Wasn’t it here? Yes, right here. This stone marks the starting point of the ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail. This is the Kumano Street Road or \u718a\u91ce\u8857\u9053.
For centuries, pilgrims have walked this path. They sought spiritual solace at the Kumano Sanzan. These grand shrines include Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha.
Imagine nobles and commoners alike traversing these routes. They hoped to find peace. Since the Heian period, the Kumano Kodo has been a sacred way.
Emperor Shirakawa undertook 34 pilgrimages. Emperor Go-Toba followed with 28. This deeply ingrained faith extended to warriors and commoners. It earned the trail the nickname “Ant Pilgrimage to Kumano”. The many that traveled the \u718a\u91ce\u8857\u9053 earned it its iconic name.
The journey wasn’t easy. Routes from various regions converged here. They were often steep and treacherous. The Kii Route connecting Osaka and Kumano was one such path. Another was the Ise Route linking Ise and Kumano. The Kohechi Route crossed Mount Koya.
The route from Kyoto via the Kii waterway took about a month. The round trip spanned approximately 600 kilometers. Pilgrims often stopped at places of worship. These were the so called ninety-nine Prince Shrines, where they rested and performed chants.
Starting from Kyoto, travelers disembarked near Watanabe-no-tsu. This is near the present-day Hachikenya boat landing site. They would pray for a safe journey at Watanabe Prince Shrine. Then the pilgrims started their journey south along the Kumano pilgrimage route.
Osaka became the starting point of the Kumano Street Road. Pilgrims traveling to Kumano would arrive by boat. They would land near the Hachikenya boat landing. It is now close to the stone monument.
From there, they would visit the first of the “Ninety-Nine Princes”. These were a series of shrines. Pilgrims stopped to pray for safe passage.
The \u718a\u91ce\u8857\u9053 passes through modern Osaka. Pilgrims followed the old Oharai-suji road south. The road had guideposts from Shitennoji Temple to Abeno.
Today, remnants of the ancient Kumano Kodo still exist. Stone markers guide modern travelers. They follow in the footsteps of those ancient pilgrims.
So, take a moment to reflect on the \u718a\u91ce\u8857\u9053. Imagine the countless journeys that began here. Consider the hopes and prayers of those who walked this path. It is now your turn to walk this ancient road. Let’s follow the ancient path into history.