Kumano Kodo
We wanted to continue Koyasan, on Honshu, the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism and resting place of Kobo Daishi. Traditionally henro go to Koyasan to give thanks for a safe pilgrimage.
We had heard that the Kumano Kodo would lead from the coast on Honshu to Koyasan, so full of blissful ignorance we took the ferry from Tokushima to Wakayama, then a train to Kii Tanabe on the western coast of the Kii peninsula, then a bus to Takijiri-oji and started walking.
It slowly dawned on us that this was not really the way to Koyasan, although such a walk would be possible, it would be very difficult and one would need to carry food and water for 4 days.
But, it turned out to be a World Heritage walk of considerable cultural and spiritual significance and perhaps the most beautiful walk we have done, hard too. So we walked for 4 days via Kumano Hongu Taisha to Kii Katsuura the eastern coast. Here is a slide show of the walk (sorry – pictures only, no story). Kumano Kodo
You can find out more about Kumano Kodo here: http://www.tb-kumano.jp/en/index.html