Editorial photo #13862771 Human Interest
UNESCO Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Revitalizes Rural Wakayama
SHINGU, JAPAN - JUNE 19: A Shinto shrine maiden (miko) in traditional red and white attire cleans the wooden facade of the grand vermilion pavilions within the sacred grounds of UNESCO Kumano Hayatama Taisha in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, on June 19, 2026. This extensive structural complex serves as one of the primary pillars of the sacred Kumano Sanzan network, drawing thousands of international spiritual pilgrims and outdoor trekkers across the mountainous Kii Peninsula each year. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)
