Miko of Nachi Taisha shrine in Kumano Kodo. A Miko is a “shrine maiden”, or priestess, who performs many tasks related to the daily activities of a shrine. The traditional attire is a red Hakama and a white Haori.
You can find the full blog post about the Kii peninsula at the following page: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/kii-peninsula-sacred-nature-japan/
A couple of pilgrims visit the Nachi no Taki waterfall shinto shrine. More realistically they are tourists who want to live a more intense experience, anyhow they are dressed up in a very traditional way, as in the Heian era.
You can find the full blog post about the Kii peninsula at the following page: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/kii-peninsula-sacred-nature-japan/
Contemplation. A detail of the Nachi no taki waterfall. This is a famous destination among travelers and japanese people as well, because of its beauty and its spiritual importance (being part of the “Nachi Taisha” temple area).
In this picture I’ve focused on the details, which are the soul of its beauty: the particular color of the stone, the complex and almost perfect vertical flow of the water, with its many small jumps, the way it creeps between the fissures and the presence of a pine tree which pushes out toward the water, all of this creates an almost poetic and timeless scene that brings to my mind the ancient japanese scroll paintings.
You can find the full blog post about the Kii peninsula at the following page: Kii peninsula: discovering the ancient natural and sacred heart of Japan
This photograph has been awarded with an Honorable Mention in the 2017 edition of the ND Awards: Contemplation – Category “Other”Nachi no Taki waterfall, near the important Nachi Taisha shinto shrine in Kumano Kodo, Kii peninsula. This is the tallest single-drop waterfall in Japan, and one of the most important because it embodies the spirit of Hiryu Gongen, a worshipped “kami” of Kumano Kodo. The view of the waterfall from its base and the roaring sound of the impact with the rocks makes you feel tiny and reveal the possible presence of the “kami” within this wondrous manifestation of the power of nature.
You can find the full blog post about the Kii peninsula at the following page: Kii peninsula: discovering the ancient natural and sacred heart of Japan
The Daimon-zaka is part of the Sankeimichi pilgrimage path in south-eastern area of the Kii peninsula; it is a monumental staircase made with cobblestones that climbs a slope of about 600 meters to reach the Kumano Nachi Taisha. The quiet atmosphere and the almost physical sensation of being embraced by the ancient forest establish some sort of spiritual bond with that natural place, arousing a pleasant peaceful feeling.
You can find the full blog post about the Kii peninsula at the following page: Kii peninsula: discovering the ancient natural and sacred heart of Japan
