Begin your journey at the “Gate of Awakening,” where pilgrims traditionally purified their hearts before entering the sacred heartland of Kumano. Walk through serene cedar forests and quiet countryside, with your guide sharing insights into the Kumano faith, a belief system where the divine dwells within the natural world.

Along the route, visit several small sub-shrines known as Oji—Mizunomi-oji, Fushiogami-oji, Sangen-jaya, and Harai-do-oji—each a place of rest, reflection, and quiet reverence. Step by step, experience how walking itself becomes a form of prayer.

The journey culminates at Kumano Hongu Taisha, one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines, relocated to its current site after a great flood in the 19th century. Entering along the wooded approach, feel the same calm devotion that has guided pilgrims for generations.