Sep 2, 2013 - 1 min read

Kumano Kodo: Hosshinmon-Fushiogami

Exploring Japan's countryside and ancient past

By Virginia Gonzalez

Community writer

The path is well signposted, which makes it easy to stay on route

The route starts in this location, in Hosshinmon-oji

The trail starts on a road but quickly leads into the forest

There are several information cabins along the way with benches and toilets

Some vegetables and hand-made wooden souvenirs can be bought along the way

At Mizunomi-oji there is an abandoned primary school

The Kumano Kodo offers nice views of the mountains

The route mostly leads through forest but there are some beautiful small villages too

At every oji (small shrine), there is a box containing a memorial stamp

At Mizunomi-oji I found an abandoned pool, as well as a drinking fountain

The path gets a little wild at times but overall it is easy to walk on

1. Keep routes clean 2. Protect the local flora and fauna 3. Stay on routes 4. Be careful with fire 5. Respect the faith of past and present worshippers 6. Greet others with a smile and a warm heart - these are the rules to be followed when walking along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails that connect many sacred places in the Kii Mountain Range.

For over 1,000 years people have made this pilgrimage from Kyoto to Kumano and the trip usually lasted for 30 days. During my stay in Kumano I walked only part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. My journey lasted just 2 hours during which I only encountered one car and one pilgrim. The trail I walked connects Hosshinmon-oji, which marks the entrance to the Hongu Taisha's sacred precincts, to Fushiogami-oji. In between there are only forest and small villages, and quietness.