A Pilgrimage Route Shaped by Faith
A Road Associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai
Makio-michi developed as a route connecting Mount Koya with Shippō-ji Temple on Mount Makio, the temple where Kobo Daishi Kukai is traditionally said to have received the Buddhist ordination ceremony known as tokudo.
The route is also associated with Kukai’s years of religious training. Rather than simply serving as a means of transportation, the mountain path had an important role as a place for spiritual practice and religious devotion.
Along the way, traces of worship and places associated with local religious traditions can still be found. Walking the route offers travelers an opportunity to imagine the monks and pilgrims who once made their way through these mountains in search of spiritual enlightenment.
A Route that Supported Women’s Pilgrimages
For many centuries, women were not permitted to enter the central sacred areas of Mount Koya. Instead, women who wished to worship Kobo Daishi and pray at Koyasan visited temples and sacred sites around the mountain’s perimeter.
Routes associated with this tradition became known as Nyoni-michi, or Women’s Routes. Makio-michi is connected with this history and represents an important part of the story of women’s religious devotion surrounding Mount Koya.
Today, the route is also attracting attention as part of the experience of visiting the “Nyoni Koya” pilgrimage sites. Walking along the historic path provides a unique way to discover the spiritual traditions of the Kii Mountains while enjoying the surrounding landscape.
The Route and Its Character
Approximately 9 Kilometers of Mountain Walking
Makio-michi is approximately 9 kilometers long and takes around four hours to walk, depending on conditions and pace. It is generally considered a moderately challenging hiking route.
The route begins at Shippō-ji Temple on Mount Makio in Izumi, Osaka, and continues through areas including Zaō Pass and the Kinokawa River basin before reaching Kudoyama Town in Wakayama Prefecture.
From the Kudoyama area, the route passes near important religious and historic sites such as Jison-in Temple, Makioyama Myojin Shrine, Nashiki Pass, and Shiide. It eventually joins the Kyoto-Osaka-michi, another historic pilgrimage route leading toward Mount Koya.
Along the way, forests, mountain streams, historic buildings, shrines, and temples appear throughout the landscape. The changing scenery makes the walk feel like a journey through both nature and history.
Connections with Other Pilgrimage Routes
Makio-michi is one of several historic routes that connect the Kinokawa River basin with Mount Koya. Other important routes include Kurokomichi to the east and Choishimichi to the west.
The present-day Nankai Koya Line also follows a route that broadly corresponds to this historic flow of people toward Mount Koya. Traveling through the area today makes it possible to appreciate how routes connecting the mountain with surrounding communities have continued to shape the region from ancient times to the present.
Historical Recognition and Modern Development
Recognized as a Historic Route
In 2019, Makio-michi was added to the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “100 Selected Historic Roads”, officially recognizing its historical significance.
The route continues to be valued as an important religious path, preserving the memory of the pilgrims who traveled through the mountains long before modern transportation made Mount Koya easily accessible.
The “New Koya Highway”
When Koyashita Station opened in 1925, Makio-michi once again gained importance as an approach to Mount Koya. During the period before the railway was extended farther into the mountains, many worshippers used the route on their journey toward Koyasan.
It consequently became known as the “Shin-Koya Kaido,” or “New Koya Highway.” This chapter of its history demonstrates how an ancient pilgrimage route adapted to changing patterns of travel while retaining its religious importance.
Highlights Along Makio-michi
Shippō-ji Temple on Mount Makio
Shippō-ji Temple is famous as the fourth temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, one of Japan’s best-known Buddhist pilgrimage traditions.
Located on the mountainside, the temple is surrounded by peaceful forests and offers a serene atmosphere away from the bustle of urban life. Its setting makes it an especially fitting starting point for a pilgrimage walk.
Jison-in Temple
Jison-in Temple stands at the entrance to the historic approach to Mount Koya and has a long association with women’s worship. Because women were welcomed here even during periods when Mount Koya itself was closed to women, Jison-in became known as “Nyoni Koya,” or “Women’s Koya.”
Jison-in is also closely connected with Choishimichi, another major pilgrimage route to Mount Koya, making the temple an important starting point for exploring the region’s network of historic paths.
Makioyama Myojin Shrine
Makioyama Myojin Shrine has long been revered as a guardian shrine of the surrounding area. Deities including Koya Myojin and Benzaiten are enshrined here.
Quietly surrounded by the mountain landscape, the shrine has a tranquil and somewhat mysterious atmosphere. It is one of the places where visitors can experience the close relationship between nature and religious belief that characterizes the Kii Mountains.
Tamagawa Gorge and Ryuokyo Gorge
Tamagawa Gorge and Ryuokyo Gorge are scenic areas where clear streams flow between striking rock formations.
The scenery changes throughout the year, with fresh greenery in spring, cool mountain streams in summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and a quiet winter landscape. During summer, ayu sweetfish can be seen in the clear waters, while fireflies may appear at night, creating an enchanting natural setting.
Shiide Post Town and Historic Sites
The former post town of Shiide preserves traces of the travelers who once passed through the area on their way to Mount Koya.
Historic sites such as Jizo-ji Temple and Shiide Itsukushima Shrine remain in the area. Walking through Shiide provides a chance to imagine the pilgrims and other travelers who once stopped here during their journeys.
The Unique Appeal of Makio-michi
Where History and Nature Meet
One of the greatest attractions of Makio-michi is the way its history, religious traditions, and natural scenery come together.
Walking along an ancient pilgrimage path while surrounded by forests, streams, and mountain scenery creates an experience that is very different from sightseeing by car or train. The landscape itself becomes part of the historical journey.
For travelers interested in Japanese Buddhism, traditional pilgrimage culture, or the history of Mount Koya, the route offers an opportunity to experience these traditions on foot.
A Peaceful Journey for the Mind
Today, Makio-michi can also be experienced as a peaceful walking route away from the noise of everyday life.
The quiet mountain paths encourage visitors to slow down and pay attention to the sounds of the forest, flowing water, and changing seasons. For many modern travelers, this kind of walking experience offers time for reflection as well as sightseeing.
The route is therefore more than a historic trail. It can be experienced as a journey of discovery, reflection, and connection with the spiritual landscape of the Kii Mountains.
Experience the History of the Kii Mountains on Foot
Makio-michi is a special pilgrimage route associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, the religious traditions of Mount Koya, and the history of women who maintained their faith around the sacred mountain.
Its approximately 9-kilometer route combines historic temples and shrines with forests, mountain passes, clear streams, and scenic gorges. Every section offers an opportunity to discover another piece of the region’s long history.
For international visitors exploring Mount Koya and Kudoyama, walking Makio-michi is a rewarding way to experience the history, culture, spirituality, and natural beauty of the Kii Mountains.
Take your time, follow the footsteps of generations of pilgrims, and discover the quiet beauty of Makio-michi as you make your way toward the sacred world of Mount Koya.