Kumano Hongu-Taisha Shrine

Information

Kumano Hongu-Taisha Shrine is located deep in the rugged Kii Mountains. It is one of the three Kumano-jinja shrines (Kumano Sanzan) along with Kumano Hayatama-Taisha and Kumano Nachi-Taisha, and all of the ancient Kumano-Kodo pilgrimage routes lead to the shrines. As you climb the 158 stone steps to the main building, you sense the endless history in the fluttering streamers and towering cedar trees. Once through the shrine's main gate, you come upon the main hall with its magnificent, thatched roof of cypress shingles. The austere wooden construction of the shrine is thought to be the oldest type of shrine architecture in Japan. Indeed, this grand shrine is the model for around 3,000 Kumano branch shrines across the country. It was originally located at Oyunohara, but was destroyed by a tremendous flood in 1889 and consequently moved to its present location.
Kumano Hongu-Taisha Shrine was included as part of the Kumano Sanzan in the UNESCO World Heritage site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" in 2002.

Opening Hours

8:00 - 17:00
Treasure House: 8:00 - 16:00

Price / Entrance Fee

Admission Free
Treasure House: 300 yen (General, Adult)
Treasure House: 100 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

110 minutes from JR Kii-Tanabe Station by the bus bound for Kumano Hongu-Taisha. Get off at Hongu-Taisha-mae Bus stop.

