Kumano Hongu Taisha

Kumano Hongu Taisha (熊野本宮大社), located in the town of Tanabe (formerly known as Hongu) in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, is one of the three grand shrines of Kumano Sanzan, a group of sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii Mountains designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is considered the most important and oldest shrine among the three, holding a central position in the Kumano belief system.

The shrine is dedicated to various deities, primarily the Kumano Gongen, a collective name for the three main deities of Kumano: Ketsumimiko no Okami, associated with the creation of life and water; Izanagi no Mikoto, the male creator deity in Japanese mythology; and Izanami no Mikoto, the female creator deity. Hongu Taisha is also closely associated with the Kumano Kodo (熊野古道), an ancient network of pilgrimage routes that connects various sacred sites in the Kii Peninsula, including the three grand shrines.

Originally located on a large sandbank called Oyunohara, the shrine complex was relocated to its current site after a devastating flood in 1889. The main hall of the shrine, known as the Hongu Taisha Honden, was rebuilt in 1891 and features a traditional Japanese-style architecture with a thatched cypress bark roof.

One of the most prominent features of Hongu Taisha is the Oyunohara (大斎原), a vast open space where the original shrine once stood. Today, it serves as a symbolic place of worship and is home to various monuments and a sacred stone torii gate.

Hongu Taisha is also home to various annual festivals, including the Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Festival (熊野本宮大社例大祭), which is held in April and features traditional performances, rituals, and a procession of mikoshi, portable shrines.

Visitors to Hongu Taisha can participate in various traditional activities, such as writing wishes on ema (wooden plaques), purifying themselves with water at the temizuya (water ablution pavilion), and purchasing amulets (omamori) and other souvenirs from the shrine’s shop. They can also explore the shrine’s surroundings, including the Oyunohara and nearby hot spring areas like Yunomine Onsen and Kawayu Onsen.

Getting there

By Bus

From Kii-Tanabe Station:

• Take a bus bound for Hongu
• Journey time: About 2 hours
• Get off at “Hongu-Taisha-mae” bus stop

From Shingu Station:

• Take a bus bound for Hongu
• Journey time: About 1 hour 20 minutes
• Get off at “Hongu-Taisha-mae” bus stop

From Shirahama:

• Take a bus bound for Hongu
• Journey time: About 2 hours 10 minutes
• Get off at “Hongu-Taisha-mae” bus stop

By Train and Bus

• From Kyoto or Osaka:

1. Take the JR Kii-no-Kuni line to Kii-Tanabe Station
2. Transfer to a bus bound for Hongu

• From Nagoya:

1. Take the JR Kiisei line to Shingu Station
2. Transfer to a bus bound for Hongu

By Air

• Fly to Nanki Shirahama Airport
• Take a bus from the airport to Hongu

Details

Hours	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission	Free
Phone	+81 735-42-0009
Address	1110 Hongucho Hongu, Tanabe, Wakayama 647-1731
Official Website	https://www.hongutaisha.jp/