UNESCO Pilgrimage Routes Tanabe and Santiago de Compostela share a rich history of pilgrimage tradition. Way of St. JamesNetworks of ancient routes lead to both Tanabe City’s Grand Shrine, Kumano Hongu Taisha, and to the Holy City of Santiago de Compostela. The Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela and the Kumano Kodo to Kumano are both pilgrimage routes registered as UNESCO World Heritage. These networks of routes originated mainly in the 10th century and have been walked by millions of pilgrims. Although Kumano is located in the far east of Asia and Santiago de Compostela is located in the far west of Europe, both ancient roads testify to a parallel history of faith.Kumano Kodo They have developed simultaneously as pilgrimage routes and have become beloved by our citizens as important parts of our historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. They have developed simultaneously as pilgrimage routes and have become beloved by our citizens as important parts of our historical, cultural and spiritual heritage.