KUMANO KODO: Pilgrimage to Japan's Spiritual Origins

If you are going to watch one video about the KUMANO KODO, this is it!
The Kumano Kodo is a set of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the mountainous Kii peninsula of Japan. They link isolated sacred sites with a unique mixture of Buddhism and native belief systems.
This virtual tour begins on the east coast of the peninsula in Tanabe City and follows the Nakahechi pilgrimage route into the mountains through local villages, introducing the history, culture, and sights, finishing at Nachisan, the site of Japan's tallest waterfall. Places visited include the three Grand Shrines of Kumano called the Kumano Sanzan: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha, and Kumano Nachi Taisha. Logistics such as local transport, places to stay, and convenient tools to help plan a trip are highlighted.
#kumanokodo #virtualtour #nakahechi #dualpilgrim #japan #pilgrimage #worldheritge #spirituality #trekking #hiking #walkjapan

[@polodhtip6061]

thanks for this grounding and lovely video; see you there someday :)

[@Tm-ev9cg]

今度熊野にいきます。とても見やすくて参考になりました！😊 楽しんでレポートされていて、こちらも楽しく熊野を周った氣分になりました。 ありがとうございます✨

[@paulseoighemcgee5772]

Wow , you are excelllent . Well done .

[@shaktidevi108]

I enjoyed your video - extremely well done. Thank you for doing it!

[@moj008]

I have been looking for an informative video like this to plan my trip. Thanks! ❤❤❤👍

[@smartcar8]

Excellent video!

[@p3kbo]

I'm going there this golden week holiday. This video is so helpful. Thank you for sharing! 👍

[@joostmarseilleq6312]

Great great job on this clip. Nothing more to ask for after seeing this. Very informative with the little maps on the side all the time. Good job!! Thanks.

[@jaymaybay]

I remember Brad’s first days in Tanabe, what a gorgeous video - thanks to Todd for sharing it!

[@cjm1960]

Thank you for this excellent video! I'm now excited, again, to walk the Kumano Kodo. Soon, I hope!

[@sarojamaryanne5167]

Thank you so much Mr. Brad for all the useful information given, at least now I can Google and look for all the places to go to pilgrimage. Thank you so much.

[@OliveirosDiasJr]

🙏Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful experience. Japan is the place that I dream to be. 🙏 I shin den shin.

[@kippyd.8271]

Thank you very much for a useful information. Good to me for planning my trip this year. 😊

[@madhusudan]

Fantastic presentation. Thanks.

[@gigagigagi]

Thank you for the video, very useful information for my planning of Kumano kodo trip!

[@alexquyenvo5196]

Love love love !!! Thanks for the very detail video, Kumano Kodo team !!! I can't wait to walk the Kumano Kodo !!!

[@VoidForge]

Thank you Sir for covering logistics so thoroughly. Extremely helpful for planning!

[@juliakastner9641]

its the most beautiful area of Japan. I really want to travel there. Please make moreenglish videos about that prefecture. also how to get to Koyasan and Mount yoshino

[@djb5320]

how do you know it's the most beautiful area of japan if you have not been?

[@johnfenn]

The best summation of the KK I have ever seen, well done guys.

[@seeksustainablejapan]

I love this video- thank you so much for this information as we want to plan our trip to enjoy the Kumano Kodo trails

[@RegevPorat]

Very nicely presented, thanks!

[@SabbiaVivo]

As soon as individual tourism is allowed again me and my friend will travel do Wakayama and walk the Kumano Kodo.

[@webpuppy12]

I'm so excited!!

[@faycelkouteib]

Well done! Thank you. This is very useful content with excellent delivery. High quality production. I went from never heard of this pilgrimage and hiking trail, to this is now on the short list for my trip to Japan.

[@anouk_bloembergen]

Thank you so much for this great insightful and inspiring video! Everything I want to know when I look up a informational video. This broke it down so well and got us even more exited to walk this pilgrimage. And again impressive content. Keep up the good work - and walking :).

[@bobheffill8353]

Excellent, informative video.

[@travjournal]

I watched this video many times to prepare for my hike on the Kumano Kodo. Thank you so much, it was successful! It rained for two days though, but I managed to do it solo and unscathed. 🙂 Such a beautiful place. I am looking forward to doing the Kohechi someday, and the other circuits on the Nakahechi. PS -- I also mentioned this video on my vlog 🙂

[@p.j_life]

Thank you for an amazing video. You explain things so well and thoroughly and it never got boring in between. Great job.

[@smari_travel]

beautiful😊

[@a1droneservices977]

Useful content. Thank you.

[@sparklemotion86]

Wonderful overview thank you very much!

