tired and keen to return to our own beds and clean clothes. On the other hand, we were used...
Teahouse Remains and Sweeping Views: Day 4 of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route
Although the pilgrimage was technically complete at Hongu, we wanted the sense of accomplishment from hiking coast to coast. Therefore, we and two bus loads of hikers packed ourselves into a local bus from Yunomine Onsen to the Ukegawa Trailhead where we...
A Towering Torii Gate and The Grand Shrine: Day 3 of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route
Tsugizakura oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha
Day three. The big one. Tsugizakura oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha. From our accommodation in Nonaka, we were facing a 23km journey to Yunomine Onsen via Hongu. With...
Monkeys and Ancient Cedar Trees on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route: Day 2
Takahara to Tsugizakura-oji
The Takahara to Tsugizakura-oji day is the first real taste of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route hike. This stretch is around 13km with a total elevation gain of 830m and total...
First Steps of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route: Day 1
Of the many routes of the Kumano Kodo trail, the Nakahechi Route is by far the most popular. This path, dating back to the 10th century, was once travelled by Japan’s imperial family on their way from Kyoto to the venerable Kumano...
Hiking the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
The Kii Mountains of Wakayama prefecture, blanketed in dense, silent forests, tell a spiritual tale. For many centuries, as the trees reached skyward, religious devotees traversed a series of steep and winding paths in order to worship at the area’s Kumano sanzan...
