Friday, March 31, 2006




Mt. Kii ranges - walking the old pilgrimage routes in Japan


I had my golden week ahead of everybody. At least here in Japan, where there is a long holiday, called as such. In my country, long holiday is called holy week.

But I spent it the way we usually do it back home – tracing pilgrimage routes. But those weren’t Christian, such as the routes which traced back the Passion of the Christ. Japan has its own, the pilgrimage routes found in the Kii Peninsula.

Kii Peninsula is like 4-6 hours more by bus from Osaka. That was how we got there, but I am very sure there were train stations to the most urban town nearby. In the center of the peninsula is the Kii mountain range, where the pilgrimage routes for both Buddhist and Shinto followers, can be found. As a matter of fact, the routes and sites had just been enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage in 2004.

The sites are actually found in three difference locations, the Koyasan and Kumano Sanzan in Wakayama and Yoshino-Omine in Nara. The Yoshino-Kumano National Park is part of the Kii Peninsula and straddles the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama and Mie. The region is renowned for its onsen, gorges, waterfalls and sacred shrines.

Having no personal attachment to either the Buddhism or Shintoism, the weeklong trip got me lost on the many temples we visited. Some sites are dedicated to either one of the religion, or both. The only thing that helped me distinguished between the two (I am still not sure whether I am right), is that most Shinto temples are blazing in tangerine colors, while buddhist temples are on their most modest and natural colors.

Even the religious articles are almost the same. I was excited to buy something for a friend back home who has proclaimed himself as a self-practicing Buddhist, anything that is utterly authentic Buddhist. But after buying it, I realized later on that it was actually of Shinto items.

The trip was religious in origin, but the places are actually being promoted to both local and foreign tourists as a place to meditate, rejuvenate or simply de-stress themselves that can be experienced during one’s visit to any of the sites. Though, there are hardly no spa or saloon there, but the beauty and calmness of nature are more than enough to provide the environment of peace and relaxation to any tired and weary body and soul. (elgnij)