Kumano Hongū Taisha
熊野本宮大社 · Hongūchō Hongū
Shinto shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation2:18
Welcome to Kumano Hongu Taisha, the head shrine of over three thousand Kumano shrines across Japan and a central destination on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage. For over a thousand years, emperors, aristocrats, and commoners have…
Listen in the app2The Ascent of Faith — The South Entrance and Steps2:06
Our visit begins at the South Entrance, where a series of steep stone steps leads upward through a towering forest of ancient cedars. As you climb, you are following in the footsteps of millions of pilgrims who have made this…
Listen in the app3The Guide of Emperors — The Yatagarasu and Worship Hall2:04
At the heart of the shrine complex stands the Yatagarasu, the sacred three-legged crow. This mythological creature is the primary symbol of the Kumano Grand Shrines, representing the divine guidance that led Japan’s first…
Listen in the app4The Divine Dwellings — The Main Pavilions2:05
Behind the Worship Hall lie the Main Pavilions, the most sacred area of Hongu Taisha. There are four main buildings, each constructed in the distinct 'Kumano-zukuri' style, characterized by their cypress-bark roofs and elegant,…
Listen in the app5The Void of Origin — Oyu Nohara2:01
A short walk from the current shrine complex leads us to Oyu Nohara, the original site of Kumano Hongu Taisha. This wide, grassy sandbar at the confluence of the Kumano and Otonashi rivers was once home to a massive complex of…
Listen in the app6The Sacred Arteries — The Kumano River2:02
The Kumano River, flowing past Oyu Nohara, is not merely a body of water but a sacred artery of the pilgrimage. Historically, it was known as the 'River of Salvation,' and high-ranking pilgrims, including Emperors, would travel…
Listen in the app7The Healing Waters — Yunomine Onsen and Tsuboyu1:59
No visit to Kumano Hongu Taisha is complete without a journey to the nearby hot springs, particularly Yunomine Onsen. This small village is tucked away in a narrow valley just a few kilometers from the shrine and is said to have…
Listen in the app8Closing1:52
As we conclude our journey through Kumano Hongu Taisha, we are left with a sense of the immense spiritual gravity of this landscape. We have moved from the challenging ascent of the stone steps to the quiet majesty of the main…
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What is Kumano Hongū Taisha?
Kumano Hongū Taisha is a place in Hongūchō Hongū with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Hongūchō Hongū |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 16 min 27 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 33.8404, 135.7736 |
| Last updated |
