Blake Beard
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Portugués
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The Kumano Kodo does not have a single endpoint. It is a network of paths in the south of the Kii peninsula which lead towards and then connect three major Shinto shrines. There are several options of route which will allow someone who has already walked a Camino to receive a dual pilgrim certificate at the Hongu Taisha shrine visitor centre. I don't think there is any certificate for those who have only walked a Kumano Kodo path. There is a link on this information page with many maps and further details of the dual pilgrim concept: https://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/kumano-kodo/maps/#map-list.Thanks for your response. If I may ask a couple questions since you did the Kumano. Is there a specific endpoint like the Camino. Somewhere to end and get a certificate? Also, I’ll have about 10-14 days to walk. Do you have a recommendation for the best route? I’d love to see as many temples as possible. Hope these are not dumb questions lol!
Blake
I also wondered if @Blake Beard was actually meaning the Way of 88 Temples; I was about to offer up the info as a re-direct but you beat me to it...Your mention of seeing as many temples as possible makes me wonder if perhaps you are confusing the Kumano Kodo (based around Shinto shrines) with the 88 temple Buddhist Shikoku pilgrimage which takes place on a nearby island?
As others, not sure if you are thinking of the Kumano Kodo Shinto or Shikoku 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage. I did both and they are very diffferent as explained in this detailed blog post How The 88 Temple Pilgrimage and Kumano Kodo Are Different From The Camino de Santiago.Hello friends!
Been awhile since I’ve been on here. My question is…I am wondering if there is a helpful message board for the Kumano Kodo similar to this board? Im wanting to do that trek when Japan opens back up and this community was so helpful with my Camino I was wishing there was one for Japan as well. As always thanks for any help.
Blake
The late and much missed Kat Davis has a blog on the Kumano Kod trail.Hello friends!
Been awhile since I’ve been on here. My question is…I am wondering if there is a helpful message board for the Kumano Kodo similar to this board? Im wanting to do that trek when Japan opens back up and this community was so helpful with my Camino I was wishing there was one for Japan as well. As always thanks for any help.
Blake
They look amazing!! Thank you for posting. And I have my Camino credentials framed. Would it be acceptable if I take a photo of them to show proof?Just a few snaps to whet your eppetitie. Be sure to take one of your Credenciales from the Way of Saint James if you’d like to receive a Dual Pilgrim certificate, as @Bradypus mentioned.
The shot in traditional dress was at one of our home stays. Love Japan. Love the Kumàno Kodo
PS Not a gréât shot of the stone marker, but it says 10,755 kms (to Santiago)
I would think so. As we found everywhere in Japan, the people Kumàno Hongu Herotage Centre where I got my dual pilgrim certificate were very helpful.They look amazing!! Thank you for posting. And I have my Camino credentials framed. Would it be acceptable if I take a photo of them to show proof?
Is there a passport to get stamped like the Camino? Also, I’d like to end my trek at the heritage center. Do you recommend a route to take? Was trying to do a 10 day trek if possible.I would think so. As we found everywhere in Japan, the people Kumàno Hongu Herotage Centre where I got my dual pilgrim certificate were very helpful.
That is some good advise. I’ll definitely try to use local to reserve rooms. TY!@Blake Beard Just some info for what it’s worth. We spent 3 weeks in Japan inc 5 days on the Kumàno Kodo Nakaheshi Route. Wonderful. And some challenging sections.
As we are not usually ones for using tour companies, I did our accommodation bookings via the Community Reservation website. I wouldn’t do that again. It was so time consuming and a very slow and cumbersome process. It took 3-4 days to hear back whether the accommodation was available each location. Accommodation is limited so it was important to have somewhere to stay. Out of 5 nights, twice we didn’t get the lodging we wanted.
If we walked again I would use a local intermediary company to book the accommodation. My sense is they are ‘on the ground’ and have relationships with the ryokans, onsens, and home stays etc.
That was in November 2019 - so I can’t speak to how the community reservation system is now - perhaps it has improved.
Looking back we are thrilled to have made that trip to Japan before the world turned upside down just a few months later.
We walked the Nakahechi in 5 days though day 1 was just a few hours (after arriving in Kii Tanabe on the train). Thé distances are not long - much shorter than we would typically walk on thé camino paths - but thé terrain can be challenging in parts. We finished at the heritage centre.Is there a passport to get stamped like the Camino? Also, I’d like to end my trek at the heritage center. Do you recommend a route to take? Was trying to do a 10 day trek if possible
My compestela from the Camino is framed. Would a photo be sufficient for proof?In March 2015 I was very fortunate and walked approximately 70 kms on the Kumano Kodo from Takijiri-oji to Nachisan. It was an incredible walk through the Kii Peninsula Mountains. As luck would have it the Dual Pilgrim designation was introduced in January 2015 so when I walked on Day 3 into the Kumano Hongu Taisha office where I had my 15 minutes of fame.
At the time a Dual Pilgrim...one who has walked the Way of St. James and Kumano Kodo...the two Unesco recognized pilgrimage routes was a rare event. I was the 5th recipient and 1st Canadian of the Dual Pilgrim designation...so the Kumano Hong Taisha office folks were really excited! Supposedly my picture is in some display in Taisha office however I have never received confirmation of such. Be sure to have your Way of St. James Compostela with you.
Practical information - route is super interesting...at times it is pretty tough but exhilarating walking. A super helpful website is www.tb-kumano.jp which is where I was able to pre-book all accommodation through them at traditional Japanese inns along the route. It was a very smooth process.
