The most spectacular view of the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji”! ? Yoshi Onii-san will be walking along “Matsumoto Pass”!

*This article is based on the content of the January 19, 2022 broadcast of "Yoshi Onii-san's "You're starting to look more like a dad" that is broadcast every Wednesday on CBC TV's "Chant!" .

1. Go to Matsumoto Pass on the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji”

What is Matsumoto Pass on the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji”?

In 2004, "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

``Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range'' consists of three sacred sites: ``Kumano Sanzan,'' ``Yoshino/Omine,'' and ``Mt. It has been recognized by UNESCO as a shared heritage of humanity, as well as a cultural landscape formed by nature and human activity over a long period of time.

``Kumano Kodo Iseji'' is a pilgrimage route that connects IseJingu and the Kumano Sanzan.In the Edo period, there was a saying, ``Seven times in Ise, three times in Kumano'', and everyone wanted to visit it. It seems to have been a place of dreams and dreams.

Among them, ``Matsumoto Pass'' is a mountain pass that connects Odomari and Kimoto in KumanoCity.

It is said to be the place where pilgrims of the past would have thought of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, which is enshrined in Shingu across Shichirimihama.

Most of the roads are characterized by beautiful stone pavements that remain, and there is a mountain pass surrounded by bamboo forests that is said to have the best view of the ``Jizo statue'' that is said to have been shot with a gun and the ``Kumano Kodo Iseji Route.'' There are plenty of things to see, including the view from the arbor!

World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji” Access/Parking to Matsumoto Pass

Access to Matsumoto Pass on the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji” is convenient by car!

We recommend the free parking lot at Onigajo Center.

From the Kisei Expressway, get off at the Kumano Odomari IC, the last stop on the Kumano Owase Road, and drive along National Route 42 towards Shingu for about 30 seconds, and you'll see Onigajo signboard!

Please park your car in the parking lot next to Onigajo Center♪

By the way, if you are coming by public transportation, get off at JR Kisei Main Line "KumanoCity Station" ⇒ Get off at Mie Kotsu Bus "Onigajo Higashiguchi" ⇒ Arrive in about 5 minutes on foot!

There are only a few buses in operation, so we recommend checking the timetable on the Mie Kotsu website in advance.

One point advice! Non-slip shoes are recommended!

Matsumoto Pass has few steep paths and is a pass that even beginners can safely climb, but the stone pavement is covered with moss, making it slippery.

This is especially dangerous if the cobblestones are wet due to rain!

Please wear non-slip shoes such as mountain climbing shoes.

It's safe to bring a cane with you at the start of the climb.

2. Highlights of Matsumoto Pass on the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji”!

Matsumoto Pass is not very high in altitude, so it is safe even for beginners in mountain climbing.

You can enjoy the path surrounded by beautiful cobblestone pavement and bamboo forest.

``This time, we came to the World Heritage Site ``Kumano Kodo Iseji''! Apparently there is a place on this Matsumoto Pass where you can enjoy the best view on ``Kumano Kodo Iseji'' - let's climb it right away!''

① Stone pavements were transported and hardened one by one during the Edo period.

The HigashiKishu Prefecture is a particularly rainy area, so dirt roads can easily be washed away. For this reason, they seem to have devised ways to pile up the stones in this way.

By the way, the stone-paved road has been maintained over various eras, so it's interesting to see the atmosphere of the stones change as you go deeper.

A little bit of trivia! Tips for walking on cobblestones

It seems that if you reduce your stride length by half of your usual pace, you will feel less tired. Please give it a try☆

As you proceed, you'll see this landmark halfway down the road!

"It's already half way! It's early!"

② “Jizo” watches over the safety of travelers

There is an anecdote that a long time ago, a monster was mistaken for a monster and shot with a gun.

"He's always been watching over the safety of travelers here."

③The best view of “Kumano Kodo Iseji”! "Shichirimihama seen from the gazebo"

“I can see a hut – that’s an arbor!”

"Wow, what a spectacular view!!! This view is said to be the most spectacular view on the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route, and you can see Shichirimihama Beach, part of the World Heritage Site♪"

On the way back, we recommend taking the route from the gazebo to Onigajo Center via the promenade.

You can also see this kind of scenery from “Takimi-no-oka” on the way!

This promenade becomes a cherry blossom road during the cherry blossom season, making it a popular photo spot.

