Japan
Nachi-san

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    • Day 244

      Last shrine & fishermen town

      November 9, 2019 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

      One of the highlights of our walk was the shrine of Nachi Taisha, whose elegant wooden structures are enhanced by a beautiful natural scenery. The temple complex is perched on top a hill, next to some tall pristine waterfalls. Because we did not put much effort to reach this place (we came by bus from Shingu !), we decide to walk everything down, to the little town of Nachikatsuura. Another traditional lodging is waiting for us and we have the good surprise to discover that it also has a onsen.
      We give ourselves a suchi treat for dinner, but are disappointed by the lack of alternative options (Elodie is not a fan of raw fish...). But the sushi master takes good care of us : he kindly cooks a fish for Elodie and serves it...for free !

      The following morning we explore the town : from a tori lost on a little island to the tourist seaport where an old man is eager to talk and take selfies with us, to a picnic break in a children's park where even as adult we have fun...There is not much to see or to do here but we don't get bored when together. This little town's sleepy atmosphere was perfect to close up our pilgrimage days before going back to the big city.
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    • Day 82

      Ziel Kumano Kodo Tag 7

      April 27, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

      Nach dem Frühstück starten wir auf unsere letzte Etappe von Koguchi nach Nachisan - zu einem der heiligsten Ziele auf dem Kumano Kodo. Wir haben Glück und die ersten zwei Stunden sind noch ohne Regen. Nach total 97km, und 12000 Höhenmeter ⬆️⬇️ sind wir froh, den Nachi Fall zu sehen - sehr imposant! 😊
      Zum Abendessen gibt es Thunfisch in allen Variationen. Sashimi, Salat, paniert... mit Reis und auch der Tofu in Misosuppe ist wieder am Start🥴
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    • Day 9

      Große Steine, kleine Schritte

      July 30, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      Der dritte Tag unserer Pilgerreise startete wie gehabt um 6:15 Uhr.
      Mit 1260 Höhenmetern stand uns der herausfordernste Teil der Nakahechi- Route bevor.
      Die ersten drei Stunden ging es nur bergauf. Dabei überwunden wir Steigungen von 30% und mehr.
      Am letzten Tag der Wanderung genossen wir trotzdem noch einmal alle Details von Japans schöner Natur. Umgestürtzte Bäume auf dem Weg, Moos das einen kleinen Wald bildet und ein 1 Meter großes, versteinertes Drachenei haben wir gesehen.
      Dabei haben wir auch fleißig unser Wander-Stempelbuch gefüllt. Wir sind nun inoffiziel Pilger des Kumano Kodo. Inoffiziel, weil wir die Bestätigung in Hongu abholen müssten. Dafür fehlt uns aber die Zeit und die Lust 😄

      Das Ziel der Wanderung und für mich ein Must-See auf dieser Reise war Nachisan. Die Pagode mit dem 133m hohen Wasserfall im Hintergrund ist für mich ein Symbolbild der von mir so geliebten japanischen Architektur.
      Der rote Shinto-Schrein bildet, zusammen mit dem benachbarten buddhistischen Schrein, den Hauptschrein der Kumano-Region. Da beide Glaubensrichtungen als sehr tolerant gelten, haben auch wir an den beiden Schreinen unser Gebet vollzogen.

      Als uns auf den letzten Kilometern so langsam bewusst wurde, dass dieser Abschnitt unserer Japanreise nun bald sein Ende nimmt, waren wir schon etwas wehmütig. Mit mehr Zeit hätten wir diese Reise gern noch etwas ausgedehnt.

      Nach einer weiteren Nacht in einem klassischen Ryokan sind wir jetzt auf dem Weg nach Hiroshima.
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    • Day 6

      Kumano Sanzan Day 2

      March 26, 2024 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

      We awoke to heavier and more persistent rain than the past few days, with thunderstorms in the forecast as well. I guess we used up all of our good weather luck in New Zealand last year... Since I'm not crazy, despite what Keanan might think, and don't think that voluntarily hiking through a storm, on slippery rocks, with no views, while soaking wet sounds at all enjoyable, we decided to amend our plans.

      Instead of hiking, we hopped on a bus to Shingu and the Kumano Hayatama Taisha, another of the Kumano Sanzan. When we got off the bus, the rain was coming down in buckets and we were both instantly drenched. We explored the shrine, ducking under cover whenever we had the chance, and then grabbed breakfast on a covered street.

