Trekking the Kumano kodo

The Kumano kodo is a pilgrimage route in the eastern most part of the main island of Japan, Honshu. On March 20th we took a harrowing taxi ride on the switch backs of the Kii mountain range to our guesthouse in the Kumano Kodo region. We stayed at the minshuku omuraya in a town called kawayu onsen. There was a river right out our window with hot springs tucked in on the riverbed which we slipped into after dinner. The dinner was unbelievable with self grilling meat and fish options. 

People returning from the hot springs in their kimono. 

The next morning we caught an early bus and started hiking from Hosshinmon-oji to the pilgrimage site, Kumano Hongu Taisha grand shrine. 

We made it to the shrine, walked by the largest Torii gate in Japan. 

We sat down by the river to eat our lunch given to us by the Minshuku (guesthouse) that morning. But the circling hawks were very interested in our grub and kept swooping down with their large, sharp beaks, and ominous cries of hunger, scaring us into abandoning our bento boxes for safer ground. 

From there we climbed Mount Dainichi which was ardous and breathtaking, (when I could take a breath). 

We came across the Tsukimigaoka-jinja, a shrine tucked in a grove of ancient trees. 

And finally made it to our destination after hiking 7+miles that day.