Takahara Kumano Shrine, Kumano shrine in Tanabe, Japan
Takahara Kumano Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the mountain village of Takahara, on a ridge above the city of Tanabe, Japan. The main hall follows the Kasuga-zukuri style, with a cypress bark roof, painted decorations, and the characteristic chigi and katsuogi ornaments along the roofline.
The shrine was moved to its current location in 1403 and is one of the oldest structures in the region. The painted decorations inside date from the Muromachi period and have been maintained over the centuries.
The shrine sits within a grove of old camphor trees that are considered sacred and have been part of the site for centuries. Visitors often notice small offerings left on the altar by pilgrims passing through on the Kumano Kodo route.
The shrine is reached on foot along the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo, with the uphill walk from Takijiri-oji taking a few hours. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the path climbs steadily through forested terrain.
Takahara is known in Japanese as the 'village in the mist' because the valley below often fills with fog, creating what looks like a sea of clouds. This effect is most visible in the early morning, before the mist rises.
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