[Beautiful Japan] World Heritage Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes

From ancient times Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage routes have witnessed people's thoughts and emotions.
It is the way of salvation and forgiveness of Japan, created by the pilgrims for centuries.

Nakahechi - the route spiritual to sacred Kumano connecting people`s thoughts and emotions

From about 1,200 years ago many Japanese Imperial and aristocratic families and (tanka) poets used this Nakahechi route when going on pilgrimage to Kumano-Sanzan. People used to undertake a purification rite in the rivers flowing down between the mountains to purify body,mind and soul, and then resume their journey ever deeper into the heart of this ancient route.
These hardships enabled them to appreciate the joy of approaching the other worldly abode of the Gods. They expressed their emotions in the form of poems such as those written by Fujiwara-no-Teika and Izumi-Shikibu. These were inscribed on metal plaques and mounted on rocks along the route. Many tales are told about the spiritual power and compassion of the Gods of Kumano.