This course offers some beautiful views of the hills and ends at the river that was registered as a part of the Unesco World Heritage Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, Kumano River. Across the river is the holy land where Buddha manifests in the form of the indigenous "kami" or gods of Kumano. Pilgrims must have felt very excited to finally have Hayatama Shrine in view! After praying at Kumano Hayatama Taisha, they would continue their journey to the other two grand shrines of Kumano Sanzan, Nachi Taisha and Hongu Taisha.

The grave of Rokubu

In the woods running along the coast stands a grave put up in the Edo period (1603 to 1868) for lives lost on the way to pray at the Kumano Three Grand Shrines (Kumano Sanzan).

Monument Saint Tokuhon and Ebisu

A monument to glorify Saint Tokuhon and another enshrined with Ebisu, the Japanese god of fishermen and luck. There used to be an inn and a tea house here where pilgrims and raftsmen would stop for a break.

Remnants of the Kajihana Oji Shrine

While Oji shrines are quite common between Kyoto and Nachi, this is one of the very few Oji shrines on the road from Ise. The shrine used to be by the rock bluff from which it gets its name, but it was moved here after twice being washed away by tsunamis.

The former ferry landing

After their long journey, pilgrims took a ferry across the Kumano River to finally reach Hayatama Shrine, the first of the Kumano Sanzan.