Kumano Kodo Iseji Route Magose-toge Pass

Magose Pass (Magose Toge) is on the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," registered in 2004—an exceptionally rare world heritage site centered on historic roads. The pass trail is sometimes called "Japan’s best stone pavement," with natural stones beautifully laid like overlapping layers, making it one of the most popular courses on the Kumano Kodo Iseji. From the nearest Aiga Station, it takes about a 30-minute walk to reach the starting point at Michi-no-Eki Miyama. From there, it is about 5 km to the finish at Owase Station, taking around three hours. With clearly placed trail markers, it is a relatively easy route even for beginner hikers. Along the way, you’ll find many historic points of interest, such as the "Yonaki Jizo" built to pray for safe journeys, and a large single-slab stone bridge spanning a stream. At the 325-meter summit stands a stone monument carved with the haiku "At night, there is sound above the flowers—mountain water," by Karyoen Momooto, a haiku poet from the late Edo period. In the latter half of the route, the observatory at Magose Park offers a sweeping view over Owase City, and seasonal flowers delight visitors—cherry blossoms and azaleas from spring into early summer, and bush clover blooms in autumn.