World Heritage Kumano Kodo Iseji Trail Series 8: Kumano City to Shichiri Mihama to Kii-Ida

About this event

This is the 8th installment in the series aiming to hike the entire length of the Iseji route along the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo. Following the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, Kumano became a place where nature worship intertwined with Buddhist teachings to form Japan's unique religious outlook, attracting pilgrims along the Kumano Kodo for more than 1,000 years. The Iseji route, in particular, is a historic pilgrimage route that saw many travelers journeying from the Edo-period Ise Pilgrimage onward to Kumano and the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage beyond. Interweaving the rich nature of sea, mountains, and rivers with profound history, this route allows hikers to feel as though they have slipped back in time through stunning, dynamic vistas and beautifully preserved stone paths. The series aims to cover the roughly 170 km long trail over the course of 11 days; taking each step along ancient trails enveloped in deep greenery makes reaching Kumano—the sacred land where deities dwell—an extraordinary achievement. In Series 8, participants start from Kumano-shi Station, visit the World Heritage site Hananoiwaya Shrine, and hike along the beautiful Shichiri Mihama Coast toward Kii-Ida Station. It is an enjoyable trekking course to experience Kumano's atmosphere firsthand while enjoying the expansive ocean, soothing wave sounds, and crisp sea breezes.

Venue

Kumano City

Kumano, Mie