Kinpu Shrine

Kinpu Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Yoshino with nagare-zukuri design, featuring flowing rooflines that cascade downward. It sits among ancient Japanese cedar trees on the mountainside, creating a setting where traditional architecture blends with the natural surroundings.

The shrine functioned as a center for ascetic training and religious practices long before the Edo period began in 1603. Its continuous role over centuries established it as a significant spiritual location in the region.

The shrine honors Kanayamahiko-no-mikoto, a deity associated with mining and metalwork in Japanese spiritual traditions. This connection to mountain resources shapes how visitors experience the space and understand its role in local religious life.

The site is accessible by a combination of mountain transportation and walking routes from the train station. Visitors should be prepared for changing mountain weather and uneven terrain on the approach paths.

The shrine grounds contain the Kakureto pagoda, a structure with medieval roots. Local tradition holds that it once served as a hiding place for the 12th-century warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune.

Location: Yoshino

Architectural style: nagare-zukuri

Part of: Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

GPS coordinates: 34.34275,135.88189

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:43