After climbing the long stone stairs, you will reach 'Shinmon (God's Gate)' (Photo: Masayoshi Hirose)

Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

Shinto God and Buddha co-exist in an ancient power spot

Takako Sakamoto   - 1分钟阅读时间

The last shrine I visited during my January 2011 Kumano visit (in Wakayama Prefecture) was Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, one of the three major shrines in Kumano. Snow was falling in on this day.

Kumano is a holy place for people who seek the Pure Land (Gokuraku Jodo in Japanese). Kumano is also called 'A Place for Resurrection'. When I was climbing the 158 stone steps to the shrine decorated with banners of 'Kumano Gongen (God of Kumano)' on both sides, and saw the Shinmon (God's Gate) in the falling snow, I felt like I was approaching a sacred area where God resides. In ancient times, Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine was the center of what would today be called a 'power spot'.

Three Major Shrines in Kumano 1. Nachi Taisha Shrine and Nachi Falls 2. Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine 3. Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

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Takako Sakamoto

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...