Shingu

Shingu is a coastal city in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, situated at the mouth of the Kumano River. The mountains of Yoshino-Kumano National Park surround the city inland, while the town center sits on a narrow plain between the forested slopes and the Pacific Ocean shoreline.

The city was established on October 1, 1933, when the town of Shingu merged with Miwasaki. In 2005, Kumanogawa joined the municipality, extending the city limits along the river.

Locals still practice the tradition of paying respect at the sacred tree within the shrine grounds, where visitors can observe traditional offerings and prayer rituals throughout the day. The river port area remains a working waterfront where fishermen bring in their catch each morning, continuing centuries-old patterns of daily life.

Bicycles can be rented at the station to explore the area comfortably, as major sites are spread across flat roads along the river and coast. Limited express trains provide direct connections to larger cities like Osaka, with the journey taking around four hours.

Every year on February 6, participants carry flaming torches down the 538 stone steps of Kamikura Shrine during the Oto Matsuri festival held at night. The event marks the start of the new year in the old calendar and draws hundreds of men dressed in white who descend through the darkness.