Takahara Kumano-jinja Shrine

Takahara Kumano Shrine is located along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. The god who protects a person from birth to death is called Takahara Oji in the Takahara district, and the colorful shrine building (remodeling completed in February 1998), built in Kasuga style, is positioned between Nezu Oji and Daimon Oji. The camphor trees that encircle the shrine precincts are estimated to be at least 1,000 years old. After the government issued an order to merge Shinto shrines in 1906, about 80 to 90 percent of the Shinto shrines in Kumano were destroyed, but a strong local opposition movement saved this precious remaining shrine. It has been designated a Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property. A plaque of the Buddha that is inscribed with the date 1403 is also venerated here along with the Shinto god.