An imposing temple hidden within the rugged mountains of Wakayama
Kumano Hongu Taisha is among the three nice shrines that make up Kumano Sanzan and is situated deep within the Kii Mountains. Its picket body has lengthy been a sight for sore eyes as road-weary vacationers climb the ultimate stone staircase to the shrine.
- Approaching the shrine by the standard route alongside the Nakahechi path from Hosshinmon Oji
- Subtle building methods use picket joints reasonably than nails
- Yata-no-Hello August Hearth Pageant or Kumano Hongu Taisha Spring Pageant
Kumano Hongu, historically reached by a strenuous mountain trek, is now simply accessible by bus.
Take a bus from Shingu (one hour and 20 minutes), Kii-Tanabe or Shirahama stations (about two hours). Get off at Hongu-Taisha-Mae for the closest strategy to the shrine or Hosshinmon Oji for a stupendous two-hour hike alongside the historic strategy.
Quick information
The biggest torii gate on the earth now stands on the unique website of the Oyunohara shrine
Entrance to the temple grounds is free, however entrance to the treasury is ¥300
Hongu Taisha is on the middle of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route
Transfer to security
You may suppose that the shrine appears comparatively youthful at 900 years outdated, and also you'd be proper. In 1889, a fantastic flood washed over the shrine in her authentic dwelling of Oyunohara. What remained was taken to its present dwelling in Tanabe 
and thoroughly rebuilt.
The unique website is a fast stroll from the present shrine grounds, simply marked by an enormous torii gate erected in 2000 to commemorate the previous website.
All roads result in Hongu Taisha
All pilgrimages on the Kumano Kodo Historic Pilgrimage Route ultimately you’ll come to the stone steps resulting in the nice shrine of the Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine . Nonetheless, not all guests might endure the arduous weeks of strolling via the rugged mountain terrain undertaken by historical pilgrims. As we speak, the shrine could be very widespread with day guests and is very crowded in the course of the New Yr interval.
Hidden among the many cypress bushes
Not like the colourful crimson colour of Hayatama and Nachi Taisha, Kumano Hongu Taisha seems a extra muted determine as its picket facade blends into the pure background. Its in depth cypress bark roof is especially spectacular.
Spring lanterns are sprung
Each spring, the Kumano Hongu Taisha Spring Pageant is held on the shrine. On April 13, fathers and sons will immerse themselves within the sacred waters of close by Yunomine Onsen in an act of purification, then trek a part of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage in conventional costume. Fathers have to be robust as a result of their sons are forbidden to the touch the earth.
On April 15, the Kumano deities settled of their transportable shrines and have been transported to the shrine's authentic website in Oyunohara. Later, in August, is the Yata-no-Hello Hearth Pageant, held on the authentic website of the Oyunohara Shrine, and features a burning mikoshi shrine and fireworks.