Finally if you want additional info I included 6 blog postings in my Camino blog... www.caminolongwalk.blogspot.com. On the right hand side go to Blog Archive...then 2015 March and there are 6 postings...pictures and various thoughts.
Happy planning...it will be a fantastic walk!
Guy
Sorry I misspoke as ! only had my pilgrim passport with stamps and not my Compostela. Don’t recall them looking at the detail on my pilgrim passport in great detail.My compestela from the Camino is framed. Would a photo be sufficient for proof?
Practical information - route is super interesting...at times it is pretty tough but exhilarating walking. A super helpful website is www.tb-kumano.jp which is where I was able to pre-book all accommodation through them at traditional Japanese inns along the route. It was a very smooth process
Hello friends!
Blake
I wish I had known of these routes when I lived in Tokyo! In those days, long ago, I wasn't a walker! Fear I am too old now. I did do an old Samurai on a horse trail!As others, not sure if you are thinking of the Kumano Kodo Shinto or Shikoku 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage. I did both and they are very diffferent as explained in this detailed blog post How The 88 Temple Pilgrimage and Kumano Kodo Are Different From The Camino de Santiago.
The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes developed as a way for people to move between the sacred areas on the Kii Peninsula. At the center of this religious area are the three Kumano shrines: Hongu Taisha, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, collectively known as Kumano Sanzan. I chose Kohechi because it starts at Mt. Koyasan where at the top is Okonuin Cemetary where the patron saint of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Kukai aka Kobo Daishi, is entombed. It also is a 4 day walk through mountain terrain.
Nakahechi is well preserved and relatively easy to walk, leading through hilly, forested landscapes and occasional villages. The section between Takijiri Oji (outside central Tanabe) and Hongu is about 30 kilometers, and can be done in a comfortable two days’ walk.
Ohechi follows the coast from Tanabe to Nachi Taisha. This trail has virtually disappeared due to development and the construction of modern roads.
Iseji connects Kumano with Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture. Like Ohechi, much of Iseji’s coastal trail has been covered by paved roads and towns. Only short, isolated sections remain as stoned or earthen trails today.
Kohechi connects Kumano with Koyasan. This mountaintop route is challenging. Inns are rarely found without zigzagging up and down the mountainsides into valley towns, greatly increasing the distance traveled.
Omine Okugake connects Kumano with Yoshino via Mount Omine. Like Kohechi, Omine Okugake is a difficult route that follows high mountain ridges and barely passes any towns for much of its duration.
Bookmarked your post, Kevin.. I did both and they are very diffferent as explained in this detailed blog post How The 88 Temple Pilgrimage and Kumano Kodo Are Different From The Camino de Santiago
Dear BlakeHello friends!
Been awhile since I’ve been on here. My question is…I am wondering if there is a helpful message board for the Kumano Kodo similar to this board? Im wanting to do that trek when Japan opens back up and this community was so helpful with my Camino I was wishing there was one for Japan as well. As always thanks for any help.
Blake
Hey Blake - I’ve walked Shikoku 88 twice ( hard recommend). Drop me a private message if you like. And yes, wish that bloody border would open!Hello friends!
Been awhile since I’ve been on here. My question is…I am wondering if there is a helpful message board for the Kumano Kodo similar to this board? Im wanting to do that trek when Japan opens back up and this community was so helpful with my Camino I was wishing there was one for Japan as well. As always thanks for any help.
Blake
I walked the entire Way of 88 Temples route in 2017...it remains to this day far & away my favourite of all the trails I've done.We walked on the 88 Temple route for some 10 days in Northern Shikoku. It was a completely different experience compared to the C. Frances. We only saw 4 other pilgrims on foot although lots of locals in cars and coaches. Too much road walking for my liking though well compensated for by the food. We had travelled in Japan previously but mostly in urban settings so it was a pleasure to be in the countryside.
We then transferred over to be on the Kumano Kodo and much preferred it. Much busier with pilgrims of various nationalities. This was October so we finished just as a typhoon hit and closed down Osaka for 2 days delaying our flight to Taiwan.
I would return for the KK but not the 88.
We obtained the dual certificate by showing our credencial.
Wow...no independent travellers! I would've thought tour groups pose a greater threat..but then again, I guess it's known where they're going to go, what they're going to do & at what time.Japan is still pretty much off-limits to tourists. They have just started (or starting) to accept tourists from some countries but must be in package tours, not independent.
Even for business travellers it’s a pain - need to apply with an invitation letter etc.
@Blake Beard Just some info for what it’s worth. We spent 3 weeks in Japan inc 5 days on the Kumàno Kodo Nakaheshi Route. Wonderful. And some challenging sections.
As we are not usually ones for using tour companies, I did our accommodation bookings via the Community Reservation website. I wouldn’t do that again. It was so time consuming and a very slow and cumbersome process. It took 3-4 days to hear back whether the accommodation was available each location. Accommodation is limited so it was important to have somewhere to stay. Out of 5 nights, twice we didn’t get the lodging we wanted.
If we walked again I would use a local intermediary company to book the accommodation. My sense is they are ‘on the ground’ and have relationships with the ryokans, onsens, and home stays etc.
That was in November 2019 - so I can’t speak to how the community reservation system is now - perhaps it has improved.
Looking back we are thrilled to have made that trip to Japan before the world turned upside down just a few months later.
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