Ito District: Pilgrimage Routes and Cultural Heritage

Ito District offers opportunities for trips centered on religious cultural heritage, pilgrimage routes, landscapes, and traditional crafts. Destinations in the surrounding area, both nearby and farther afield, range from historical collections and sacred sites to hiking trails and hands-on workshops. To start planning, decide whether you want to focus on culture, nature, or a specific activity.

Cultural Heritage Nearby

The Kōyasan Reihōkan Museum opened in 1921 with donations and support from Kongōbu-ji. Its purpose was to preserve and exhibit Kōyasan’s valuable cultural heritage. In addition to a special summer exhibition, its program includes special exhibitions, special presentations, and a permanent exhibition throughout the year. The collection comprises about 28,000 catalogued items and around 100,000 uncatalogued objects. The cultural properties preserved there include 21 National Treasures, 148 Important Cultural Properties, 17 cultural properties designated by Wakayama Prefecture, and two significant works of art. Collection and designation figures may change.

The sacred sites around Kōyasan also tell different chapters of its history. Danjō Garan was the first site established by Kōbō Daishi Kūkai as he developed Kōyasan; he built the complex with his disciples in 817. You can visit the Kondō, Konpon-Daitō, and Miedō on the grounds. The vermilion Daimon Gate is 25.1 meters high, has two stories and three passageways, and is flanked by Kongōrikishi statues. Okunoin houses Kūkai’s mausoleum and is considered, alongside Danjō Garan, one of Kōyasan’s two most important sacred sites. The Tokugawa Family Mausoleum is the burial place of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada; Tokugawa Iemitsu had it built in 1643.

Shrines, Pilgrimage Routes, and Landscapes

Niutsuhime Shrine was founded more than 1,700 years ago. The deity enshrined there is believed to drive away all misfortune. The shrine stands in the Amano Basin at an elevation of about 450 meters and, together with Kōyasan, is inscribed as part of the World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” Via Hachōzaka, its grounds connect to the Kōyasan Chōishimichi pilgrimage route. At the junction stands the Futatsu Torii, where visitors can worship the shrine from afar.

Mitanizaka is an old pilgrimage route that starts at Niusakadono Shrine, passes Niutsuhime Shrine and the Chōishimichi, and leads to Kōyasan. Along the way, it runs between mandarin orange and persimmon orchards and offers views over the Kinokawa River. Most of the route is steep and slippery after rain; it is suitable for experienced, fit hikers. At Kōyasan, the forest therapy trail starts beside the path near Nyonindō and leads through a protected Koyamaki plant community.

Tamagawa Gorge is known for its unusual rock formations and waterfalls of varying sizes, and is designated a prefectural scenic spot. A former rail track used to transport Kōya timber has been converted into a walking trail of about 1.5 kilometers along the gorge. It runs from Kōyashita Station to the center of Kudoyama. The station opened in 1925; its preserved wooden station building has the unusual feature of a road passing beneath it.

Crafts, Museums, and Regional Traditions

In the wider region, Shiyu-en introduces visitors to the traditions and techniques of Kōya paper and offers papermaking experiences. There is an introductory course and a full-day hands-on course; reservations are required for both. The museum also holds annual themed exhibitions, including exhibitions on Japanese paper kites, morning glories, and daffodils. Exhibition themes may change. Check the current course conditions before your trip.

The Kudoyama Sanada Museum presents the history of Sanada Masayuki, Yukimura (also known as Nobushige), and Daisuke. This includes Yukimura’s fourteen years living in Kudoyama, explored through display panels and dramatized films. An animation theater covers the legend of the Sanada Ten Braves, and there is also a mechanical room modeled on the historic Sanada residence. The Sanada Braid Workshop is located in a traditional single-story wooden house near Sanada Kofun. Tours and an approximately one-hour braiding course for up to six people are available by full reservation only. Confirm the current arrangements before your trip.

Jison-in is known as “Women’s Kōya.” Many women visit the temple and dedicate breast-shaped votive plaques to pray for conception, a safe birth, the care of children, breastfeeding, or a good relationship. Every April, Niutsuhime Shrine holds the Hanamori Festival: seasonal flowers decorate the approach, and a procession in historical clothing passes through the town. It is led by Sarutahiko wearing a tengu mask; the exact arrangements may vary.

Find a Hotel by Travel Theme

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ito District, your trip’s focus can help you get started: cultural heritage and collections, pilgrimage routes, landscapes, or traditional crafts. This can help you incorporate the subjects that interest you into your travel plans.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Koya, Higashimuro District, Nishimuro District

Return to the main travel overview: Wakayama Prefecture.