Kumano Pilgrimage Routes

The Kumano Sanzan, or Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, are located in the southeast of the Kii Peninsula. Due to their distance from Kyoto and other places in Japan, three major routes to the Kumano Sanzan were created in line with pilgrims’ departure points. Pilgrimages to the Kumano Sanzan began in the mid-Heian period, and continued to be popular right up the Muromachi period. As huge numbers of worshippers would form lines leading to the shrines, the pilgrimage came to be known as the “pilgrimage of ants.” In modern times, the routes that were used to visit the shrines in ancient and medieval Japan are still used as a major part of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.

Photo provided by Wakayama Tourism Federation

【Access】Public transport: Approx. 30 min. on the Kumano Kotsu Route Bus towards Nachisan from Kii-Katsuura Station, and approx. 5 min. walk from the Nachi-no-taki-mae bus stop (stone steps lead to the fall)
　By car: Approx. 25 min. from the entrance to the Prefectural Road from National Route 42
【Parking】Paid parking nearby