      From there, we took the train to Kii Katsuura, hoping that we'd be able to seek shelter in our next hotel even if we weren't able to check in. By lunchtime, it seemed like the end of the storm was in sight! We got a variety of tuna dishes (Kii Katsuura's specialty) for lunch before hopping on the very crowded bus to Nachisan. We got off before the top in order to climb a portion of the Kumano Kodo, Daimonzaka, to at least get in a little hiking and approach the shrine as the pilgrims. We saw the first blue sky of our trip as we arrived at the top of the stairs to the Kumano Nachi Taisha, the last of the Kumano Sanzan. We explored the grounds of the shrine and temple before going to get a closer look at Nachi falls, the tallest single drop waterfall in Japan.

      By the time we made it back to Kii Katsuura, the sun was fully out, and we were able to check into our hotel room with an incredible view of the ocean! Neither of us slept very well on our traditional Japanese beds last night, but these seem to be thicker mattresses and more comfortable. We enjoyed sampling a bunch of different foods at our hotel's dinner buffet, and I tried my first public onsen experience. It was quite overwhelming, and I feel confident that I prefer hot tub/ hot spring experiences where I'm not naked in front of a bunch of strangers!
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    • Day 13

      Nachi Falls

      June 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      Nachi Taisha was de volgende tempel op de lijst, maar eerst even bij de waterval kijken. Hier kochten we ook een omikuji (fortune slip) en deze werd pas zichtbaar als het in contact komt met water. Ook hebben we een schaaltje gehaald waarmee je het water van de waterval kon drinken voor longevity.

      Ook hebben we een leuke salamander gespot onderweg!
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    • Day 13

      Kumano Nachi Taisha

      June 29, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      Na de waterval bezochten we de tempel zelf. Hier haalde we de Kumano Kodo stempel een weer een goshuin. Ook kun je hier een gomagi kopen, een houten plakje waarop je je naam en wens schrijft, waarna je hiermee door de boom loopt en deze in het rek legt.

      Ook wilde ik weer een omikuji halen omdat de bussen hier zo groot waren. Daarna was ons geld op en konden we geen ijsje meer halen. Gelukkig hadden we al een retourticket voor de bus en konden we terug naar Katsuura om daar de pinnen en een ijsje te halen met dit warme weer.
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    • Day 8

      Koguchi to Nachisan

      September 15, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

      Thought we may have to walk the most challenging day in full rain but after drying off in our lodge (old converted school) we took off again on what is said to be the most challenging day of all. Climbing 5kms to a height of 870m then 5kms at the top of the mountain and 5kms downhill.Read more

    • Day 37–38

      Kumano Kodo Day 4: Water and Rennovation

      September 30, 2024 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      On the way to dropping me at the trailhead, Sage mentioned to me how much it rained last night and that the Nachi waterfall should be more dramatic than normal. Looking forward to seeing that, I set off from the small town of Koguchi. The town seemed barely inhabited, as I passed decrepit buildings like an anbandoned school. Throughout the hike, the real recent weather gave two things: dramatic fog and lots of water. The trail was often a running brook from last night's heavy rain, but fortunately my all weather running shoes held out and my feet kept dry. The fog was thematically well timed, as I passed through an area known as the Moja-No-Deai: The Abode of the Dead. The spiritual nature of the mountains were considered to be where the boundary between this world and the next are blurred. After hiking through the fog and water, I reached Kumano Nashi Taisha. The grand shrine was perched with a wide view of the valley below, and had the same style of architecture as the prior grand shrine. There was a very old tree that you could climb through and be reborn; a common theme of the pilgramage. I seemed to still be myself on the other side of it, but did feel accomplished from completing a long hike and rejuvenated from time communing with nature. I then went to see the falls themselves, and the famed pagoda next to it. Turns out the pagoda was under rennovation. After such a long hike, it could be easy to get frustrated at that news. But, and perhaps this was from the tree rebirthing, I just appreciated that they were taking care of their history and preserving it for future pilgrims. Heading to the base of the falls, there was a platform that served that as a small shrine that was used instead of a typical prayer hall. It gave an upclose view of the falls, and they were spectacular after so much rain.
      To finish the day, I took a bus into the nearby town of Katsuura, and treated myself with a local delicacy: raw tuna katsu.
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    • Day 9

      Kumano Nachi-taisha Shrine

      October 28, 2023 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

      The second of the 3 great shrines (Shinto) Nachi Taisha and the buddist temple Seiganto-ji temple and Nachi Waterfall. 276 steps through big, beautiful cedar trees to get to… more steps, 😂

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Nachi-san, Q31694528

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