What to know
Kumano City (熊野) lies in Mie Prefecture, roughly 20 kilometers from the Wakayama border. Though it shares its name with the larger Kumano region, its population of just 20,000 makes it far from the main hub. Still, travelers find it well worth a visit for its trails, rock formations, and shrine.
Kumano City sits along the former Iseji pilgrimage route, which once linked the Kumano shrines with Ise. Only scattered sections of the route remain preserved. One such section is the Matsumoto Pass trail in Kumano City. This one-kilometer preserved stretch climbs to about 100 meters in elevation as it crosses the pass.
About 30 kilometers north, in Owase City (尾鷲), the Magose Pass trail is often considered the most scenic hike on the Iseji. Most of the trail winds through forest, and hikers reach over 300 meters when crossing the pass. The preserved section extends more than two kilometers.
Like other towns in the area, Kumano City is known for unique coastal rock formations. The Onigajo Rocks were once thought to be demon dwellings, while the Shishi Rock resembles a lion gazing out to sea. Both formations are named for these imagined attributes.
About one kilometer south of Kumano's city center stands Hana no Iwaya Shrine. Legend says this ancient shrine marks the grave of Izanami, the deity who created the earth with her husband Izanagi. The shrine is believed to predate even the three Kumano shrines.
On the shrine grounds looms a massive sacred rock, 45 meters high. Like the great waterfall at Nachi Taisha, this rock is thought to have been venerated by prehistoric Japanese. Each year on February 2 and October 2, a unique festival sees a giant rope pulled from the shrine grounds to the nearby beach.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Kumano Kodo - Iseji Route
- Original name
- Kumano City
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.