Kumano Kodo - Nakahechi
熊野古道 中辺路
The main Kumano Kodo pilgrim route in Japan's Kii Peninsula, from Takijiri to the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, usually walked in two to four days.
At a glance
- Starts in
- Takijiri-oji (Tanabe)
- Ends in
- Kumano Hongu Taisha
- Length
- 36 km
- On foot
- ≈ 1–2 days
- Countries
- Japan
About the trail
The Nakahechi was the main road for emperors and commoners going to the three Kumano shrines and runs over forested passes with small waystation shrines (oji). The route is part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
From Takijiri, traditionally the entrance to the sacred mountains, most walkers take two days to Hongu Taisha with a night in Chikatsuyu, then continue by trail, bus or river boat to the other two grand shrines, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha. The route is twinned with the Camino de Santiago, and walkers who complete both can register as dual pilgrims.
Trails it meets
No source gives the days on foot, so they are worked out from the length at 20–25 km a day.