Magose-toge Pass
Magose-toge Pass: read a guide to hiking the Magose-toge Pass on the Iseji Route of the Kumano Kodo near Owase in Mie Prefecture.
Hiking The Magose-Toge 馬越峠,熊野古道
Magose-Toge is a popular hike on the Iseji Route - part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes through Mie and Wakayama prefectures.
The Iseji Route leads from Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture to Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine in Shingu, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine in Hongu, Wakayama Prefecture.
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture, Mie Prefecture
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture
Kumano Kodo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (紀伊山地の霊場と参詣道).
For centuries these pilgrimage routes were travelled by monks and nuns to and from the different centers of worship which, after the introduction of Buddhism, grew into a syncretic mix of Buddhism and more indigenous religions, Taoism and what is now called Shinto.
Hike
The hike over Magose-toge Pass from the starting point to Owase Station takes about 2 and a half hours and though the 5km route is quite steep it is not an overly-challenging walk.
Care needs to be taken on the many sections of stone steps especially after rain when they become slippery. The steps were made to stop the path from water erosion and mud slides.
Owase has plenty of rain with around 4000mm a year falling on the area annually.
The guardian statue, Yonaki Jizo, for crying children
Yonaki Jizo
After the first steep climb visitors will come across a small Jizo shrine, Yonaki Jizo, originally placed here to protect pilgrims but later claimed to have special powers to prevent babies and young children crying at night.
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture
Haiku Monument of Karyoen Toitsu, Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture
Haiku Monument of Karyoen Toitsu (可涼園桃乙の句碑)
A stone monument can be just before the summit of the pass, which is at 324m. The monument is dedicated to Edo Period haiku poet, Karyoen Toitsu on his visit to the area in 1852. The stone is inscribed with his haiku commemorating viewing cherry blossoms at night. The actual summit of the pass has benches and an emergency shelter and from here other paths lead to Mt. Tengurasan (522m) and Mt. Binshiyama (599m), both offer superb views of the sea at Owase Bay from large rocks located at the top. Mt. Tengurasan is about 30 minutes from the top of Magose-toge, while Mt. Binshiyama is 2 hours.
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture
Magose-fudoson 馬越不動尊
Below the summit is Magose Park (馬子背), a small area planted with cherry trees and views over Owase and the coast. Near here is Magose-fudoson, a small temple dedicated to Fudo Myo-o and the founder of Shugendo, En-no-Gyoja. The temple is located near a 20m-high waterfall.
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture, Mie Prefecture
Access
Owase Station or the previous station to the north, Aiga Station are the best starting points for walking the Magose-toge Pass.
Local buses radiate out from the station and there is a taxi rank just outside. To get to the beginning of the Magose-toge Pass take either a Mie Kotsu Bus for Kii-Nagashima Station or Shimakatsu and get off at the Washige bus stop (about 13 minutes). Alternatively, take a Mie Kotsu Nanki Express Bus for Matsusaka and get of at Washige bus stop (about 12 minutes). Fureai buses also run to the nearby Mie Prefecture Kumano Kodo Center. South of Owase in Kumano-shi is the start of the Matsumoto-toge Pass, another delightful, short hike that can also include a walk along the coast to see the spectacular Oniga-jo cliffs.
Nearby
Canoeing or camping at Camp Inn Miyama on the banks of the crystal-clear Choshi River or visit Owase Jinja and Kongo-ji temple in Owase town.
Magose-toge Pass, Owase, Mie Prefecture, Mie Prefecture
