Hananoiwaya Shrine, Shinto shrine in Kumano, Japan
Hananoiwaya Shrine is a Shinto sanctuary in Mie Prefecture, Japan, located next to a long gravel beach where a 45-meter-high rock formation rises from coastal erosion. The shrine complex centers on this natural stone outcrop, which serves as its main sacred focus.
The shrine appeared in the Nihon Shoki chronicles dated to 720 and marks the place where the goddess Izanami was enshrined after her death during childbirth. This ancient connection makes it one of the oldest revered sites in the Kumano region.
The shrine comes alive during the Otsunakake Shinji festival when performers in traditional dress dance with flowers, drums, and whistles in front of the rock. A massive rope stretches between the stone and a nearby tree, marking the sacred space during these seasonal celebrations.
You can walk to the shrine in about 15 minutes from Kumanoshi Station or take a short four-minute bus ride from the Mie Kotsu transportation center. The location is fairly easy to reach and there are multiple ways to approach the site.
The rock contains several holes carved by erosion where visitors place white stones as personal prayer offerings. This practice has survived for generations and shows how pilgrims connect with this sacred site through a simple ritual.
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