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- Kumano Hongu Taisha and Oyunohara — The head shrine of the Kumano network, historically the spiritual center of the pilgrimage. The original shrine site (Oyunohara) is a haunting sandbank marked by a giant torii — great for understanding the ritual geography and feeling the scale of the place.
- Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji & Nachi Falls — A dramatic trio: a towering 133-m waterfall that’s worshipped as a deity, a cliffside Buddhist temple (Seiganto-ji) and the Nachi Taisha shrine above. The mix of shrine, temple and waterfall stacked together is visually striking and spiritually unique. (Personal favorite — the scene gets me every time.)
- Kumano Hayatama Taisha (Shingu) — One of the three Grand Shrines, set where the Kumano River meets the sea. It’s famous for its ancient sacred tree (the
- Kumano Hongu Taisha and Oyunohara — The head shrine of the Kumano network, historically the spiritual center of the pilgrimage. The original shrine site (Oyunohara) is a haunting sandbank marked by a giant torii — great for understanding the ritual geography and feeling the scale of the place.
- Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji & Nachi Falls — A dramatic trio: a towering 133-m waterfall that’s worshipped as a deity, a cliffside Buddhist temple (Seiganto-ji) and the Nachi Taisha shrine above. The mix of shrine, temple and waterfall stacked together is visually striking and spiritually unique. (Personal favorite — the scene gets me every time.)
- Kumano Hayatama Taisha (Shingu) — One of the three Grand Shrines, set where the Kumano River meets the sea. It’s famous for its ancient sacred tree (the Nagi), simple elegant shrine architecture, and the strong sense of continuation between local life and ritual practice.
- Daimonzaka Cedar Slope — A beautiful, well-preserved stone and wooden staircase flanked by towering cryptomeria (sugi). It’s the cinematic, Instagram-ready stretch of trail, but also a tangible slice of what pilgrims have walked for centuries — slow, shaded, and atmospheric.
- The pilgrimage trails themselves (Nakahechi, Kohechi, Ohechi, etc.) — Walking these mossy forest paths, over old stone steps and past tiny Oji shrines, is the core experience. The routes are a living cultural landscape — UNESCO-listed, remote in parts, and full of small markers that tell the story of centuries of pilgrimage.
- Yunomine Onsen and Tsuboyu — A tiny hot-spring village used by pilgrims since ancient times. Tsuboyu is a single-group, historically important bath (UNESCO-noted) — perfect for rinsing off after a long day on the trail and feeling connected to the old pilgrimage routine. Book ahead if you want the private soak.
- Local guesthouses, shojin ryori and festivals — Staying in minshuku or ryokan and eating monk-style (shojin) meals brings the cultural side home. Time your visit for a festival (like the Nachi Fire Festival in July) and you’ll see the old rites still practiced by local communities.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.