Address / Location

1110, Hongucho Hongu, Tanabe-shi, Wakayama, 647-1731

Tweets

ITO @ftrux - 2018-12-16: 本殿: Main Sanctuary of Kumano Hongu Taisha from B.C. 33

#熊野本宮大社 #shrine #和歌山 #神社 #紅葉 #ファインダー越しの私の世界 #写真好きな人と繋がりたい… https://t.co/WdI1PHhUoc
Oh my jet lag! @ohmyjetlagtour - 2018-12-12: Oyu no Hara, the highest torii in the world at 33 meters. The original gate to enter the Hongu Taisha through the K… https://t.co/BxS5D3nfJm
Walk The Camino @walkcamino - 2018-11-29: Hongu Taisha, a Shinto grand shrine of Kumano and UNESCO World Heritage site at Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, and pi… https://t.co/G4mg8yR2Dv
Lee Cobbes @metronomad - 2018-11-17: Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社) is a Shinto shrine located in Tanabe, Wakayama, deep in the rugged mountains of the Ki… https://t.co/CP72ilZX4b
混沌狐 @Tibsfox - 2018-07-13: 熊野速玉大社 Kumano Hayatama Taisha
For over a thousand years, pilgrims have traveled to the Kumano Region to pray at The… https://t.co/y0npVaGSTN
Tommy Carson @tommycarson - 2018-06-11: Kumano Hongū Taisha shrine was located where the world’s largest Torii is now standing but they moved to a nearby h… https://t.co/wYt059OOmt
Jeroen Vergeylen @JeroenVergeylen - 2018-05-29: One shrine in the Kumano Hongu Taisha is dedicated to the mythical three-legged bird #Yatagarasu, also the emblem o… https://t.co/dJGeKpZJaO
Burcu Basar @BizarreJourneys - 2018-04-19: Today in Kumano Kodo photos, which did not make it into the magazine // Kongu Hongu Taisha Shrine - one of the most… https://t.co/twV0BNN4uO
Mi-Kumano Office @Mi_Kumano - 2018-04-14: Kumano Hongu Taisha grand shrine's festival is held on April 13th to15th. Have a nice trip with us.
https://t.co/lH3YxxE9K7
Max in Japan @MaxImEinsatz - 2018-04-01: The path we followed is part of the old pilgrim route 'Kumano Kodo' leading to the sacred shrine Kumano Hongū Taish… https://t.co/2Tslh6N7fL
t o - f u u @t_tofuu - 2018-03-23: The entrance to Kumano Hongū Taisha, a Shinto shrine that celebrates its 2050th(!!) anniversary this year [2048x153… https://t.co/IQgMzsTQoT
Claudio Beffa @phoclab - 2018-03-22: Gate of the Hongu Taisha grand #shrine in Kumano Kodo, Kii peninsula.
Read the article here:… https://t.co/F1Nf9Rq5Xq
Niken Budi A @nikenba - 2018-03-10: Japanese-way of ‘Wudu’ just before entering the Shinto Shrine, Kumano Hongu Taisha. #jenesys #jice #indonesia https://t.co/BSBCtC6Wjn
Dani Martorell @dani_martorell - 2017-12-18: People you find #haiking at #kumanokodo This is Hongu Taisha shrine #traveling #travelphotography #kumano #japan… https://t.co/Dl0NbqH1Ab
Jonathan Stokes @StokesJon - 2017-11-01: The entrance gate, called a torii, to Kumano Hongu Taisha, a Grand Shrine along the #KumanoKodo route in #Japan… https://t.co/nuzXsvkZ0T
Space Japan @spacejapanjp - 2017-09-05: Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine (熊野本宮大社)
Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Subscribe: https://t.co/w37zkCiqSZ https://t.co/bWOjJkKTxR
yappari-japan.eshop @yappari_japan - 2017-07-22: Check out Brand New Japanese Goshuincho Stamp Notebook 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine https://t.co/I6ALIDiy4j v… https://t.co/OgK4RP38NL
City's Pride - En✈ @CITYS_PRIDE_EN - 2017-07-06: Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine in Wakayama, Japan
It belongs to a World Heritage 'Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes... https://t.co/s9zUPvG4ux
yappari-japan.eshop @yappari_japan - 2017-06-23: Check out Brand New Japanese Goshuincho Stamp Notebook 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine https://t.co/I6ALIDiy4j v… https://t.co/tUl1jSd6Cy
Esteban Sanín Ángel @estebansanin - 2017-03-14: Kumano Hongu Taisha, the main shrine of the #kumanokodo in #wakayama #japan #visitwakayama @… https://t.co/3YukOl6pm8
Boing de Guayaba @BoingGuayaba - 2017-03-12: The Japanese Way of Santiago by jimbos ... The great shrine of Kumano Hongu Taisha is the main sanctuary of several… https://t.co/sPkiPozoz2
Frans & Bron Stiene @IHReiki - 2017-02-25: The two big kanji on the kumano hongu taisha shrine in Japan say:
成氣 To become Ki
(thanks to Grace who just did a... https://t.co/WedtaSDVO1
Frans Stiene @FransStiene - 2017-02-25: The two big kanji on the kumano hongu taisha shrine in Japan say:
成氣 To become Ki
(thanks to Grace who just did a p… https://t.co/NSHOMal0HM
Boing de Guayaba @BoingGuayaba - 2016-11-24: Austerity Sinto. by jimbos ... The Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine is located in a dense cedar forest and at the heart o… https://t.co/jj6QLYDlkl
Mathew @thatmatsmith - 2016-07-21: 'There was no unified English spelling of the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine, which was spelled 19 different ways.' https://t.co/tJxVStPfrk
Dual Pilgrims @DualPilgrims - 2016-05-19: at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shinto shrine. These lion-dogs are created to ward off evil spirits 📷: @repeattraveller https://t.co/IJyyt0CkN4
熊野本宮　蒼空げすとはうす @aozoragh - 2015-12-31: [REMINDER about the traffic on the New Year period] :
On Route 168, near the KUMANO HONGU TAISHA grand shrine,... https://t.co/kNlXVTgiq5
熊野本宮　蒼空げすとはうす @aozoragh - 2015-12-30: [RENINDER about the traffic on the New Year period] :
On Route 168, near the KUMANO HONGU TAISHA grand shrine,... https://t.co/AHys5AxkKy
Daniel Andrade @DanielAndradeDi - 2015-12-28: 📷 thekimonogallery: Chief Shinto priest worshipping at Kumano Hongu Taisha - main shrine festival at... https://t.co/t97tRlIYKT
やまだひでお @HIDE_Verdad - 2015-12-02: Shimenawa (sacred rice-straw ropes) in Kumano Hongu Taisha Shinto shrine 2015/08 No.1(taken by fi… #Nikon #flickr https://t.co/9IMTRxchVM