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New Kumano Kodo Iseji Pilgrimage Tour Revives Edo-Era Spiritual Journeys

Step back in time on a 160-km journey through Japan's spiritual heartland. This rare tour blends history, nature, and tradition along an ancient pilgrim's path.

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The image shows a group of people walking down a road next to a building, with a shed in the...
The image shows a group of people walking down a road next to a building, with a shed in the background. On the ground there are plants and a rope fence, and the sky is visible above. The people are wearing traditional Japanese clothing, suggesting they are on a tour of the Meiji Shrine.

New Kumano Kodo Iseji Pilgrimage Tour Revives Edo-Era Spiritual Journeys

Heartland Japan (Liberta Inc.), which organizes tours in rural Japan to learn about the history and culture of the region while interacting with residents, has launched the Kumano Kodo Iseji Pilgrimage Walking Tour. The tour is a walking tour of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route and is themed on reliving the pilgrims of the Edo period (1603-1868). Small groups of 4-10 people will be joining. The tour will begin in Japan on October 28, 2022 (JST). The deadline for registration is September 26, 2022.

The tour will highlight several mountain passes along the 160-km route. It will also offer a unique local experience in the rural villages and fishing communities at the foot of the mountain, giving participants a first-hand look at the local way of life.

What is Kumano Kodo Iseji?

Kumano Kodo, the pilgrimage route to the Kumano Sanzan (Three Grand Shrines of Kumano), has five pilgrimage routes, but Kumano Kodo Iseji is especially the unique route.

Compared to the other routes, the Kumano Kodo Iseji is more varied and enjoyable, with both mountainous and seaside paths. Still, it is even more unique in that it offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of people in rural villages and fishing villages and the opportunity to interact with them as you make your way along the route. Another critical point in choosing this pilgrimage route is that it connects two of the most important shrines in Japan, Ise Jingu Shrine (Ise Grand Shrine) and Kumano Sanzan.

The Kii Peninsula, located in the center of Japan, is home to the Kii Mountains, a series of 1,000-meter-high peaks, and since ancient times has been a region where the worship of nature as a deity has flourished. The Kii Peninsula is home to three sacred sites: Koyasan for Buddhism, Yoshino-Omine for Shugendo (mountain asceticism), and Kumano Sanzan for Shintoism. In this tour, you will walk along the Kumano Kodo Iseji, also registered as a World Heritage site.

Kumano Kodo Iseji, a World Heritage Site, is a pilgrimage route where visitors cross a number of mountain passes after visiting Ise to pay homage to Kumano Sanzan and experience rebirth. People walked the Ise pilgrimage route, which became popular in the Edo period, praying to the gods that they may live better in this life and be born in a better place in the next life.

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