You can start the visit from the bottom of the Nachi falls. A stone paved path, surrounded by beautiful Japanese cedars, leads to the river. Here is a small shrine to pray in front of the impressive waterfall. It is the original religious site of Nachisan.
Nachisan takes part in the Kumano Kodō, a long pilgrimage through the various temples and shrines of the Kii Peninsula. Nachisan is representative of the “fusion” between Buddhism and Shintoism because there is a mix of temple and shrine. Going up the trail, you’ll arrive to Seiganto-ji, a buddhist temple famous for its iconic three-story pagoda overlooking the Nachi falls. Seiganto-ji is believed to be the oldest structure in Kumano, dating from the 4th century, when Buddhism had just reached Japan.