WakayamaTravel

Kamayama Shrine (竈山神社)

Flow of the course

Previous stop: Pray for safe travels at Kii Province's Ichinomiya, where two shrines stand side by side within one precinct

About 30 min from the previous stop

About 45 min here

About 30 min to the next stop

Next stop: Visit an ancient shrine dedicated to the god of trees and try passing through the tree-trunk opening for warding off misfortune

About this spot

An ancient shrine dedicated to Hikoitsuse no Mikoto (彦五瀬命), the eldest brother of Emperor Jinmu, Japan's first emperor. Behind the shrine hall lies the Kamayama Tomb (竈山墓), said to be Hikoitsuse no Mikoto's burial site, nestled close by. Though once ranked as a Kanpei Taisha, a shrine of high imperial status, its appeal lies in a quietness far removed from the flashiness of typical tourist spots, with a gravel approach and deep green sacred grove that calm the mind. The leisurely 10-minute walk through a residential area from Kamayama Station on the Kishigawa Line is also part of the charm of a local train journey. The Saigoku Three-Shrine Pilgrimage (西国三社参り) linking Hinokuma-gu, Kamayama, and Itakiso has long been passed down locally, and this is the second of the three shrines. With few visitors, the calm grounds are a welcome place to visit even with small children in tow.

Tips

About a 10-minute walk from Kamayama Station. The approach is nearly flat and easy to navigate with a stroller. There is also parking on the grounds, so visiting by car is possible. There are few shops or restaurants nearby, so it's reassuring to bring your own drinks. Since the Kishigawa Line runs on a limited schedule, it's smoother to check the departure time of the next train toward Itakiso Station before visiting.