Along the Yakiyama-goe, there are four memorials of those who came here for this pilgrimage but failed to complete it. The names of the prefectures Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Gunma, and Ibaraki are engraved on them.

The journey from Ise to Kumano Sanzan was by no means an easy one with the amount of mountains needing to be crossed. Those suffering from disease prayed to be cured, those carrying heavy burdens wished to be relieved of them. All of them made this journey, hoping their prayers would be answered.

When pilgrims would leave their hometowns, they’d bring along something like a passport. If they were ever to collapse along their journey, they had a message telling whoever found them to arrange for a funeral, using the money they had on them. But there was a great number of pilgrims who didn’t have any money to pay for a grave. Please keep them in your thoughts and offer a prayer as you continue your journey.