PILGRIMAGE ROUTES
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The pilgrimage trails are located in the heart of the Kii Mountains, the cradle of Japanese spirituality. These paths include the Koyasan Choishimichi, the Kumano Kodo and the Omine Okugakemichi. The Kumano Kodo is an intricate network of ancient pilgrimage routes that all converge at the Kumano Hongu Taisha, the historic shrine. These paths are grouped into three routes, the Kiiji, the Ohechi, and the Kohechi.
The Kiiji route runs along the west coast of the peninsula to the town of Tanabe, where it splits into two. The one heading inland from the mountains, the Nakahechi, is the most popular and is famous for its shrines to the gods of Kumano Sanzan. It was used by pilgrims coming from Kyōto. The other road, the Ohechi, runs south.
The Ohechi Road connects Tanabe to Nachi-Katsuura and is 120 kilometers long. It connects nearly 33 sacred sites such as the Kannon temples, Buddhist temples dedicated to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara of the Shingon sect. Part of this route is by river, on the Kumano-gawa river.
The Kohechi road links Koyasan to Kumano Sanzan. It is 70 km long and is, therefore, the fastest road to reach both sites. It follows a north-south axis, but is the most difficult road to travel, with passes to be climbed at an altitude of over 1,000 meters. The road is characterized by numerous sections paved with stones in the middle of the forest. It is made up of several paths, including the Iseji and Omine Okugake.
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