Kumano River �@Nunobiki no Taki waterfall The highest of the waterfalls on this route. It’s named Nunobiki(clothstretched out to dry)because after a heavy rain it looks like a white cloth hanging over the rock face. �AAoi no Taki waterfall The image of the water flowing rapidly down the sheer rock face into the Kumano river is truly splendid. �BJanowada no Taki waterfall(the snake falls) Like a snake slithering down,the water falls down the three tiers. It’s other name is “the three step fall” �CSenji Gaeri(where even the messenger turned back) A former emperor who was suffering from a bad headache,sent a messenger to ask a famous priest named SenNen Shonin to pray for his recovery. However,due to the terrible weather and flooding,this messenger on a such an important mission turned back,fearing for his life at this perilous point of the journey. You can still see 200 meters of original road traversing the rock face. �DHihatsu Gamine This is the mountain where the fore mentioned priest,SenNen Shounin lived during the Heian era (781 to 1181). Legend has it that he would lower an iron bowl on a string to ask for alms flom the passers by below. �ENabiki Ishi The rocks look as if they are fluttering in the wind. �FYoseki Here you can see a phallic rock formation,and can you see anything that looks feminine on the other side the river halfway up the slope? �GNanoka Maki(revolving for 7 days) One of the boatmen who traveled up and down the river decided one day to play a trick on SenNen Shonin. When he lowered his bowl to receive alms,the boatman put in some old sandals. Senen was so angry that he sent his boat spinning and it revolved for 7 days. �HBikuni Korobi(where Buddhist nuns fall) Another perilous point of the journey,here event the experienced nuns had difficulty passing. �IHoneJima(bone Island) Legion has it that an evil demon who lived here was struck down by the gods of this region. And here his severed bones remain. �JTsuriGane Ishi(Hanging bell) Here is a stone that looks like a bell. They say that when the overhanging rock falls this world will come to an end. �KHisetsu no Taki(Blizzard fall) Like snow falling heavily and dancing in the wind,this view is the prize of the Kumano river. It was named by the local lord. There is now a small park and camp ground. �LHiruShima(Lunch Island) The gods of this area often lunched here and played board games. If you stand on the island you can see crisscrossing lines that make up what seems to be a game board. It’s a great place for us to take a break, too. �MBenkei no AshiAto(The footprint of Benkei) Benkei(a man who was renowned for his size and strength)is said to have been pushing a boat out into the water and left his footprints on the stone face. He must have been very strong to leave footprints in stone! �NOnbe no Fuchi(The Bay of Offerings) This is the place where the 75 fish to be used as shrine offerings for the autumn festival in Shingu are to be caught. �OChihogaMine This peak is called ChihogaMine. At the foot is Hayatama Shrine and Kamikura Shrine is halfway up the mountain. The top(253m)commands a wonderful view of the mouth of the Kumano River and the sea beyond. �PTatami Ishi This rock formation looks tatami mats piled up and leaning to the right. �QMihune jima This is where the local deities are said to have first appeared. The culmination of the autumn festival at Hayatama Shrine is a boat race. The boats from the different neighborhoods of Shingu row upstream to this island and circle it three times as a reenactment of their appearance. �RKameJima(Turtle Island) Does this island look like a turtle to you? It used to look more like a turtle before a typhoon changed its shape. If you look carefully you Can see a pattern on its“shell” �SGongen Gawara This was a boat landing for pilgrims on their way to the Hayatama Shrine. A small town of temporary buildings was erected to servise both loggers who brought timber down from the mountains as well as the pilgrims. Because of constant flooding,these amazing huts were built without the use of nails. Being jointed they could be taken down and moved to the riverbank in only 30 minutes! It only took them between 60 to 90 minutes to reassemble them.