In the city of Shin-gū, a city at the foot of the Three Mountains of Kumano, we walk along the ancient roads of the mountains and the sea.

Based on the Shinomiya, a town at the foot of the Kumano Sanzan, which is a World Heritage Site, why not take a journey to be healed by the nature of the mountains, the sea and the rivers while touring the power spots related to myths and legends from ancient times.

Travel around World Heritage is from " Shin-gū"

Shingu is a town in the town of Monzen opened around the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, which sits at the mouth of the Kumano River. It was called "Shin-gū" because it was a new palace for God at the foot of Mount Kamakura where the gods of Kumano descended, and it became a place name. It is a city with a history that was crowded as a castle town during the Edo period. Let's go out to power spot here at the base!

 One of the world heritage sites Kumano Sanzan, Kumano Hayatama Taisha

First, we go to the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, which is located at the mouth of the Kumano River; and we enshrine the gods of Kumano, with Kumano Hayatama Ōkami (Izanagi-no-Mikoto) and Kumano Husumi Ōkami (Izanami-no-Mikoto)as the chief priest deities.

The precinct contains a nagi tree that is more than 1000 years old and has been held in faith as a symbol of the Kumano Gongen. It is said that there is a benefit from the safety of the trip because it leads to 凪 (nagi) in Japanese, and a benefit from the connection because the leaf vein cannot be torn only in the vertical direction.

And if you have time, experience the drawing of the Kumano Mandala. You can hear a commentary on the "Kumano Kanshin Jukkai Mandala", which was once made by Kumano Bikuni to travel around the country, preaching the Kumano faith and walking. From successive Pope to common people, you can see why you visited Kumano. Hatsuho fee 1000 yen It takes about 30 minutes.

Located in the precinct, the "Kumano Shinpokan" holds the Shinto treasure dedicated by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, most of which are designated as national treasures. Some of them are open to the public, so please stop by.

■ Kumano Hayatama Taisha

Address: 1, Shingu, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Time: 5:30 to 18:00
Fee: Precinct Freedom
Transportation: About 20 minutes walk from JR Shinomiya Station

■ Kumano Shinpokan

Address: Kumano Hayatama Taisha
Time: 9 to 16
Price: 500 yen for adults, free of high school students and below

The holy city of Kamikura Shrine where the gods of Kumano first descended

The Kamikura Shrine is a shrine of the sacred body with a huge rock that rises against the cliff. The gods of Kumano were reportedly the first to descend, and against the Niimiya of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, it is considered a former shrine. It is exactly the place of origin of the Kumano religion.

Up to the top of the mountain where the god body is located, we climb the stone steps that are said to have been prodded by Minamoto Yoritomo. This stone step, a whopping 538 steps! It is quite a steep stone step, and if you look up before departure, it will flinch a little.

For about 20 minutes while making a break on the way, when I get to the peak under my breath, there is a downright strange sight. The megalithic "Gotoviki rock" as much as about 60m is enshrined above the precipice. It is a very sacred atmosphere.

When you visit and turn around, the streets of the Shingu and the Pacific Ocean are spreading! It is a kind of reward for yourself who worked hard.

■ Kamikura Shrine

Address: 1-13-8 Kamikura, Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Time & Fees: Precinct Freedom
Transportation: About 20 minutes walk from JR Shingu Station to the approach entrance

 The gods of Kumano Sanzan gathered and mocked? "Waroudaishi"

On Nakahechi Ōkumo-torigoe Course in Kumanokodo, there is a legendary rock on the course that the gods of Kumano Sanzan sat on top to talk. When you walk for about 20 minutes from the entrance of the course, there is a big rock in the place where the mysterious air drifts.

Its name is "Warouda stone". "Warouda" refers to a rug made of straw and the like in a spiral. On the mossy surface, the main Buddha of Kumano Sanzan, which is surrounded by a circle, is carved in the Sanskrit script, but it is a mysterious stone whose production date and background are unknown.

■ stone

Address: west of Kumanogawa-cho, Shingu City, Wakayama
Time & Fee: Free to visit
Transportation: About 30 minutes drive from JR Shinomiya Station to the Oyuntori-Etsu entrance

"Kōyasaka", a sea road in Kumanokodo, and "Dorokyo", a place of scenic beauty

When it comes to Kumanokodo, the image of mountain walking may be strong, but in fact there is also a sea road. The sea road can be experienced on the Kōyasaka course, a part of Nakahechi of Kumanokodo. Even if you do not go through everything, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the sea road just by walking a part from the entrance of Kōyasaka. The way to go while listening to the sound of the waves is a fresh experience. It is also recommended to go down to Ojigahama at the entrance of the Kōyasaka course.

The other thing I 'd like to experience is a riverboat cruise of "Dorokyo", which is designated as National scenic beauty name and natural monument. The Kitayama River, a tributary of the Kumano River, is a large valley that spans Wakayama, Nara and Mie prefectures. It is also called the power spot of Oku Kumano.

[Gourmet memo]

Kumano's local dish "Meharizushi" is a dish you should definitely eat. It is a simple dish with bale-shaped rice balls wrapped in Takana, but it is delicious with moderate saltiness. The photo shows the dining room and souvenir shop "Kama-chan's shop" in the middle of the road to the Torokyo tour boarding ground. In addition to the "Udon set meal" for 680 yen, there is also a single product of Meharizushi.

■ Kachan's shop

Address: 54-7 Tanaga, Kumanogawa-cho, Shigu City, Wakayama
Phone: 0735-44-0480
Time: 9 to 16
Closed: Second Wednesday

Do you have access to the Shingu?

For trains, it is 3 hours and 19 minutes from Nagoya on the JR Kisei Main Line Limited Express Wide View Nanki, and 4 hours and 16 minutes from Shin-Osaka on the JR Kisei Main Line Limited Express Kuroshio. The flight will take one hour and 10 minutes from Haneda Airport to Nanki Shirahama Airport, and one hour and 56 minutes from JR Shirahama Station on the JR Kisei Main Line Limited Express Kuroshio Line. There is no sale of lunch boxes and drinks in the car, so make a purchase in advance.

 There is a route bus in the city of Shingu, but it is also recommended to rent a bicycle at the Shingu City Tourism Association in front of Shingu Station. E-bike is affordable at 1500 yen up to 3 hours. In addition, since you can apply for a tourist guide that can listen to historical commentary (requires advance application), if you want to know more about the company of the World Heritage Site or the Kumano Kodo, why not use it?

■ Shingu City Tourism Association

Address: 2-1-11 Xufuku, Shinomiya, Wakayama Prefecture
Phone: 0735-22-2840
Time: 9 to 17
URL:www.shinguu.jp/

• This article is created based on the contents of "Rurubu Information Edition" or "Rurubu & more." "Rurubu +".
• The data listed are as of March 2025. Prices, business hours, regular holidays, menus, etc. may change or may not be available due to temporary holidays. Please check in advance when using it, as the content may change.
• The holiday of stores and facilities omits the year-end holiday, Obon holiday, Golden Week, and temporary holidays in principle.
• The published fees are in principle the fee including consumption tax that we have confirmed at the time of the interview, and the entrance fee is the adult fee if there is no special mention.
• In principle, the published times are open (hall) to closed (hall). Please note that the last order or entrance (hall) time is 30 minutes to 1 hour before the normal closing (hall) time. The last order is denoted LO.
• For the spring quality and efficacy of the hot springs listed, manuscripts are prepared based on answers from each facility.