Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
The start of the Nakahetchi route of the Kumano Kodo with the first Oji shrine.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A rare chance to escape the trees and get a view of the surrounding highlands.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A section of trail that meets the road. Most days you will cross plenty of small rural roadways. Be careful because the cars can sneak up on you.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A Oji shrine on day three.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Walking through the cedar forests. These trees are all planted and the forests are very carefully managed.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Wearing a kimono and waiting for dinner.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A riokan on the morning of day three.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Roadway trail. Make sure to keep your eyes out for the little brown trail markers because it can be easy to miss your turn off.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Much of the trails are rooted doubletrack that has seen countless travelers pass over the centuries.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Guardian dog watching over a Oji in a dark forested part of the trail.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Old cedars flank the tori gate up to an oji just off of the main trail.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Looking down the valley to the classic highland terrain through which the Kumano Kodo leads.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Hongu Taisha is the first major shrine complex that is encountered along the trail.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
The main complex contains the shrines to various Buddhist deities. Donation boxes and bells to attract the attention of the deities stand in front.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Hongu Taisha's impressive tori gate.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A concrete replacement to the original tori gate that stood over Hongu Taisha's orginal complex. It is the largest in the world.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Yunomine Onsen, a small valley town centered around an active hot spring. There is a spring right in the center of the town as well as multiple ryokan and hotels offering unique onsen experiences.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A small oji off the main trail in the town of Koguchi. At the time of this photo, North Korea was firing missiles over Japan.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Koguchi in the morning.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
The last day from Koguchi to Kumano Naichi Taisha is quite a trek up and down, and then up and down again over numerous cobblestone steps that are slick with moss. It is beautiful, but it is also treacherous on rainy days.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Classic later stage trail with one of the familiar marking signs.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A tiny oji on the side of the trail.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
Naigachi Taisha Shrine. perched high on the mountain, it is the most spectacular of the shrines.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
With multiple buildings colored with orange, Naigachi Taisha is an incredible sight.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
The pagoda that sits on the northern end of the complex offers incredible views of the waterfall.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
You can also walk down to the base of the waterfall for a more atmospheric view.
Tam McTavish
Photo Date: 
09/10/2017
A shrine above the town of Shingu, the final destination.