Leaving Koguchi, the Ogumotori-goe ascension “passing over the clouds”Sunbeams alight the pathWarodi-ishi with the three Kumano deities (Mercy, Healing and Compassion) in divine conversationThe lightness of beingAn attitude of gratitudePausing in wonder, steeping in aweA thousand years ago, poetry recitalsUnspoken respect for fellow travellers, past and presentThe remains of Kuso-no Kubo where pilgrims lodged until a hundred years ago“This route is very rough and difficult; it is impossible to describe precisely how tough it is.” Poet Fujiwara Teika’s pilgrimage diary from the year 1201All souls touch the earthA Butsuzo shrine keeps the silenceEchizen-toge pass, the highest elevation on the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi trailA bodhisattva, one of the 33 between Echizen-toge pass and Fuanami-toge pass“Beautyway,” a spiritual invocation of the exterior landscapeIn the mist, mysticismA staircase of stone mossed by timeMonks at Nachi Taisha practice Shugendo, an ancient religion based on knowledge obtained on the path resulting from ascetic practices of divine natural powersAt the endpoint of our trek representing the deity of Mercy, one of the three most sacred places on the Kumano Kodo—Nachi Taisha with its three components: the shrine, the Seiganto-ji temple and the Nachi-no-Otaki waterfalls“I wish you breathe the fresh air here, and drink water and make some room in your heart to feel something. And if you feel that, I am very grateful.” Ryoei Takagi, Shugendo Monk, Nachi Taisha
Navigation
Bashō., Matsuo. Narrow Road to the Interior. Boston: Shambhala, 1991.
Kumano Travel was our one-stop centre for the Kumano Kodo. We booked all of our accommodation, meals (except for Day Three’s lunch as you read!) and transportation for all of our luggage to arrive at each night’s destination. Flawless service. Their website has great maps and audio tapes and all kinds of information about the various trails.
Photo Credits: The feature image in this post was taken by Ward, as was the photo of the mossed-stone walkway and the picture of Nachi Taisha, its 133-metre waterfalls the tallest in Japan.
Wow – wonderful pictures – talk about elevation change etc on this hike – the same as the Grouse Grind…….but then you have to hike down – not take the gondola! Enjoy Mexico and the heat!
To prepare, from my backpack I removed my sunglasses case, all Kleenex except for one, a pencil…it was as light as the wind. And strangely enough, despite the elevation changes, none of us found it to be a difficult day. It was, as we said, a moving meditation through this beautiful ancient forest.
6 Responses
National Geographic has nothing on you and your eye for natural beauty. Well done!
Among Japan’s national geographic treasures is the Kumano Kudo.
Wow – wonderful pictures – talk about elevation change etc on this hike – the same as the Grouse Grind…….but then you have to hike down – not take the gondola! Enjoy Mexico and the heat!
To prepare, from my backpack I removed my sunglasses case, all Kleenex except for one, a pencil…it was as light as the wind. And strangely enough, despite the elevation changes, none of us found it to be a difficult day. It was, as we said, a moving meditation through this beautiful ancient forest.
Exquisite photos, thank you for this beautiful post.
It’s an area that smiles for the camera.