Setonaikai

Wakayama

Sacred Sites & Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii mountain Range

Anchor in the Bay or dock at Wakayama Marina City, just outside of the main city of Wakayama, where the country side and coastline is beautiful, eagles swoop and soar and the air feels brisk and fresh.
Tender ashore to take an excursion to Koya san, a UNESCO World heritage site and a stunningly beautiful place to visit. Nestled in the forested Mountains of Wakayama prefecture, Koya san (Mount Koya) is where the Shingon Buddhist sect was introduced 1200 years ago by the priest Kukai (also known as Kobo Daishi)
Over to the Nachi Falls where the impressive and beautiful Sanjūdō Pagoda is situated. Early each morning the Shinto priest make offerings to waterfall in a beautiful and quietly dignified ritual.

Koyasan Kongobuji Temple over 100 temples scattered throughout the grounds.

Over 1,200 years Koyasan has flourished as an active monastic center, and is one of Japan’s most sacred sites.

Nachi Waterfall & Three-storied Pagoda,Seiganto-ji The oldest structure in Kumano, renowned for their magnificent views of Nachi Falls, Nachi Primeval Forest, and the Pacific Ocean.

Nachi Fire Festival held at Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine annually on July 14th. A Shinto ritual in which participants carry large flaming torches down the path from the shrine to a sacred waterfall. 

Kumano Kodo The ancient pilgrimage routes connecting these sacred sites in the mountains