Iseji, Sacred pilgrimage route in Kii Peninsula, Japan
Iseji is a pilgrimage route on the Kii Peninsula, linking Ise Jingu Shrine to Hayatama Taisha through mountain passes, coastal villages, and forested sections. It is part of the Kumano Kodo, a network of trails recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
During the Edo period, this route became the main path for ordinary people traveling between the major shrines on a pilgrimage. Over the centuries, rest houses and other facilities grew along the trail to support those on the journey.
The path connects Japan's principal Shinto shrine at Ise with the three Kumano shrines, showing how Shinto and Buddhist traditions coexist in this region. Along the way, stone markers, torii gates, and small temples make this coexistence visible and tangible.
The route can be walked in stages, with overnight stops available in villages along the way. Proper footwear and rain gear are worth bringing, as the trail mixes mountain sections with coastal paths that can become slippery in wet weather.
The Iseji is the only section of the Kumano Kodo that runs along the coast before turning into the mountains, giving walkers a view of the ocean on one side and forested hills on the other at certain points. This coastal stretch sets it apart from every other route in the same pilgrimage network.
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