[@NN-gx9ro]

We did the Kumano Kodo with the Tanabe City Tourism Bureau, they were an excellent help and resource! I strongly recommend their services ❤

[@yoursv-gz9ib]

Very informative channel, we've been planning to walk the Kumano Kodo for 2 or 3 days so this is a great resource. One question: does anyone know if the detour near Waraji-toge Pass is still active?

[@user-bx8fs4bu7c]

熊野古道は1400年前に役小角が訪れ修行した場所だと言われています。古くからの役行者達の修験道です。法螺貝のラッパを鳴らしながら登り、時には鎖を取り付けている垂直の崖にフリークライミングをして頂上まで目指します。現在でも背カゴを付けた修験者（山伏）が山の中を歩いています。皆さん、事前準備をして是非、大峰山に登ってみてください。

[@miyoko2582]

紹介して下さった2冊の本はどちらで購入できますか。Amazonで見つけられませんでした。英語のガイドが欲しいです。海外在住です。よろしくお願いいたします。動画はとても詳しく説明されていて参考になりました。ありがとうございます。

[@user-lm4jq8hv1c]

ブラットさん来られてたんですか？会いたかったなー

[@chewsaufun3154]

Very informative video for many. Grateful for the sharing. Thanks

[@ahanny1296]

If I had one day to hike, is there a part of the trail that you would recommend ? Thanks.

[@F3dd]

Is it also not overcrowded in the summer?

[@foodzillaXL]

Did you use a map or app?

[@brianchar-bow3273]

Even as time goes by and the surface of a town changes, nothing changes in the underlying foundation of the unique Japanese culture. The common root of the creation of originality in Japanese culture is the uniqueness of its geopolitical location and the influence of its natural environment. Even if they import culture and knowledge from abroad, they are not dominated by it, and after a certain period of time, they select the content, integrate it with their own culture, improve it, and eventually create a new style because of the influence of their unique natural environment. Japan's original country name "NIPPON”(Japan) means "the land under the sun" , but another name is "YAMATO(WA)” , meaning “Peacefully Harmony among People and Nature”.　So Japan's name means “the Land under the Sun” and” the Land of "Great Harmony of People and Nature,” The history of Japan is very old, about 2,000 years since the Emperor's reign, but humans began to live in villages and communities in this island nation about 14,000 years ago, during “the JOMON pottery” culture.　(That's 30,000 years ago, if you count the Neolithic period.) Surrounded on all sides by the sea and geographically isolated from the Eurasian continent in the Pacific Ocean, this island nation has a warm and humid climate, and because it is a volcanic island, it is blessed with abundant underground clear water resources, diverse vegetation, and fishery resources. For this reason, people have lived here for tens of thousands of years, enjoying the abundant nature and living in peace with nature. Since ancient times, the people of this land have respected human harmony and have lived in peace by working together as a group. However, while the natural environment of this island nation is rich, it is also harsh and has both light and dark sides. They have shared and enjoyed the blessings of nature by pooling their wisdom and collectively overcoming numerous severe and harsh natural disasters, such as frequent volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, summer typhoons, and heavy snowfall in winter. This is because this island nation has a harsh natural environment that cannot be overcome by a single person. Individual power is too weak to face the onslaught of nature, which can destroy the wealth we have built overnight. Therefore, many people should suppress their egos, dislike confrontation, and work together to create a livable environment and maintain cleanliness, and then work together to prevent disasters before they occur and to restore the environment after they have occurred. This is the most wise, efficient, and rational way to maintain peace and harmony in each other's lives, rather than to create more chaos by insisting on each other's selfishness. And this thinkings have given rise to Japan's unique teachings, culture, and behavior. The ancient name of Japan, "YAMATO" or "WA" (peaceful harmony between people and nature), represents the wishes and reality of the people who have been trying to survive in the rich and harsh natural environment unique to island countries, which is different from the dry and stable land of the Eurasian continent. And it is in this ancient Japanese country name "WA YAMATO" that the essence of Japanese culture, the origin and secret of its unique culture, which is very different from the cultures of other Asian countries on the continent, is hidden.

[@mikeanzures2299]

What airport would you recommend to fly into?

[@kaiushijima7060]

You need to fry into the Kansai International Airport, Osaka prefecture. 🥀☺🥀The best times are spring (cherry blossoms season) & fall ( autumn leaves season).

[@Jhvxgir]

is it doable leaving Kii-Tanabe with the first bus to Takijiri and start at 7 AM and reach Yunomine Onsen before sunset or is it impossible? Thank you

[@colonelparker]

No - if you are a trained and a good condition hiker you need 2 days. You are walking up on several mountains with elevation and down again.

[@MarioGloria0404]

Excellent video!