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What’s a “dual pilgrimage”?
A news item from Spain today says that the total number of Dual Pilgrim certificates issued since their introduction in 2015 is now reaching 1,500.
http://www.europapress.es/galicia/x...mino-santiago-kumano-kodo-20180925131419.html
Wow, I was number 1,011 in March 2018! That’s almost 500 in just the last six months and it took three years to reach 1,000 Dual Pilgrims.
The dual pilgrimage is a fascinating prospect. I read Gideon Krauss-Lewis' book about doing the CF and the Shin Ko Ku pilgrimages back-to-back, and was amazed by his account of the Japanese route around the north island. May I ask for a clarification? Does one have to obtain the dual pilgrim credencial in Santiago before heading to Japan? or vice versa? Or is it possible to obtain one by post?
Just to be clear: the Kumano Kodo and the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage circuit are two very different routes. On different islands. And one is focussed on Buddhist temples and the other on three major Shinto shrines. Try not to confuse the two
I do not know if it is possible to obtain a certificate by post. If you have already completed a Camino you should take either your Compostela or your credencial with you to Japan. I took the credencial I had used when walking the Camino Portugues and which was stamped as complete by the pilgrim office in Santiago. You can then collect a Japanese credencial from a number of places - mine came from the tourist office in Kii-Tanabe. There are stamps in boxes at many of the smaller shrines along the Kumano Kodo routes. Stamp your credencial at each as you pass by. I presented my Spanish credencial and my Japanese one at the office near the Hongu shrine and received my certificate there. Like the Caminos there are a number of different qualifying routes. The most popular route - the Nakahechi trail - is about 40km and mostly through forest and small villages. A beautiful path.
http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/world-heritage/dual-pilgrim/
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Yes; thank you. I'm aware they are very different and only the Kumano Kodo is a UNESCO site. I merely said that I had read a fascinating book about a Japanese and SDC pilgrimage being paired and that I was therefore interested in this latter offering.
Does anyone know if someone in Santiago de Compostela issue Dual Pilgrim certificate? I met a French couple and talked about this Dual Pilgrim. They will get Japanese Pilgrim first hoping to do Camino de Santiago soon.
Well, whatever it takes to get people out walking...A news item from Spain today says that the total number of Dual Pilgrim certificates issued since their introduction in 2015 is now reaching 1,500.
Would anyone want to do this without the certificate? Very clever marketing, I must say.
Ha! Me too, to be honest. I had never heard of the Kumano Kodo before but learned about it here when they introduced the dual pilgrim certificate in 2015.Me for one
The Kumano tourist office states that the longer and more mountainous Kohechi route is generally closed because of snow from December to March but the more popular Nakahechi route remains walkable all year round. There is a very good map booklet and guide for the Nakahechi route handed out free by the tourist office in Kii-Tanabe or downloadable from their website here: http://www2.tb-kumano.jp/en/kumano-kodo/pdf/Kumano-Kodo-Nakahechi-Route-Maps-Complete.pdfThought the winter might be too harsh for walking but will check it out.
Right now it can be very hard for those who are not used hiking the trail with steep slopes (there are so many man-made steps). It’s only 40 some km, but it is brutal two days. Even if you want to make it in three days, you may have manageable first two days, but the third is hard. I am just speaking for myself. Maybe others find it is not bad.
Two items I always take on trips to Japan - a camping pillow and size 12 slippers for indoors. I have yet to find Japanese slippers that fit and this avoids embarrassment for the host.
I would like to walk the kumano from 19th - 25th November, but online I do not seem to be able to book accommodation anymore. Have you got any advise? I guess it is a bit risky just to start walking without having any accommodation booked?
What did you do?
You're less likely to be rained on in November than earlier in the year. The whole Pacific coast is usually pretty dry from late autumn through the winter.Thank you guys - that is really helpful. I don't mind cold and rain as long as it isn't like that for the whole 8 days haha.
I really don't want to give up on the adventure!
Thank you again
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