Kumano Kodo

The Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pilgrimage trails winding through the mountainous Kii Peninsula of Wakayama, Mie, and Nara prefectures. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these sacred paths have been walked by emperors, samurai, and common pilgrims for over 1,000 years — making them one of only two pilgrimage routes in the world to receive UNESCO status, alongside Spain's Camino de Santiago.

The trails connect the three Grand Shrines of Kumano — Hongu, Hayatama, and Nachi — threading through moss-covered stone paths beneath towering cryptomeria forests. Nachi-no-Otaki, Japan's tallest single-drop waterfall at 133 meters, serves as both a natural wonder and a sacred object of worship. Walking the Kumano Kodo is a deeply spiritual and meditative experience, blending nature, history, and Shinto-Buddhist faith.