JAPAN


Okunoin cemetery


Kumano Nachi Taisha


Danjo Garan


Kumano Hongu Taisha


Reaching new heights ƂÌ £]äääm >LoÛi Ãi> liÛil >n` ÃÕÀÀoÕn`i` LÞ ii}hÌ towering peaks, Koyasan is a peaceful oasis located on a y>Ì «l>in >Ì Ìhi VinÌÀi ov oÕnÌ oÞ> in Ìhi ii moÕnÌ>in range. Part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail, the town is a Unesco World Heritage Site and home to the hi>`µÕ>ÀÌiÀÃ ov -hin}on Ì>nÌÀiV Õ``hiÃm in >«>n° The bends were sharp and the air cool as we


meandered up the mountain on our way to the Danjo >À>n ->VÀi` /im«li om«liÝ° "ni ov Ìhi wÀÃÌ LÕilÌ LÞ Kobo Daishi, Danjo Garan has about 20 temples and buildings, at the heart of which lies the head temple of Kongobu-ji (Temple of the Diamond Mountain Peak). Featuring many beautifully painted traditional sliding-


ÃVÀiin `ooÀÃ] iÌà mo`iÀn >nÀÞŵÌii ­ÀoVk }>À`in® ià Ìhi l>À}iÃÌ in >«>n] ÜiÌh £{ä }À>niÌi ÃÌonià imiÌ>Ìin} > «>iÀ of dragons emerging from clouds to protect the temple.


Continuing the Kumano Kodo Drawing its religious origins from ancient nature worship, the Kumano Kodo is one of only two pilgrimage routes


globally designated Unesco World Heritage Sites ­Ìhi oÌhiÀ Liin} Ìhi >mino `i ->nÌi>}o in -«>in®° i` LÞ oÕÀ LÀilli>nÌ }Õi`i iki vÀom Õm>no


Travel, our bus followed the azure waters of the Kumano-gawa River to the three Grand Shrines of Kumano Sanzan – Kumano Hayatama Taisha, Kumano Hongu Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. Kumano Hongu Taisha is at the centre of Kumano worship and – as is the custom – I made my offering and rang the traditional suzu bell in the hope of gaining the kami’s (deity’s) attention. Ƃà Ìhi ÃÕn ÃiÌ oÛiÀ Ìhi moÕnÌ>inÃ] Üi Ài>Vhi` oÕÀ wn>l ÃÌo« ov Õm>no >Vhi />iÃh>° -iÌ hi}h in the foothills of Mount Nachi, the shrine sits at the top of hundreds of steps and towers above the trees. Next door is the main hall of Nachisan Seiganto-ji and the dramatic Nachi >llÃ] oni ov >«>n½Ã Ìo«-ÌhÀii Ü>ÌiÀv>llð Steeped in history and serenity, our tour came to an end too soon. I left with my own stories and a refreshed sense of spirituality. My pilgrimage was complete.


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