Kamikura Jinja

Kamikura Jinja is a small shrine on the cliff face overlooking the coastal town of Shingû in Wakayama Prefecture. The shrine is known for two things: its steep staircase, and a massive boulder which is said to be where several gods first stepped down on Earth following its creation.

For the casual: 8. For the educated: 2.

Ok, first things first, the stairs are legitimately steep. Basically, you go up. The photo below doesn’t do it complete justice, but for sure it’s quite the climb. That being said, it’s not long and it levels out fairly quickly. If you’re out of shape like me, I recommend bringing a camera so that you have plenty of excuses to stop and catch your breath. If you’re fit, then this should be fairly simple. If for whatever reason you feel you need some help climbing the stairs, there’s a small collection of walking sticks visitors can use, just be sure to put them back when you come down.

The experience ascending and descending the stairs is part of why I wanted to rank this so high for casual visitors, but it’s also because of the view. The shrine itself is hanging on a small outcrop on an otherwise vertical cliff. Therefore, the view of the town and of the sea is just really beautiful. Many visitors take a moment to take it all in at the top which makes this lovely atmosphere of people elated to climb the stairs, but also bewildered by the beauty of the views. So no, this is not a major shrine, but I do recommend people visit when they have the chance.

 

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.