Walking Among Deities

Since the Middle Ages, thousands of pilgrims have walked Kumano Kodo, traversing a majestic landscape that embraces the deep spiritual roots of Japan. The arrival of Buddhism in the sixth century resulted in its fusion with the country’s indigenous religion, Shintoism, which considers local deities as manifestations of Buddhist entities. This syncretism transformed Kumano into an area revered by practising ascetics and where locals think Buddhism exists in its purest form.

It was during the ninth and 10th centuries that the three great sacred shrines that today form Kumano Sanzan — Fungi Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha — were consolidated. From the 11th century, the first waves of pilgrims arrived and the Imperial Family made its first pilgrimage.