Kumano Hayatama Taisha

Built in the city of Shingu on the eastern coast of Wakayama Prefecture, this grand shrine is one of three sibling shrines in the Kumano area. The shrine likely dates back to the 12th century, but records and artifacts show that worship has been taking place in this region of Japan since at least the 3rd century C.E. This shrine is situated near the mouth of the Kumano-gawa, one of the largest rivers which empties fresh water out of the Kii Mountains. Like its associated shrines, Kumano Hayatama Taisha is home to the yatagarasu, the mythical three-legged raven, an icon closely associated with the imperial family. The shrine is one of many stopping points for pilgrims traveling the Kumano Kodo.

For the casual: 6. For the educated: 3.

The big backlash against this shrine is simply its difficult accessability. This shrine, and the associated shrines, are on the far side of Wakayama Prefecture with limited access via public transportation and a long drive almost regardless of where you start. Outside of that, there’s a great deal to enjoy here. Vermillian structures, gold leaf accents, and colorful wood carvings are sure to delight all visitors to the complex. Be sure to pray for good luck at the Nagi-no-Ki, an ancient tree on the grounds estimated to be over 800 years old!

 

Kibitsu Jinja

Kibitsu Jinja is a shrine just outside of Okayama city that is considered one of the main shrines in the prefecture. The shrine does not have an official date of founding, but it’s believed that it was first built some time in the 9th century. The shrine was built for Kibitsuhiko-no-mikoto, a mythological figure who is said to have been the origin of the famed Momotaro legend, yet another fable that is attributed to Okayama.

For the casual: 7. For the educated: 8.

Kibitsu Jinja is a lovely shrine complex just outside of Okayama city about 20 minutes by car, and 30 by train. The shrine is known for its main hall which has a unique double-gable roof. The complex is home to a variety of smaller shrines to local deities as well as seasonal flowers like cherry and hydrangeas.

The main appeal for those interested would be the legend I mentioned above. Kibitsuhiko was a mythological prince who left the imperial palace to the Bicchu area (modern Western Okayama) to face a four meter tall man-eating ogre named Ura. Ura was a smart ogre and lived in a mountain castle called Kino-jô (whose ruins can be visited today). Kibitsuhiko set camp where the shrine stands today and fired his arrows at the castle. All fell short save one which struck Ura in the eye. Ura tried to flee by turning into a red pheasant, but Kibitsuhiko turned into a hawk and pursued. When flight didn’t work, Ura changed himself into a carp and hid in the stream, but Kibitsuhiko changed to a cormorant and eat Ura, defeating the ogre. The story similarities between Kibitsuhiko and Momotaro are why this story may have inspired the latter.

The covered walkway is well known for following the curve of the terrain without stairs. It feels like a walking roller coaster .

 

Matsunô Taisha (Matsuo Taisha)

Matsunô Taisha, also known as Matsuo Taisha, is the largest shrine in western Kyoto and is expected to protect about one third of the city’s population. The shrine was said to have been founded in the early 8th century C.E. when the lord of the Hata clan road by and noticed a turtle wading in the falls coming from the mountain. As turtles are considered extremely auspicious for good health and longevity, a shrine was established marking this special location. Matsunô Taisha has grown over the years to become one of the largest in the city with several major festivals being hosted on its grounds. This shrine is known for its small gardens, each one recreating a popular style of landscaping across Japan’s history, and a series of carved wooden images estimated to be some of the oldest in the world. As mentioned earlier, the shrine is also home to a small series of falls in addition to a well. All of this water is considered sacred and used with great reverence by local sake brewers and miso paste manufacturers.

For the casual: 7. For the educated: 7.

Matsunô Taisha is really a beautiful shrine with nice open spaces and beautiful architecture. It’s nestled into the base of the mountain side which both helps the buildings stand out while also keeping the vibe rather serene. Just the walk from the street to the main shrine is a lot of fun with grand gates, towering torii, and whatever other Japanese architecture alliterations you can think of.

On the right side of the shrine is a building where you can see some of the shrine’s treasures and get access to the gardens. I need to admit here that I didn’t go in because I got confused with the signs. Inside this building is also a photography studio to take family portraits, so I thought it was only the studio and probably not worth taking my shoes off. So please, if you get the chance, take a look inside and see some pieces ranging in time from over a thousand years old to several hundred.

