basic information

Kumano Hongu Taisha is one of the Kumano region's three famous shrines. As well as enshrining its own deity, Hongu Taisha also enshrines the deities of the other two Kumano shrines, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha, and the sun goddess Amaterasu. It serves as the head shrine of over 3000 Kumano shrines across Japan.

Reference to Hongu Taisha was first documented in the 9th century, which the establishment of the shrine must have preceded substantially. Due to floods in 1889, the shrine was moved from its original location at Oyu no Hara to its present site one kilometer away. In front of Oyu no Hara stands the biggest torii gate in the world, which, at 33 meters tall, dwarfs visitors passing under it.

Hongu Taisha is located at the center of the Kumano Kodo network of pilgrimage routes. An enjoyable walk for visitors who wish to experience a pilgrimage trail but are pressed by time, is the final section of the Nakahechi route between Hosshinmon Oji and Hongu. It is seven kilometers long, takes about two hours and finishes at the shrine. Hosshinmon Oji is accessible by bus.

There are three onsen (hot springs) near Hongu: Yunomine, Kawayu and Wataze. The first two are small onsen towns, while Wataze Onsen consists of only a single hotel complex, Watarase Onsen, which is known for having the largest outdoor bath in western Japan. The bath is also open to non staying guests.

Steam rises up from the rock riverbank of Kawayu

Tsuboyu in Yunomine Onsen

Kawayu Onsen is a unique hot spring town located along a river. To use the onsen, bathers dig a hole in the gravel riverbank into which hot spring water then flows. Cool river water is mixed with the hot onsen water to bring the water to a temperature particular to the bather's desire. In the winter, a giant rotenburo called the Sennin Bath is dug in the same manner, and is available for free public use.

Yunomine Onsen has such a long history that one of its baths, Tsuboyu, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pilgrims would perform purification rituals in the hot spring water as part of the religious process of their pilgrimage. Tsuboyu is one of two public bathhouses in Yunomine. The other is the nearby Yunomine Public Bathhouse, in which there are two separate bath areas.

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how to get there

From Tanabe and Shirahama

Six buses per day (four from December to mid March) connect Kii-Tanabe Station with Hongu Taisha. The one way trip takes two hours and costs 2000 yen. Some buses continue from Hongu to Hosshinmon Oji (10 minutes), the starting point of a pleasant two hour walk along the Nakahechi pilgrimage route to Hongu Taisha.

An additional two buses per day operate from Shirahama (town center, airport and railway station) to Hongu Taisha before continuing to Shingu Station. The one way trip from Shirahama Airport to Hongu Taisha takes 90 minutes and costs 2000 yen.

All of the above mentioned buses also stop at Takijiri Oji, the recommended starting point for the popular 2-day pilgrimage along the Nakahechi route to Hongu Taisha.

From Shingu Station

Buses for Hongu Taisha depart Shingu Station roughly once per hour. The one way trip costs 1500 yen and takes 80 minutes. Most buses stop at the three hot spring resorts of Kawayu, Wataze and Yunomine Onsen before arriving at Hongu Taisha.

From Gojo Station

Three buses per day make an epic 6.5 hour journey from Yamato-Yagi Station in Nara Prefecture to Shingu Station with stops along the way at JR Gojo Station and Hongu Taisha. The one way trip between Gojo Station and Hongu Taisha takes four hours and costs 4600 yen.

How to get to and around Kumano

hours and fees

Kumano Hongu Taisha
Hours:	8:00 to 17:00
Closed:	no closing days
Admission:	free

Watarase Onsen (for non staying guests)
Hours:	6:00 to 22:00 (admission until 21:30)
Closed:	no closing days
Admission:	700 yen

Kawayu Winter Rotenburo (Sennin Bath)
Hours:	6:30 to 22:00
Closed:	not available from March to October
Admission:	free

Tsuboyu
Hours:	6:00 to 21:30
Closed:	no closing days
Admission:	750 yen

Yunomine Public Bathhouse
Hours:	6:00 to 22:00
Closed:	no closing days
Admission:	250 yen (regular bath) 380 yen (Kusuri bath)

travel community

Popularity of Hongu Taisha:
Users who have been to Kumano: 35
Users who have been to Hongu Taisha: 8

5th of 8 most visited sights in Kumano.
479th of 555 most visited sights nationwide.

Ratings for Hongu Taisha:

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