After walking for about 30 minutes from the gazebo, you will arrive at the parking lot next to Onigajo Center.

Once you return the cane, it's over ⭐︎ Thank you for your hard work!

A little bit of trivia! Kumano Kodo Iseji Mystery Solving Note!

Did you know that there is a "mystery-solving notebook" where you can learn about the charm, culture, and history of Kumano Kodo while solving mysteries?

With the theme of solving mysteries, you can enjoy learning content that the whole family can enjoy through quizzes and work, such as an overview of World Heritage Sites and the Kumano Kodo, the characteristics of the Ise Route, and efforts to preserve nature.

Please enjoy it with your family♪

Download here

3. Recommended spots around Matsumoto Pass on the World Heritage Site “Kumano Kodo Iseji”

Here are some recommended spots near Matsumoto Pass.

① World Heritage Site “Shishiiwa”

First of all, it is the world heritage site "Shishiiwa "♪

A strange rock about 25 meters high that looks like a giant lion roaring toward the sea.

Shishiiwa, a World Heritage Site, designated as a National Natural Monument and a Place of Scenic Beauty, is a strange rock with a height of about 25 meters and a circumference of about 210 meters, created by the uplift of the ground and sea erosion.

Since ancient times, it has been called A-no-iwa (Oiwa) in contrast to Un-no-iwa (Meiwa) of Shinsen-do Cave located on the south side, and has been revered as a guardian dog of Ouma Shrine located upstream of the Ido River. Let's do it.

For this reason, there are still no guardian dogs installed at Ouma Shrine.

The Kumano Fireworks Festival is held on August 17th every year (canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic), and it is a great spot for many photographers to take pictures.

②Iwaya, the oldest place in Japan where the Hana-no-Iwaya sleep

Hana-no-Iwaya, the oldest place in Japan where the gods sleep, is also a sight to behold!

Hana-no-Iwaya is the tomb where Izanami no Mikoto, the mother of the gods, is said to have given birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi no Mikoto, and was buried there after she was burned to death. This place is also registered as a World Heritage Site as part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes of the Kii Mountain Range."

Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine is said to be the oldest shrine in Japan, and as a sacred place since ancient times, it is still a place of great faith and is visited by many people from all over the country.

A regular festival is held twice a year at Hana-no-Iwaya. A dance is offered to the gods, and a 170-meter long rope, said to be the longest in Japan, is passed from the sacred object 45 meters above the rock cave to the sacred pine kounogi in the southern corner of the precincts. This "Tsunagake Shinto ritual" has been designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Mie Prefecture.

4. lastly···

"It's a truly fascinating place, rich in history and nature. I'd like to come here with my family next time!"

About “Yoshi-niisan is starting to look more like a dad”

A segment aired every Wednesday on the CBC TV program "Chant!" Introducing the charms of Mie Prefecture, located almost in the center of the Japanese archipelago, from a father's perspective. This is a program in which ``Yoshi Onii-san'', who is growing as a father every day, uses the knowledge of Mie Prefecture he has learned so far to convey information about Mie from a more mature perspective.

Past broadcast contents are published on the official website of "Chant!"​

[About the past collaboration article with “Yoshi Onii-san’s “You’re starting to look more like a dad”]

“Yoshi Onii-san” takes a photo shoot at the Matsuzaka Castle ruins! Learn how to take photos from photographer Masashi Asada [Part 1]

“Yoshi Onii-san” takes on a family photo at GojobanYashiki! Learn how to take photos from photographer Masashi Asada [Part 2]

``Yoshio-san'' takes on the challenge of climbing Mt. Binishi, aiming for Mie Prefecture's spectacular scenic spot ``Elephant Back''!

“Yoshi Onii-san” experiences an AmaHut（Amagoya）with “Kazari” in Shima!

“Begonia Garden” I want to go to now! ! Yoshi Onii-san enjoys “Nabananosato”!

You can take great photos! Yoshi Onii-san walks around the world heritage site “Onigajo”!

What is “Yoshi Onii-san”?

The 11th generation gymnast on the NHK program ``Okaasan to Issho.'' My real name is Yoshihisa Kobayashi. His nickname is "Yoshi Onii-san". After graduating from the program in 2019, he opened a YouTube channel "Let's play with Yoshi Onii-san!" The theme of the channel is "videos that are fun for children and safe for adults to watch," and the channel has over 100,000 subscribers.