Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Takahara Kumano Shrine

Takahara Kumano Shrine

Takahara Kumano Shrine.

Takahara is a mountaintop village located on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo ilgrimage.


The village shrine, a branch of Kumano Hongu, is situated in a grove of ancient trees.


As I understand it, the village was not directly on the pilgrimage route until the route was changed in the Edo period and it became an important way-point.


The shrine was established earlier, in 1403, making it one of the oldest shrines in the area.


It is a very colorful shrine with a lot of paintings and color dating back to the Muromachi period.


The main buildings is built in what is known as Kasuga-style, and has a roof of cypress bark.


I believe this section of the Kumano Kodo is by far the most popular, especially among thos only walking a day or two. I visited towards the end of my 4th day of the Saigoku pilgrimage.


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