Last Updated: Mar 8, 2024
The Kumano Sanzan
Wakayama’s Trio of Antediluvian Shrines
Ever since I started producing travel content in 2016 (and indeed even before that), I have wanted to check out Wakayama Prefecture’s three ancient Kumano shrines. Allegedly dating back to before the founding of the Yamato polity and the imperial line, this trifecta is collectively known as the Kumano Sanzan in Japanese. While they are some of the most impressive spots that I’ve had the pleasure of exploring in Japan, the Kumano Sanzan are not easy to reach despite being listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Luckily for you, the reader, this guide will provide you with all you need to know to visit this wonderful part of Wakayama.
Before we get into the Kumano Sanzan though, let me first take a moment to discuss the ever-important Kumano Kodo. Literally meaning “the Old Way of Kumano” if directly translated into English, this extensive network of pilgrimage routes developed as a way for people to move between the many consecrated areas of Wakayama’s Kii Peninsula. Extremely mountainous at its core, this southernmost part of the prefecture juts far out into the Pacific Ocean. Because of the Kii Peninsula’s hilly geography, most of the key locales of interest require some sort of passageway to access. Over time, this ultimately resulted in the Kumano Kodo.