Just briefly, the shrine also extends out to the left where you can find a small parking lot, a dôhyô (a clay ring for sumo wrestling), and a large rice patty lined with shimenawa (sacred rope) to mark the rice that they grow for good luck every summer.

 

Izumo Taisha

Izumo Oyashiro, more commonly known as Izumo Taisha, is one of the most sacred places in Japan. A home of the gods since far before the earliest written documents in the 8th century, this shrine is truely like no other in Japan. Izumo Taisha is the home of Okuninushi, the god who was said to have ruled the gods of earth. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki written in the 8th century in Yamato (modern Nara) notes that Okuninushi, pressured by the gods in heaven, relinquished his duties and gave them to Nigishi, the grandson of Amaterasu-Omikoto, and effectvely placed the royal line of Yamato in position to govern Japan with divine authority. This rather abrupt and conspicuous relinquishing of power is likely due to the fact that the Yamato court of Japan (Nara) annexed/absorbed Izumo, not only considered two different kingdoms at the time, but also two different realms of existence with Izumo being the realm of the gods, and Yamato being the realm of mortals. During the 10th lunary cycle of the year (October/November) Izumo celebrates Kamiarizuki, the month of many gods, a festival where all the gods of Japan gather at Izumo Taisha for a meeting, at the same time across the rest of Japan this same period is called Kannazuki, the month without gods. During this time, it is believed that prayers made at Izumo Taisha becomes exceptionally lucky.

For the casual: 10. For the educated: 11.

I mean where do I start with this shrine. Well for one, the Honden (Main Hall) is about 24 meters tall (79 ft.) even though it was likely much taller in ancient times. It is estimated that the Honden was smaller (in terms of square feet) in ancient times but was built atop massive cedar pillars with an extra long and shallow stairway, measuring the Honden at 96 meters (315 ft.) tall. Since then the shrine has gotten shorter but larger. But that’s not all. Izumo Taisha is also known for its shimenawa, massive ropes usually made of either rice or wheat grass and twisted together so that it’s massively thick in the middle but with fine tapered ends. This style of shimenawa is particular to the Shimane area of Japan, but the largest are at Izumo Taisha with a thickness wider than most adults.

Though the Honden and the other smaller shrines of the inner sanctum are off limits to visitors, guests do have access so several smaller shrines and halls in the complex. I do wish to quickly point out that though there are not English signs around the complex, many of the structures have signs in Japanese that have a minimal explanation with a QR code link to international translations. The first building is the Haiden (Worship Hall), equipped with its own shimenawa, it is the hall where blessings and rights are performed for patrons and honored guests. For example, if you would like to bless your car for traffic safety, this is the hall to schedule the rites. After leaving the Haiden (oh! this is where you can get your goshuin!), guests can walk around the exterior of the inner sanctum where a great many small shrines can be visited. These shrines are typicaly home to a variety of minor gods, but some are home to major figures like Susano’o-no-kami, god of storms and seas. Along the sides of the inner sanctum are long buildings that almost look like they’re for storage, but in fact these jukusha are lodgings for the 8 millions gods that make their way to Izumo for Kamiarizuki.

The last thing I would like to talk about are the rabbit statues. All around Izumo, and particularly around Izumo Taisha, visitors will see a number of stone rabbit statues here and there. The short version of the legend goes that a rabbit wanted to visit a small island off the coast, but naturally the rabbit couldn’t swim so he decided that he would trick the nearby sharks into helping him get to the island. He challenged them to a contest to see who had more friends, but to make it fare, he asked them to line up head to tail and he would count them one by one as he jumped on their backs. Before the rabbit could make it to the shore though, the sharks realized the rabbit’s trick and tore the rabbit’s fur off. Completely embarassed by his folly and in pain from his wounds, he cried and cried while his friends laughed at him, saying he would feel better if he went in the salty sea (bad idea). Okuninushi came along and felt sorry for the rabbit, and after hearing his tale, he told the rabbit to wash in fresh water and lie in a pile of cattail reed flowers. The rabbit did just that and not only did he feel better, his fur grew back just as flufy and white as before. Because of this story, there are many rabbit statues around the shrine grounds, some of which have a mischievous smile.

Many people enjoy taking photos under this particular shimenawa due to its size.

It looks small here, but the Honden is massive.