Nakahechi

Nakahechi is the central route of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage network on the Kii Peninsula in Japan. It is the most historic and frequently traveled path among the Kumano Kodo routes and forms the main corridor used by pilgrims visiting the Kumano Sanzan shrines.

The trail runs from Takijiri-oji in the mountains to Kumano Hongu Taisha, with connections to the three grand shrines—Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Kumano Hayatama Taisha—via side paths and other routes. Along the way travelers pass through mountain villages and forested terrain, crossing streams and climbing passes. The route is marked by old pilgrimage markers known as oji and by hospitable lodges called minshuku; hikers commonly complete it in four to six days, depending on pace.

Historically, the Nakahechi route dates to the early centuries of Kumano pilgrimage and has strong Shinto-Buddhist syncretic associations within the Kumano faith. It remains a living tradition, with both religious pilgrims and contemporary walkers traversing its wooded corridors.

In 2004, the Nakahechi, along with other Kumano Kodo routes, was inscribed as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, a UNESCO World Heritage property (with extensions in 2016). The trail is maintained for cultural heritage and for present-day pilgrimage and tourism, with information available in multiple languages at major points.