Aiming to Complete the Kumano Kodo Iseji Route 23

Good evening.
The Sone Jiro-zaka and Taro-zaka slopes I am currently introducing are said to be the second most difficult section of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, following the Yakiyama pass.

Because of that, there are many highlights, so I am introducing them in parts.

Please see this article for the trailhead.

On May 23rd of this year, a portion of the Sone stone quarry was designated as a cultural property of Owase City.

Please see this article for information regarding the Sone stone quarry located along the Sone Jiro-zaka and Taro-zaka slopes.

Now, I will continue writing about the remaining highlights.

Memorial Monument for Pilgrims Who Died on the Road

As I mentioned at the beginning, because it is a difficult mountain pass, there were several memorial monuments for pilgrims who died on the road during the Edo period.

It seems that for those who walked to complete the Saigoku Thirty-three Pilgrimage after finishing their visit to Ise Jingu and had money on them, their home provinces were notified, and memorial monuments were erected using the money they had left.

Whale Rock

Even the shape of the rock and its striped patterns look like a whale.
The large Whale Rock stands out because it is located along the pass.
Plants and ferns were also growing on the Whale Rock.
Whales were also caught in this area at that time.

Pilgrimage Memorial Monument

There was also a pilgrimage memorial monument a little further up the pass.
The sun was hitting it, and it looked as if it were bathed in a halo.

Hoji Tea House Ruins and the Jizo of Hobo Pass

It is said that there used to be a Hoji tea house in this area.

The Jizo statue at Hobo Pass is inside a small shrine and has a handsome, lovely face.

Boar Fence

A boar fence is a barrier used to keep wild animals like boars and deer from entering fields from the mountains.
The boar fence here is very impressive, with both height and length.

There were so many stones, and I was fascinated, wondering if they were built by people skilled in stone masonry.

Nigishima Trailhead

This stone monument marks the end of the World Heritage area.
It was a mountain pass that seemed to connect the sea from Kata Bay in Owase City to Nigishima Bay in Kumano City.

It makes me happy to see the sea from the mountain pass, and the view of the ocean is beautiful.

It is a long mountain pass, but it is one of my favorites.

Personally, I was happy to be able to see so much beautiful Leucobryum moss.

I wrote this in three parts; what did you think of the Sone Jiro-zaka and Taro-zaka slopes?

Thank you for reading.