Oyu no Hara

Overview

Oyu no Hara, located on a sandbar in the Kumano River, has flourished as the center of Kumano faith since ancient times. Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine was once enshrined here, but most of the main hall was lost in the 1889 Totsukawa Great Flood. Currently, only a large torii gate and two stone shrines enshrining the Chu-Yonsha and Shimo-Yonsha deities remain. The torii gate, constructed in 2000, is made of reinforced concrete and boasts a height of 33.9 meters and a width of 42 meters, making it the tallest in Japan. Its grandeur is a captivating presence visible from afar. Passing through the grand torii gate, you'll find yourself in a world of lush green forest and tranquil silence. Standing where the main hall of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine once stood, you'll feel the weight of history. Two stone shrines enshrine the deities of the lost main hall. The eastern shrine enshrines the deities of the subsidiary shrines: Yatagarasu Shrine, Ototen Shrine, Takakurage Shrine, and Umi Shrine. The western shrine enshrines the Chu-Yonsha deities: Ninigi-no-Mikoto, Konohanasakuya-hime-no-Mikoto, Hikohohodemi-no-Mikoto, and Ugafu-kusu-fuki-no-Mikoto; and the Shimo-Yonsha deities: Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto, Haniyama-hime-no-Mikoto, Mitsunawa-no-Mikoto, and Wakumusubi-no-Mikoto. Oyu no Hara, the former site of Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine, is a sacred place visited by many worshipers. Visiting it in conjunction with Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine allows you to fully experience both history and nature.