#summervacay
In the pouring rain of June, I embarked on a five-day journey along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. With deep forests and heavy mist, walking a path trodden by emperors centuries ago, I couldn't help but smile. They had palanquins; I only had two legs, yet I still felt a sense of timeless ritual as I traversed the trail.
To be honest, the Nakahechi route is not a "casual stroll." It's steep, rocky, and slippery. For the first two days, six hours daily of rugged mountain paths, combined with humid, hot weather, left me drenched in sweat. One young woman even got lost for three hours in the dark on the very first day, walking three times the distance! Despite bleeding toes, she just laughed and said, "It's a small case, I still have another foot!" In comparison, though I've run half-marathons, I had to admit: I underestimated the impact of mountain trails on my knees.
Fortunately, the evenings brought soothing onsen (hot springs) and ice-cold beer, washing away the fatigue and restoring my energy.
The upside of going with a tour group was having someone to guide the way and share laughs. The downside, however, was a lack of freedom to increase the challenge – wanting to climb an extra mountain required group approval, which proved even harder than the climb itself!
#kumanokodo #japantravel #pilgrimage #hiking #nakahechiroute #onsen #traveljapan #mountainhiking #adventure
