【🇯🇵世界遺産・那智旅】日本一神秘な熊野古道を歩く｜和歌山観光

【🇯🇵世界遺産・那智旅】日本一神秘な熊野古道を歩く｜和歌山観光

In the southern Kii Peninsula, we arrive at the gateway to the sacred Kumano region. This is Kii-Katsuura Station. Today, we are heading to Nachi Mountain, one of the Kumano Sanzan. As the most popular course of the Kumano Kodo, more than half of the people heading there were from overseas. JR Kii-Katsuura Station—20 min → Daimonzaka (Nachi Mountain entrance) Oh, hiking staffs are provided. How thoughtful! I decided to take this handsome pilgrimage staff with me. It’s about a 40-minute mountain path to the main shrine. Let’s begin the pilgrimage! The sight of people striking their staffs while walking has remained unchanged for over 1,000 years. Crossing this bridge, a former checkpoint, we enter the sacred grounds of Nachi Taisha. Is this a local farmer’s unmanned stand? Here is the Daimonzaka Teahouse. This is where you can find the stamp for the Kumano Kodo Chuincho (pilgrimage stamp book). You can also rent Heian period clothing here for a pilgrimage experience. But it might be a bit scary if you meet someone like this on the forest path… Finally, the entrance to the old path. Standing here are the “Meoto-sugi,” a pair of cedar trees over 800 years old. You can really feel the atmosphere of entering a sacred area. In fact, this is the site of an old shrine. It’s the last of the “Kujuku Oji,” where pilgrims pray for a safe journey to Kumano. That means… We are finally approaching the sacred site. Considered the “gateway to the Pure Land” since the Heian period, this pilgrimage path welcomed everyone, regardless of rank, gender, or religion, and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2004 as a shared human treasure. Passing through the torii, we step into the shrine grounds. The first thing we see is the Treasure Hall. 【Main Collections】
– Sword offered by Tokugawa Yoshimune
– “Gold and Silver Ornamented Sword” donated by Tokugawa Yorinobu (Important Cultural Property)
– Nachi Taisha documents “Gyokuhōin Seishi” (Important Cultural Property), etc. Behind it is the Reiden Hall. The main deity is Izanami-no-Mikoto from Japanese mythology. The creator deity of Japan. Revered as “Musubi-no-Miya” for the creation of all things and the fulfillment of wishes. Purification is done with the smoke from Goma sticks. Next to the hall is the shrine of the divine messenger, the Yatagarasu. It’s also the symbol of Nadeshiko Japan and is said to have guided Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s first emperor, to Kumano. The scale of history here is enormous. It feels solemn, as if meeting the creator deities of Japan. A prayer ceremony was being held at the hall just now. This is a large camphor tree about 850 years old. You can pass through it while making a wish. It is worshiped as the sacred tree of Nachi Taisha, with a trunk circumference of about 8.5 meters. Height is 27 meters. It looms protectively over the hall. As expected for a wish-fulfilling tree, many charms are displayed. Even Nadeshiko uniforms are hung. Passing through the East Gate, it was originally part of Nachi Taisha, and connected by corridors until the Meiji era separation of Shinto and Buddhism. The main hall, made of old natural wood, has a very stylish and impressive look. It was rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Foreign visitors were carefully wafting the smoke over themselves. They must have heartfelt prayers. Seiganto-ji, founded by an Indian monk who arrived in Kumano around the 5th century. Nachi Mountain has a truly exceptional history. The stone monument behind the main hall is a poem monument erected by a former head priest. From here, you can see the distant view of the next sacred site. The three-storied pagoda, built in the late Heian period, was burned in 1581 during the Sengoku civil war. The current structure was rebuilt in 1972. Finally, we head to the famous natural waterfall. From here, the path descends, and the sound of the waterfall gradually becomes audible. Nachi Waterfall, Japan’s tallest waterfall, where Kumano faith began. You can feel the spray from here. The flow is about 1 ton per second. It is said that waterfall asceticism has continued for 1,300 years, but where do they practice it…? This is a rare shrine without a hall, as the waterfall itself is the sacred object. In 662 BC, Emperor Jimmu, guided by the Yatagarasu, discovered and worshiped this waterfall. This marks the beginning of nature worship in Kumano. It’s almost time to return to the real world. Buses run from the waterfall to Katsuura Station. There are about 1–2 per hour. Return the pilgrimage staff. Thanks for your help, partner. Back at the station, there’s something I want to buy. Yes, local Kumano sake! There are many varieties, which one should I choose? Yes, please~ 620 yen. Next to it is sake from Shingu City. Is it okay to take it as is? — Yes, that’s fine. A bag? — No, that’s fine! Thank you! There were also sakes named “Kumano Sanzan” and “Nachi Waterfall.” Thank you very much! This liquor shop has a surprising selection of local sake, craft beer, and whiskey. It seems to be known as “the place to buy sake in Katsuura.”＾＾ I bought local sake~ I wonder how it tastes, let’s try it. About a 15-minute walk from the station, we arrive at Katsuura Port. Hotel shuttles around here use this turtle boat. A peaceful harbor… Kii-Katsuura has the highest tuna landing in Japan! Kumano rice, Kumano water, local sake It had a slightly strong acidity. A power spot dedicated to the white snake god, symbolizing wealth. During low tide, you can walk across to pray. It feels solitary and mysterious. The sun is setting, returning to the station. A well-known ramen shop in front of the station. This shop is bustling with tourists, and English signs are perfect. A notice showing how busy it is. Stamina Ramen (Miso) ￥970 Mini Fried Rice ￥410 Thank you for watching until the end!

樹齢600年以上の大樹に囲まれた大門坂から、那智大社・青岸渡寺・三重塔を経て、圧倒的な自然美を誇る那智の滝へ。和歌山・熊野でしか体験できない、神秘と自然、文化と美食をぎゅっと詰め込んだ旅の記録です✨

旅の最後は勝浦港で地酒を味わい、夕陽とパワースポット弁天島を眺める特別なひととき。和歌山旅行や世界遺産巡り、日本のパワースポットに興味のある方におすすめです。

【目次】
00:00 イントロ
00:31 紀伊勝浦駅
01:02 大門坂入り口
02:47 熊野古道
04:02 熊野那智大社
06:33 那智青岸渡寺
07:47 三重塔
08:50 那智の滝
10:11 堀忠酒店 (熊野の地酒)
11:45 勝浦港・弁天島
13:05 ラーメン璃王

#熊野古道 #和歌山観光 #日本旅行