The Kumano Kodo trail network is located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Japan’s main southern island, Honshu. This is the largest peninsula in Japan, known for its mountainous terrain, dense forests, and long, scenic coastline. The trails of Kumano Kodo connect the prefectures of Osaka, Nara, Mie, and Wakayama. In addition to leading to the sacred Kumano Sanzan shrines, the routes also guide pilgrims to other sacred mountains such as Koyasan, Yoshino, and Omine.
The Kumano Kodo consists of seven main routes: