Guide · The shrines

Kumano Hongu Taisha and the other two Grand Shrines

Kumano Hongu Taisha in the mountains, Nachi beside Japan's tallest waterfall and Hayatama at the river mouth: what each shrine is, what it costs to visit and how to reach all three.

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Editorial team, kumanokodohike.comUpdated October 22, 20266 minutes to read63 sources

The tour this guide is about Day trip from Osaka to the three Grand Shrines 4.9 (163 reviews) 13 hoursAll entrance fees includedPick-up points in central Osaka from$103per person Check availabilityCancel at no charge until 24 hrs before

The short version

01Kumano Sanzan: The name for the three Grand Shrines: Hongu, Hayatama and Nachi.¹
02Hongu: Head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines; the grounds are free.² ³
03Nachi: On Nachi Mountain at about 350 m, next to a 133 m waterfall.⁴ ⁵
04Hayatama: At the mouth of the Kumano-gawa, where the river reaches the sea.⁶
05All three in a day: The coach day trip from Osaka on this site visits each of them.

Three shrines, one pilgrimage

Kumano Sanzan is the collective name for three Grand Shrines in the south-east of the Kii Mountains: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha.¹ Every Kumano Kodo route was laid out to reach them, and for centuries a pilgrimage meant paying respects at all three.

The three sit far apart. Hongu lies inland on the Kumano-gawa, deep in the mountains. Hayatama stands in the town of Shingu at the river mouth.⁶ Nachi rises on a mountainside above the coast, about 10 km inland from Katsuura.⁷ Pilgrims once travelled from Hongu down to Hayatama by boat on the river.⁸

Today these shrines are part of the World Heritage property inscribed on 7 July 2004.⁹ They are working shrines, not museums, so keep your voice low, follow the signs on where photos are allowed, and give way to worshippers at the halls.

The shrine year

Festival dates to plan around

6 February

Oto Matsuri

Fire festival at Kamikura-jinja in Shingu.¹⁰
13 April

Walk to Oyunohara

Participants walk the Dainichi-goe from Yunomine.¹¹
13 to 15 April

Hongu spring festival

The great festival of Kumano Hongu Taisha.¹²
16 October

Mifune Matsuri

Nine boats race up the Kumano-gawa.¹³
23 April 2028

Hayatama anniversary

The shrine's 1,900th founding festival.¹⁴

Kumano Hongu Taisha, the heart of the network

Kumano Hongu Taisha is the head shrine of more than 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan.² A long flight of 158 stone steps climbs from the torii to the shrine buildings, set on a ridge among cedar and cypress.¹⁵ Entry to the grounds is free and the shrine office is open from 8:00 to 17:00.³

The shrine has not always stood here. It began at Oyunohara, a sandbank where the Kumano and Otonashi rivers meet.¹⁶ A severe flood in 1889 destroyed many of its buildings, and what could be saved was rebuilt on the higher ground you climb to today.¹⁷ The old site is a short walk away and well worth it.

At Oyunohara stands the steel torii erected in 2000, which the bureau calls the largest in the world at 33.9 m tall and 42 m wide.¹⁸ ¹⁹ The treasure hall up at the shrine costs 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for ages 12 to 15, with children 11 and under free, open 9:00 to 16:00.²⁰

The three side by side

Hongu, Nachi and Hayatama compared

Shrine	Setting	Grounds	Highlight
Hongu	Inland on the Kumano-gawa	Free, office 8:00 to 17:00	Torii 33.9 m tall at Oyunohara
Nachi	Mountainside at about 350 m	Free, office 6:00 to 16:30	Waterfall 133 m high
Hayatama	River mouth in Shingu	Not listed	Sacred Nagi tree

From the Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau's World Heritage pages, as read in October 2026.³ ¹⁹ ⁴ ²¹ ⁵ ⁶ ²²

One shrine with a guide

Short guided visits at each shrine

Wakayama: Legends and Purification at Kumano Hongu Shrine

Private visit

Hongu legends

From the Heritage Center

Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Guide: English
Price: from $64

See the tour

Wakayama: Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji & Waterfall Tour

Private visit

Nachi and the falls

With Seiganto-ji

Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
Guide: English
Price: from $56

See the tour

Private visit

Hayatama and Kamikura

From Shingu station

Time: 1 to 2 hours
Guide: English
Price: from $45

See the tour

Decision helper

Which shrine should you prioritise?

Pick what you most want to see

The spiritual centre of the pilgrimage A dramatic waterfall Colour and an ancient tree A stone staircase through cedars All of them in one day

Hongu

Head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines.²

Nachi

Nachi-no-Otaki falls 133 m beside the shrine.⁵

Hayatama

Vermilion halls and a sacred Nagi tree centuries old.²²

Nachi via Daimon-zaka

About 600 m of stone stairs with 267 steps under cedars.²³

The Osaka coach day

Hongu, Nachi and Hayatama with entry fees included.

To visit these shrines pilgrims used the Kumano ancient roads, which are lined with 99Oji (small shrines), travelling 300km from Kyoto to Kumano.

Kumano Hongu TaishaSource 24

Visiting Hongu: customs, stamps and festivals

The shrine explains the formal way to pray at the main hall: make an offering in the box, bow twice, clap twice and bow once more.²⁵ Nobody will mind if you simply bow quietly, but following the custom is a nice gesture after a long walk or a long drive. Wash your hands and mouth at the water basin first, keep to the sides of the path in front of the main hall, and take off your hat before you pray.

Hongu is also where pilgrims finish. The completion stamp of the Kumano Kodo is kept at Kumano Hongu Taisha, and registered double pilgrims who have also walked the Camino de Santiago can join a short taiko drum ceremony there.²⁶ ²⁷ That ceremony is not possible over the New Year holiday of 1 to 3 January.²⁸

Come in spring for the shrine's great festival, held from 13 to 15 April every year.¹² On its first day participants walk the Dainichi-goe, the short trail between Yunomine Onsen and Hongu, as part of the ritual.¹¹ Expect crowds, closed areas and a wonderful atmosphere.

Map

The Nakahechi, its shrines and the way in from Osaka

The trail from Takijiri-oji to the three Grand Shrines, the Hongu area with its hot springs, the Nachi sanctuary up close, then the whole peninsula with the stations you arrive at.

Map of the Nakahechi route from Takijiri-oji to Kumano Hongu Taisha, Koguchi, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Hayatama Taisha — The Nakahechi

Map of the Hongu area with Hosshinmon-oji, Fushiogami-oji, Kumano Hongu Taisha, Oyunohara and the Yunomine, Wataze and Kawayu hot springs — Around Hongu

Map of Nachisan with Daimon-zaka, Kumano Nachi Taisha, Seiganto-ji and Nachi Falls — Nachisan

Map of the Kii Peninsula with Osaka, Kyoto, Koyasan, Kii-Tanabe, Hongu, Shingu, Kii-Katsuura and Ise — The Kii Peninsula

1
Takijiri-oji
The usual first day of a Nakahechi walk starts here, beside the Kumano Kodo Kan pilgrimage center.²⁹ ³⁰
In Google Maps ↗
2
Takahara
A steep climb of about 4 km from Takijiri-oji, through native and planted forest.³¹ ³²
In Google Maps ↗
3
Chikatsuyu-oji
An old oji in a basin at about 300 m, at the end of the classic first day; the village has about 450 people.³³ ³⁴
In Google Maps ↗
4
Tsugizakura-oji
Named for a grafted cherry; some of its cedars are 8 m round and thought to be up to 800 years old.³⁵
In Google Maps ↗
5
Hosshinmon-oji
Start of the popular 7 km half-day walk to Kumano Hongu Taisha; there is nowhere to stay here.³⁶ ³⁷
In Google Maps ↗
6
Kumano Hongu Taisha
Head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan; the grounds are free.² ³
In Google Maps ↗
7
Koguchi
Overnight stop between the Kogumotori-goe and the Ogumotori-goe on the way to Nachi.³⁸ ³⁹
In Google Maps ↗
8
Kumano Nachi Taisha
Halfway up Nachi Mountain at about 350 m, about 10 km inland from Katsuura.⁴ ⁷
In Google Maps ↗
9
Hayatama Taisha
At the mouth of the Kumano-gawa, where the river meets the Pacific.⁶
In Google Maps ↗
10
Fushiogami-oji
Where pilgrims fell to their knees at their first sight of the grand shrine.⁴⁰
In Google Maps ↗
11
Oyunohara
The original shrine site on a sandbank, marked by a steel torii 33.9 m tall.¹⁶ ¹⁹
In Google Maps ↗
12
Yunomine Onsen
A hot spring found about 1,800 years ago, with the Tsuboyu bath.⁴¹ ⁴²
In Google Maps ↗
13
Wataze Onsen
The largest open-air hot spring bath in western Japan.⁴³
In Google Maps ↗
14
Kawayu Onsen
Hot water rises through the river bed; in winter a huge river bath is dug.⁴⁴ ⁴⁵
In Google Maps ↗
15
Daimon-zaka
About 600 m of stone stairs, 267 steps, under old cedars.²³ ⁴⁶
In Google Maps ↗
16
Seiganto-ji
A Tendai temple and the first stop of the Saigoku pilgrimage to 33 Kannon.⁴⁷
In Google Maps ↗
17
Nachi Falls (Hiro-jinja)
133 m high, worshipped directly with no shrine hall.⁵ ⁴⁸
In Google Maps ↗
18
Osaka (Shinsaibashi)
The day tour leaves from Q Plaza Shinsaibashi or the National Bunraku Theatre.
In Google Maps ↗
19
Kyoto
The Kuroshio reaches Kii-Tanabe from Kyoto in 2 hrs 35 min.⁴⁹
In Google Maps ↗
20
Koyasan
Start of the Kohechi; reached from Namba on Nankai trains and a cable car.⁵⁰ ⁵¹
In Google Maps ↗
21
Kii-Tanabe
Gateway to the Nakahechi; trail buses leave from stop No. 2.⁵² ⁵³
In Google Maps ↗
22
Shingu
Home of Hayatama Taisha and a bus hub towards Hongu.⁶ ⁵⁴
In Google Maps ↗
23
Kii-Katsuura
Buses climb to Nachisan in about 30 minutes.⁵⁵
In Google Maps ↗
24
Ise
Start of the Iseji, about 170 km along the east coast.⁵⁶
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Visiting the Grand Shrines

Bring

Coins and notes for offerings and fees
A stamp book or credential
Shoes for long stone stairs

Respect

Quiet voices at the halls
Two bows, two claps, one bow
Photo signs at the main halls

Video

Japanese Tree Cave & Huge Waterfall (Kumano Nachi Taisha, 熊野那智大社) and Kumano Hayatama Taisha

The video loads only when you tap play.

Kumano Nachi Taisha and its waterfall

The Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine stands halfway up Nachi Mountain at about 350 m above sea level, and its origins lie in the worship of the waterfall itself.⁴ Most visitors climb to it on Daimon-zaka, a stone staircase of about 600 m with 267 steps.²³ The grounds are free and the shrine office opens from 6:00 to 16:30.²¹

The fall, Nachi-no-Otaki, is 133 m high and 13 m wide, the tallest waterfall in Japan.⁵ The shrine adds that its plunge pool is 10 m deep and that about one tonne of water is said to fall every second.⁵⁷ At Hiro-jinja, at the foot of the fall, there is no shrine hall at all: people bow directly to the water.⁴⁸

A paid stage brings you closest to the fall, 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for school pupils, with preschool children free, as the shrine listed it in October 2026.⁵⁸ Next door stands Seiganto-ji, a Tendai temple and the first of the 33 temples of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, which began in 1161.⁴⁷

Hayatama Taisha in Shingu

Hayatama Taisha stands at the mouth of the Kumano-gawa, where the water from the Kii Mountains meets the Pacific.⁶ Its vermilion buildings are the most colourful of the three, and the shrine's sacred Nagi tree is the thing most people photograph.

The age of that tree depends on who you ask. The tourism bureau calls it 800 years old.²² The shrine itself speaks of a tree about a thousand years old, the largest of its kind in Japan.⁵⁹ Either way, it is one of the oldest living things you will meet on a Kumano trip.

Hayatama is preparing for a big date: the shrine will hold its 1,900th founding anniversary festival on 23 April 2028.¹⁴ Its regular calendar is lively too, with the Mifune Matsuri on 16 October, when nine boats race up the river, and the Oto Matsuri fire festival at Kamikura-jinja every 6 February.¹³ ¹⁰

The symbols you will see at every shrine

Look for a three-legged crow on banners, amulets and roof tiles. It is the Yatagarasu, believed to be the divine messenger that guided the first emperor through the Kumano Mountains.⁶⁰ You will see it at all three shrines and on the double pilgrimage credential. Amulets with the crow are sold as protection for travellers, which makes them a popular souvenir for anyone about to set off on foot, and a quiet reminder of the guide in the legend when the trail climbs into cloud.

Small roadside shrines called oji line the routes that lead here. They are counted as the Ninety-nine Oji, a figure that means many rather than an exact number.⁶¹ Kumano Hongu Taisha writes that pilgrims walked some 300 km from Kyoto past them.²⁴

Kumano also has a reputation for openness. The bureau notes that where other sacred sites in Japan barred women, Kumano welcomed everyone regardless of sect, class or gender.⁶² That spirit still shapes the place: you do not need to be a believer to visit, only respectful.

How to see all three shrines

On foot, the shrines are days apart. Walkers usually reach Hongu on the Nakahechi, cross the mountains to Nachi and take a bus to Shingu, or the other way round. By public transport alone, getting from Hongu to Nachi usually means two changes of bus, at Shingu and at Nachi Station, so Hayatama fits naturally on the way.⁶³

If you have only one day, the coach tour from Osaka on this site covers all three. Its listed itinerary gives 50 minutes at Kumano Hongu Taisha and 2.33 hours at Nachi, including Seiganto-ji, Nachi Falls and a 20 to 40 minute walk on Daimon-zaka, before Hayatama. Entrance fees are included, and so is a stamp booklet for the shrine stamps.

If you would rather explore one shrine in depth with a local guide, short private visits exist for each of them, priced from $45 for Hayatama and Kamikura. They suit travellers already staying in the region. The comparison below shows the options side by side.

Your day in Kumano