The oldest reliable record of pilgrimage to Kumano dates to the 16th century, according to it, Kiyoyoshi DOI, a samurai of Iyo Province, visited Kumano Sanzan after visiting Mt. Koya to perform a memorial service for his father who had died in a battle.
確実な参詣の記録として最古のものは16世紀にさかのぼり、伊予国の武将土居清良が戦死した父の菩提を弔うために高野山を経て熊野三山に参詣したとするものである。