Daimon-zaka Slope

600-meter stone stairway of 267 steps rising through old-growth Japanese cedar forest on the approach to Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine. The path begins at a vermillion bridge that once marked the boundary between the ordinary world and sacred ground, beyond which pilgrims had to proceed on foot. A teahouse near the trailhead lends Heian-style costumes for those wanting to recreate the historic pilgrimage experience. A pair of giant cedars, traditionally said to have been donated by Minamoto no Yoritomo, marks the entrance to the slope proper. From a midpoint, Nachi Waterfall is visible through a gap in the trees.